The temperature of the bottle for babies can often be a question for young parents.
- Should the bottle be given hot, cold or at room temperature?
- And behind these various qualifiers, what is, in reality, the exact temperature to target? 😲
- Are there any risks or best practices to be aware of?
- And does your baby's age have anything to do with it?
Élhée answers all your questions to ensure optimal preparation of every bottle.
CONTENTS
- What is the ideal bottle temperature for a newborn baby?
- How to test the temperature of a feeding bottle?
- How do you warm a newborn's milk when you're on the move?
- Baby's growing up... Is it still necessary to warm the milk in his bottle?
- In a nutshell
What is the ideal bottle temperature for a newborn baby?
Let's proceed in chronological order.
For newborns, it is recommended to give the bottle at a temperature close to that of the body. close to body temperature (i.e. 37°C). This temperature is equivalent to that felt during a breast-feeding experience, and also helps baby to better digest the milk. Over time, some babies tolerate slightly different temperatures, sometimes warmer and sometimes not, depending on their preferences.
- You've just pumped but your milk seems cold?
- Wondering if you can reheat the bottle you've just prepared in the microwave?
How to test the temperature of a feeding bottle?
There are two ways of knowing, with varying degrees of accuracy, the temperature of milk in a feeding bottle.
Feel the temperature yourself
The traditional way to test a bottle's temperature is to pour a few drops of milk onto the front of your wrist. a few drops of milk onto the front of your wrist. This very sensitive area allows you to check that the milk is neither too hot nor too cold.
If the milk deposit seems comfortable, you can offer your child a bottle without risk. Too hot milk would have burned your skin.
Using a kitchen thermometer
A more contemporary, but also more reliable, method is to use a food thermometer to accurately measure the temperature of the milk. Digital thermometers are commonly used for this purpose, as they offer a quick and accurate readings.
Make sure you place the thermometer in the milk for a few moments and wait for it to beep and/or for the figures to stabilize, depending on the model (we recommend you refer to the instructions if you are concerned about misinterpretation).
How do you warm a newborn's milk when you're on the move?
It's not easy to obtain milk at 37°C while away from home. Some solutions, such as thermos jugs specially designed to hold a bottle and maintain it at the desired temperature.
What's more, if you're staying with friends, chances are they'll agree to warm your bottle in a bain-marie.
Another solution is not to prepare bottles too far in advance, especially if you don't have a mobile electric cooler that you can plug into your vehicle.
In this case, breast-feeding just before mealtime is certainly the safest way to feed your child at the right temperature. Freshly pumped milk will hardly have time to cool, provided you give it directly to your child once expressed.
Lightweight, space-saving manual breast pumps are also available.
Did you know? 🍼Our silicone feeding bottles are compatible with certain breast pumps, thanks to special adapters developed to facilitate your daily life and ensure compatibility between your different equipment.
Baby's growing up... Do I still need to heat the milk in my baby's bottle?
Some babies will be more attached to their habits than others, preferring to drink warm milk morning, noon and night! Others will enjoy sipping it cold. You can also take into account the season; it will indeed be pleasant for baby to be offered comforting warm milk in winter and cool milk in summer! 🌞
The most important thing is to ensure that the temperature of the milk does not present any risk of burns for your baby.
In a nutshell
The question of bottle temperature for babies, which very often remains a source of anxiety for young parents, is far from a mystery and is easily answered.
From birth to around 6 months of age, it's best to bottle-feed at close to body temperature, i.e. 37°C, to match the temperature of breast milk when breast-feeding.
Checking the milk temperature can be done either :
- By placing a drop of powdered or breast milk on your wrist
- Using a food thermometer.
It's best not to prepare the bottle too far in advance if you don't have the means to maintain and control its temperature. As baby grows, his tastes evolve, and it's not impossible that he'll show an interest in cold milk, or a greater resistance to milk that's slightly warmer.
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