You can heat breast milk by placing the bottle in warm water or under a warm tap, but not in the microwave.
Safe Methods for Warming Breast Milk
It's important to warm breast milk safely to preserve its nutritional benefits and prevent burns for your baby. Here's how you can do it effectively:
Warming with Warm Water
- Jug of Warm Water:
- Fill a jug or bowl with warm water.
- Place the bottle of breast milk inside, making sure the water level reaches at least to the milk level in the bottle.
- Let the bottle sit for a few minutes until the milk reaches the desired temperature.
- Swirl gently to distribute the warmth evenly.
- Running Warm Water:
- Hold the bottle under a running warm tap.
- Rotate the bottle to ensure even heating.
- Keep the milk bottle under warm water until it reaches the right temperature.
Key Considerations
- Temperature: Aim to warm the breast milk to body temperature, which feels lukewarm to the touch. This is comfortable for the baby and helps avoid scalding.
- Testing: Before feeding, test the temperature of the milk by placing a few drops on your inner wrist. It should feel lukewarm.
- Gentle Swirling: Avoid shaking the bottle vigorously, which can damage the milk’s proteins. Swirl gently to mix the warmed milk.
Things To Avoid
| Method | Why Avoid? |
|---|---|
| Microwave | Can create hot spots, destroying nutrients, and potentially cause burns. It’s best to avoid the microwave for heating or defrosting breast milk. |
| Boiling Water | Can destroy the beneficial antibodies in the breast milk. |
Key Takeaways
- You can offer expressed milk straight from the fridge if the baby accepts it.
- If warming, use warm water, and test the temperature before feeding.
- Avoid microwaves and boiling to preserve nutrients and safety.
