EVERY NEW MOM MUST HAVE THIS IT SHE WANTS TO SLEEP AT NIGHT
Out of all the reviews I read on all of the items I now have in my home for my 3 month old, bottle warmers were the most controversial in terms of whether they worked properly or not. Well I am taking the time to write a review for an item that you cannot, I repeat not live without. It has given me the opportunity to get sleep that I wouldn't have gotten if every night I had to go into the kitchen to warm bottles (stove or microwave).
When my son begins to wake in the middle of the night, I remove one of two bottles which can be stored in the cooler (I use VentAire bottles); pour a little water in the heater and press the button. One to two minutes later (depending on ounces) the bottle is warmed while I shut my eyes and grab two minutes of extra sleep, which a new mother knows any little bit counts. When heated, I feed my son and I'm back sleeping in no time.
They say when you feed your baby at night, they should have as little stimulation as possible, so they don't get their days and nights mixed up, well the stimulation part I can tell you goes for us moms too. Just try getting back to sleep once you have gone into your kitchen and cluttered about trying to warm a bottle half asleep. Believe me you wake up fast and you don't go back to sleep that easily.
The two measuring cups they give you to measure the amount of water you need really depends on how cool the formula is or how many ounces you're using. Although they work as a very good guide at first, I keep a bottle of water by my bed and use my own judgment when pouring it into the heating source. After warming sooo many bottles you get use to knowing about how much you need.
We recently went on vacation to a friend's house and I brought the warmer with me. When my son needed his bottle I didn't have to disturb any one in the house by going into the kitchen. We stayed in the comfort of our own room and warmed his bottles.
The only thing I'm not certain about is whether or not the Playtex liner bottles work with this warmer, however I find the Playtex Ventaire bottles better in terms of the amount of air my son gets while drinking and the best part of them is you don't have to spend extra for liners.
I give this warmer 5 stars. It is THE BEST ITEM I have yet to encounter. Every new mom should have it, even if you are breast feeding. Eventually you will pump and store your milk which will need to be heated as well. Everyone...get this item!
Quick Heating - Dr Brown Bottle Spillage
1) For the convenience of night time feedings, this is indispensable. If i had to run downstairs to the kitchen, I'd probably be an irritable mommy during the day.
I use this both night & day and don't mind relocating it 'cause the 2 min up/down the stairs is worth not having to boil water for each feeding.
2) If you are a Dr Brown's user like me, you'll need to remove the cap and the tube before heating. After several episodes of boiling 'n bubbling formula (not a pleasant smell), we had to resort to removing the tube each time. Also, if the formula bubbles over, you end up overheating the bottle!!
I don't have any experience with any other bottle warmers.
Have also warmed breast milk in plastic bottles and it's a breeze.
3) The cooler is a nice amenity but it doesn't fit (height-wise) my 8 oz Dr Brown bottles - the 4 oz and the 8 oz wide mouth is ok though.
In fact, if they have this warmer without the cooler, you can just use your own little soft cooler with blue ice packs. The latter option will keep your bottles cold too.
Great Help
This warmer is wonderful! The best part is definitely not having to go downstairs in the middle of the night to get bottles or heat them up. I fill the measuring tubes before going to bed at night, and then all I have to do at night is dump in the water and turn it on. I don't even have to turn on the light. By the time I change my daughter, the bottle is ready to go.
It does take a little trial and error to get the amount of water right, but the guide is pretty accurate. I keep a glas of water next to the warmer to put the bottle in if it does get a little too warm. A quick dunk and a shake and it is ready to go.
I have always used this warmer with the Playtex bottles with the disposable liners, and I have never had a problem. This is one of the best baby items I have.
