MICROWAVES AND BABY BOTTLES DON’T MIX

Why You Should Never Microwave Baby Bottles

Microwave ovens are a popular and convenient tool for quickly cooking meals or reheating leftovers. However, when it comes to warming your baby’s bottle, microwaves should be avoided.

While using a microwave to heat a bottle won’t necessarily ruin the feeding, it can lead to some potential issues:

• Infant Formula: Overheating may cause the loss of essential vitamins.

• Expressed Breast Milk: Heating can destroy the protective properties of breast milk.

However, the real dangers come from how microwaves heat bottles:

1. Uneven Heating: Microwaves heat liquids unevenly, meaning the liquid inside the bottle can become dangerously hot, even if the bottle itself feels cool. This can result in burns to your baby’s mouth, throat, or esophagus (the tube leading to the stomach).
2. Steam Build-Up: The hot liquid inside the bottle forms steam. In a closed bottle, this steam can build up and cause an explosion when opened, potentially spilling hot liquid onto your baby.

Many babies prefer their bottles to be at room temperature or slightly cooler. If your baby prefers a warm bottle, it’s best to heat it in a safe way:

• Use Warm Water: Place the filled bottle in a bowl of warm (not boiling) water, or hold it under warm running tap water.

• Shake Gently: After warming, shake the bottle gently to evenly distribute the warmth.

• Test the Temperature: Drop a few drops of milk on the inside of your wrist. If it feels comfortable to you, it’s safe for your baby.

This method may take a little longer than using a microwave, but it’s far safer for your baby.