Safe Food for Babies and Children: Warming Bottles Safely

For the first year of a baby’s life, breast milk or infant formula should be used to provide the nutrition necessary to promote growth and general health. Premixed infant formula and expressed breast milk do not need to be heated prior to feeding. However, many babies prefer warm bottles because of the similarity to warm milk fed from the breast.

Preparing infant bottles requires the parent or caregiver to be knowledgeable about safe heating and handling practices. Bottles can be heated safely and easily by stovetop heating or running the bottle under hot water

In this simple and convenient method, bottles are:

• placed in a pan of water warming on the stovetop or
• placed in the pan after the water has been heated and removed from the stove.

In either case, the water does not need to be heated to the boiling point, and the bottle needs to be in the water for only a few minutes. Stovetop heating is recommended for warming expressed breast milk. To prevent burns to the baby, test the temperature of the formula or breast milk by sprinkling a few drops on the inside of your wrist.

An easy way to safely heat bottles with disposable liners is to use hot, running water from your faucet. Holding the bottle under the faucet for about two minutes will allow the breast milk or formula to reach a desirable temperature. Remember to test the temperature by sprinkling a few drops of milk or formula on the inside of your wrist before serving.

Microwaving formula in bottles can result in uneven heating and hot spots. Hot spots can cause serious burns to a baby’s mouth and throat.

For more information on nutrition and food safety, visit the NDSU Extension website: www.ag.ndsu.edu/food

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