Formula. It isn’t safe to heat up baby formula in the microwave. Microwaves heat unevenly, so the formula could get very hot in the middle of the bottle but barely lukewarm on the outside. These “hot spots” you can’t detect could burn your baby’s mouth and throat. Even if you shake the formula well and test it before using it, there might still be hot spots in the formula.
One other thing to keep in mind is that plastic bottles and sippy cups contain chemicals that may leach synthetic hormones. Exposing the plastics to high heat is one thing that will cause the chemicals to leach, so it’s best to avoid putting them in the microwave.
How to heat up microwave formula safely
To avoid burning your baby’s mouth, it’s safer to heat a bottle under hot running water for a minute or two, or by setting it in a bowl of hot water for a few minutes. Be sure that in either case the bottle is capped to avoid unintentionally getting any extra water in the bottle.
You could heat water in a pot on the stove to warm your baby’s bottle in. If you do this, be sure to remove the pot from the heat source before placing the bottle in it. Another convenient and safe way to warm your baby’s formula is by using an electric bottle warmer.
Regardless of how you heat your baby’s formula, it’s important to test the temperature before feeding it to your baby to make sure it isn’t too hot. Swirl the bottle around to mix it, then shake a couple drops onto the back of your hand. If it feels too hot, let it cool for a couple of minutes and check again before feeding it to your baby.
If you’re looking for a shortcut, try giving your baby cold or room temperature formula. There’s no harm in it, many babies will happily drink room temperature milk, and it saves you time and effort. Plus, it can help make the transition to cow’s milk easier when your baby is a year old, since you may want to serve their milk cold, straight from the refrigerator.
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