Warming Formula or Breast Milk
Explanation | Procedure for warming baby formula or breast milk | Precautions | Contact us
Why warm baby formula or milk?
Although room temperature formula or breast milk is fine for your baby, some babies prefer to have their formula or breast milk warmed. If that is your baby's preference, warm his / her bottle safely by following the instructions below.
Procedure for Warming Baby Formula / Breast Milk
1. Warm the bottle in warm -- not boiling -- water by one of these two methods:
- Put the bottle into a bowl of warm water for a few minutes
- Run warm tap water over the bottle for a few minutes
- Don't let the water touch the lid of the bottle (to avoid contamination)
2. After warming the bottle, shake it well.
3. Test the temperature of the liquid by dropping a few drops of breast milk or formula onto your wrist. It should feel comfortably warm.
Precautions for Warming Baby Formula / Breast Milk
Do not use a microwave to warm formula or breast milk. You should never use a microwave to heat a baby's bottle because:
- Microwaves cause "hot spots" when used to warm breast milk and formula. There is a very serious risk of burning your baby's mouth, throat and esophagus (the tube that goes to your baby's stomach). This can happen even if you shake the bottle after you warm it in a microwave.
- Breast milk, if heated too much, can lose some of its benefits for your baby.
- A bottle that has been warmed in a microwave can cause a burn from hot liquid or steam.
Contact us
For additional information on this or any Health Topic, please call the Family Resource Center, 513-636-7606, or your pediatrician.
Patient Education Program IV 4105 8/98
Reviewed 5/04; 8/04; 8/06
