How can I warm up a bottle if I am not near a microwave?

Question

My daughter is 6 months old and I just weaned her (from breastfeeding) and I have started to give her formula.

Let me make this clear. I am not warming the formula. Just the water...for like 20 seconds. she won't drink it otherwise.

But if I am out shopping or at an appointment, how can I warm up the bottle?

Answer 1

Once the bottle is warm it's good for 2 hours, as long as the baby hasn't drunk any then it's good for an hour. If you know you are going to be out long, carry the bottle(s) in an insulated carrier with ice packs and ask for hot water to warm it up.. It only takes a few minutes. By the way this is what I do.

I use my lunch bag as it holds 3 4oz bottles, works great. Keeps them cold for hours. I always carry what I need plus 1 extra bottle, just incase.

Answer 2

I can only suggest that you get some of those hand warmer packets to keep around.

The problem with just warming a little bit is that you have to do it right before the baby eats....you can't have formula slightly warm, because bacteria can grow.

When this happened to me and she was really hungry, she drank the formula cold.

I invested a couple dollars in a bottle warmer that hooks up to your car lighter. It works great.

Also, I leave the bottle of water on the dashboard of the car to heat in the sun, then add the formula to the warm water.

Answer 3

Bring a thermo of hot water along with you. Make sure to also bring a bottle of cold water to use in case the hot water hasn't cooled by the time you need to use it. Then bring enough formula to mix the bottle. You can also ask fpeople for hot water to warm a bottle. I did that constantly. Some people get annoyed but its better to deal with them then a crying baby whose hunger and refusing to drink a cold bottle. My sister gives my niece room temp. bottles when she's out. She brings along the formula and has the bottles filled with water at room temp. Find out which way works for you.

Answer 4

I always carried on of those oversized cups with me and ran it full of HOT water. I sat the bottle down inside the cup and continued running hot water over it and it would warm it up. It takes a few minutes, and baby will cry, but that's OK.
Remember, folks had to do this all the time before microwaves.

Good Question though!

Answer 5

Wait...don't heat a bottle in the microwave!!!! Heating in a microwave is too uneven and can cause hot spots which can cause burns to your baby!

You can use warm water from the tap if you are out or mixed the water and formula and then run the bottle under warm water.

Answer 6

Carry the bottle next to your skin while shopping. Then the water will be the right temperature. Just tuck it in your pants band or belt or something and then when she wants it, it's the right temp. In a pinch, head for the bathroom and hold the bottle under the warm tap water.

Answer 7

My sister in law had a bottle warmer you plugged into the car. I'm sure babies r us would have something like this.

Or you could warm the water before leaving the house. Make it hot but not scolding so by the time you need it, it should be at the right temperature.

Answer 8

heating water in a microwave can also cause hot spots, but that is not an issue if you shake the bottle vigorously afterwards, which breaks up the hot spots, that wasn;t your question however.....I used a small insulated backpack to put in my diaper bag with heated hot packs inside of it to keep my daughters bottles of water warm. It worked great and the little backpack fit perfectly into my diaper bag.

Answer 9

You cn also warm the formula, not just the water...just to let you know. If you are out, run straight hot water over the bottle until you feel that its the temperature that your baby prefers. Obviously, tes it on your wrist, and don't let her hold the bottel until it the outside has cooled down, she may burn her little hands.

Answer 10

Buy one of those bottle holders designed to keep bottles warm and put hot one in before you go out. Then you just need to take it out and let it cool down a bit.