Should i heat baby formula

But why do we heat baby bottles? To make up a new bottle you need to use hot water so that bacteria found in the formula powder can be killed. But also, babies like their milk warm. So, some parents find that warm milk is less likely to cause baby to have tummy aches. There are a wide range of different baby feeding bottles to choose from and what you choose is very much up to you and your baby.

Baby bottles are made from glass, plastic or these days, silicone. Check out our range of baby bottles. Overheating breast milk destroys the precious nutrients it contains. Fill a jug or bowl with warm water. The water should be hot enough to heat the bottle, but cool enough so that you can place your hand in it. Once the bottle is warmed, swirl it gently to make sure all the milk is warmed evenly, but avoid shaking as this can introduce air bubbles.

How to safely prepare formula with water. American Academy of Pediatrics. Mayo Clinic. Infant formula: 7 steps to prepare it safely. Infant formula—buying, preparing, storing, and feeding. Nemours Foundation. Formula feeding FAQs: Preparation and storage. How to prepare formula for bottle-feeding at home. World Health Organization. Babies often seem to like what they're used to, so if they have been fed warm bottles previously, then cold or room-temperature formula may be less tolerated.

Additionally, some babies who are used to breastfeeding and drinking warm breast milk may also prefer formula to be warm. Note that even if a baby initially doesn't seem to like cold or room-temperature formula, they may grow to like it after repeated exposure.

You can also try gradually reducing the temperature you serve it to help you baby acclimate to unheated formula. However, if you do choose to heat your baby's bottles, note that caution should be taken to avoid overheating. If formula gets too hot, the high temperature can break down the enzymes in the milk. Even more worrisome is that overheating can also result in scalding the baby's mouth. There are several ways to safely heat up a bottle of formula. Most importantly, always follow the instructions from the manufacturer of the formula you are using.

Additionally, never heat formula in the microwave as this can result in tiny hot areas in the formula that can burn your child. Instead try one of these safe heating methods:. When warming up infant formula , there are a few points to keep in mind. Because of the risk of scalding burns, remember to not use a microwave to warm your baby's bottles of formula. For this reason, it is important to remember to not use a microwave to warm your baby's bottles of formula.

If you still prefer to use a microwave to heat your child's bottles, vigorously shake the bottle and test the formula before giving it to your baby. But remember, it is much safer to warm the bottle using a baby bottle warmer or by placing the bottle in some warm tap water. Bottled water is not recommended for making up feeds, as it's not sterile and may contain too much salt sodium or sulphate. Find out more about bottle feeding and answers to common questions about formula feeds.

Page last reviewed: 24 September Next review due: 24 September How to make up baby formula. Good hygiene is very important when making up a formula feed. Step-by-step guide to preparing a formula feed Step 1: Fill the kettle with at least 1 litre of fresh tap water do not use water that has been boiled before. Step 2: Boil the water. Then leave the water to cool for no more than 30 minutes, so that it remains at a temperature of at least 70C.