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Warming baby food in a nutrient-preserving way

You’re coming back from a walk with your child. The fresh air has made him hungry and you’re preparing his bottle. To ensure that the milk is at the right temperature, you put the bottle in the baby food warmer. In just a few minutes, the milk is at exactly the right temperature, not too hot and not too cold. Your baby sucks contentedly on his bottle and drinks it all. This buying guide explains how you can warm up baby food yourself with the baby food warmer and the different methods these devices use.

How do baby food warmers work?

A healthy diet is important for babies and toddlers. They need the nutrients found in breast milk and high-quality baby food to grow healthy, big and strong. A baby food warmer heats the meal for your child so gently that as many nutrients as possible are retained. Compared to heating in a pot, using a baby food warmer is also quicker and safer. The food is heated more evenly and using such a small kitchen appliance is uncomplicated. In this way, you can prepare a warm meal for your child in just a few minutes.

Tip: The optimal temperature for baby milk is 37 °C. You can check the temperature again by putting a few drops on the inside of your wrist: the milk should not feel hot, but warm.

How can I heat baby food with food warmers?

The bottle and baby food warmers are tailored to the different needs of families with children. They also differ in the method of heating.

Heating in a water bath

Similar to heating in a pot, baby food is heated in a water bath. You fill the baby food warmer with water and start it after you have placed the bottles or jars in the baby food warmer. The advantage of a baby food warmer like this, which works on the water bath principle , is that the food is heated more evenly. The water is replaced after each use, so the device always remains in a hygienic condition.

Heating with steam

These bottle warmers also need water, but in this case it is evaporated in the device. The steam not only heats the baby food very evenly, but this method also saves water. Since there is also no standing water in which bacteria could form, baby food warmers that work with steam are considered particularly hygienic.

Heating with infrared

Baby food warmers with infrared function do not require any water at all . The devices cannot build up limescale and are therefore particularly easy to clean. However, compared to bottle warmers with water, it takes a little longer for the baby food to warm up to the desired temperature.

These are the features that distinguish bottle warmers for babies

Baby food warmers can make everyday life easier for young families thanks to various functions. You should look out for these features when buying:

Capacity

Generally speaking, all baby food warmers accommodate all standard bottles or jars. This means that you can put both the smallest baby bottles with a capacity of 150 ml and the larger ones, which can hold up to 300 ml, in the device. The diameter of the machine is usually around 8 cm.

Tip: Some manufacturers offer double bottle warmers for parents of twins.

material

Baby food warmers are usually made of plastic – either ABS (acrylonitrile butadiene styrene copolymer) or polypropylene (PP), a strong and temperature-resistant plastic. Some manufacturers use a stainless steel outer shell and only use plastic for the interior. It is important that the devices are BPA-free; make sure you check the manufacturer’s information.

Performance and warm-up time

The heating power and the warm-up time vary depending on the device. Some baby food warmers manage to warm 150 or 240 ml of milk in 2.5 to three minutes at a power of 300 to 400 W. Others need between eight and ten minutes at 80 to 100 W.

Tip: The baby food should be stirred well after heating so that the heat is evenly distributed.

Defrost function

Regardless of whether you have frozen breast milk or stored baby food in the freezer, gently defrosting is always a good idea, as it preserves the nutrients and can prevent the formation of bacteria. There is usually a button for defrosting. When the food is ready to eat, the indicator light goes out. Defrosting takes between five and ten minutes, depending on the device.

Keep warm function

The baby food warmer’s keep-warm function keeps the food warm after it has been heated. The food warmer usually switches automatically from “heating” to “keeping warm”. Depending on the device, the temperature is then kept constant for up to 60 minutes before it is switched off.

programming

Some baby food warmers allow you to select a program for night feedings . So if you know from experience when your child wants their bottle at night, you can prepare and program the next meal before going to bed. Then the milk or porridge will be ready at the desired time.

Acoustic signal and sterilization

Some devices work with an acoustic signal. If you are not in the kitchen with your baby, this signal will alert you that the meal for your child is ready. Some models also function as a disinfection device or vaporizer and can also mix and chop. This makes making your own baby food child’s play. Certain devices also have a cooking function or an integrated juicer.

Bottle and jar warmers for you and your baby

Your toddler will appreciate a well-tempered meal. Which device is right for you also depends on how many children you have and what else you want to use it for.

Bottle warmer for smaller families

Are you a young family and have just had your first child? Then a device for warming up and keeping food warm is ideal . A display shows the temperature for easy monitoring, and you can enter the exact temperature you want to keep it warm at all times. You can get a baby food warmer like this for around €25 and it is suitable for bottles and jars.

Baby food warmer and sterilizer for larger families

For families with several small children, a multifunctional device is suitable, starting at around €65. This means you only need one baby food warmer for sterilizing, warming and mobile use . The milk is warmed up in 2.5 minutes, and sterilizing the bottles takes around seven minutes. You can also program the device for night-time feedings.

Baby food warmer for on the go

Even if you are not at home with your little darling, you do not have to go without a baby food warmer. In the car, you can use the cigarette lighter and an adapter to connect the device. Alternatively, the bottle can be warmed using a thermos flask and a matching plastic container. Simply pour the hot water into the container and after 2.5 minutes the milk is ready to drink. A set like this costs €25.

How often should I descale a baby food warmer?

Regular use can cause limescale to build up on baby food warmers that use water or steam. This can be easily removed, but always follow the manufacturer’s care instructions.

• First, fill the device with water and heat it up. Then add some citric acid or white vinegar and let the mixture work for about half an hour. As soon as the limescale has been removed from the device, rinse it out with plenty of clean water.
• Limescale can also be removed without heating the water. To do this, add one part water (for example 100 ml) to half a part vinegar (i.e. 50 ml). After the exposure time, rinse the device thoroughly.
• How often you should descale depends on how hard the water is in your region. Once a month has proven to be the best option in most areas.
• To clean the outside of the device, unplug it and wipe it with a dishcloth and a little washing-up liquid. Don’t forget to rinse it well!

Conclusion: Heat baby food easily and safely

Especially in the early days, young families are unsure what temperature their child’s milk should be. A baby food warmer takes on this task and warms bottles and jars of baby food to exactly the right temperature. When choosing the right device, you should consider the following tips:

• Are you a first-time parent and want to be on the safe side when warming up baby milk? Then you should choose a device for warming up and keeping it warm. A display always shows the current temperature.
• Multifunctional devices are practical for families with several children . They can be used to heat baby and toddler food, sterilize bottles and program the next meal.
• If you are taking your baby with you on a trip, we recommend a set of a baby bottle, thermos flask and plastic container. Simply pour the hot water from the flask into the container and place the bottle in it.