Bottle Warmer & Bottle Sterilizer (2nd + Moms)...

LovingStepMom

Hi Ladies!

We did not register initially for a bottle warmer or bottle sterilizer because we have a dishwasher and microwave and stove.

Now...I thought...what if we want to use these items in the middle of the night to help feed baby (since I plan on exclusively breast feeding)...but may want to have DH feed baby sometimes.

I would like to get your opinion.  Are these items worth having?  If so, what brand do you recommend buying?

TIA!

Kiranie

We didn't get a bottle warmer...just warmed milk under warm water. We did get a sterilizer, and used at maybe 4 times. I don't think you need either.

kabarbanel

We didn't have either with DS, and we survived, so don't plan to have them this time either.

mlkbride03

Never had a bottle warmer- never missed it. We had a sterilizer and never used it. Maybe I will this time, but it hasn't ever even been opened.

FutureMrsCaesar

If you are planning to breastfeed then I would definitely skip both of those items.  Having DH do a night feeding is not as easy as it sounds when bfing, unfortunately, so those will probably be far and few between.  Bottles in general are pretty far and few between and not a big deal to just put in the dishwasher. 

kmlevine04@gmail.com

I'm not a 2nd time mom, but i decided to get a sterilizer mostly for a breast pump parts...thought they'd be easier to deal with cleaning that way. i also registered (and got) a 'day and night' bottle warmer that we can keep upstairs that has a freezer portion so you can keep bottles upstairs with out overnight and warm them as you need them so DH can do some feedings....but like i said, i'm a first timer so who knows..

buboo

I never used either so do not think they are necessary.

fruitloverncraver

kabarbanel:

We didn't have either with DS, and we survived, so don't plan to have them this time either.

Well said and AGREE!

azzyberry

Completely unneccessary.  I never warmed DS's bottles.  They don't need it and it just sets you up for a lot of hastle in the future because they'll get used to it warm and then refuse to take it cold.  Also, what do you do if you go out?  You won't be able to warm their bottle then.

You don't need a sterilizer either.  A dishwasher is just fine.  Waste of money IMO.

Kierasmommy09

I used my bottle warmer religiously and just boiled bottles, and pacifiers and stuff no need for the sterilizer imo.

OctGirl80

I'm not a 2+ mom, but here's some of what I've come across in my research

 

Do not use the microwave to heat (or thaw) breastmilk. It destroys the nutrients. It also doesn't usually heat evenly so you might end up with spots that are too hot for LO (with any liquid really). Also, you don't want to shake breastmilk but swirl (I've forgotten why, but if you go on the BF board, they'll prob know).

 

Ditto on the dishwasher being fine.

lizard76

I never used/had either and my kid seemed to do just fine.  The dishwasher sterilizes (although I did sterilize the bottles in boiling water for 3 min. before their first use).  I also bought microwave sterilization bags (by the breastfeeding supplies) for sterilizing tubing for breastfeeding, pacifiers ever so often, and other such things.

I nursed during the night, so no need for a bottle warmer.  During the day, we just warmed bottles by submerging them in a larger container with hot water.

Born2Fly

I'm a 1st time mom but I wanted to add my 2cents.  I registered for and got both at our shower.  I don't think either are things we NEED so much as they are convenient to have.  Personally I dont even see the sterilizer as a convenience but rather an added chore.  I returned the sterilizer because the more I thought about it, I figured the whole idea would get old pretty quick and the bottles would end up in the dishwasher right along with everything else.  I exchanged it for other stuff.

I also plan to BF/pump and our LC said to introduce the bottle at 6-7 weeks.  When we introduce the bottle she said to have DH do it, not me.  The bottle warmer is a keeper for DH because we have a 2 story home and neither of us wants to have to run up and down stairs all night.  With that said, we also have a fridge upstairs as well so together they serve the purpose.  One works with the other.  If I had to go to the kitchen anyway (to get the bottle) then I'd scrap the bottle warmer as well and just use our microwave.   

   

PAmiler82

FutureMrsCaesar:

If you are planning to breastfeed then I would definitely skip both of those items.  Having DH do a night feeding is not as easy as it sounds when bfing, unfortunately, so those will probably be far and few between. 

ditto this.  We had neither and never missed them.

I also agree that having DH give bottles at night was not as easy as me just getting up and BFing.  You should be pumping anytime a bottle is given so if he does an overnight feeding you have to get up anyway.   I found pumping to be much more annoying that just BFing so we never did it overnight. 

Phillychickadee

Bottle warmer- eh.  We didn't have it and it was not missed.  I EBF'd and DS got maybe 1 bottle a day.  We just used warm water to warm it. 

We actually had the sterilizer and we used it all of about 2 times.  It was bulky and took up much needed  counter space. It was actually rather inconvenient!

Cat-in-Boston

In the middle of hte night a warmer is essential! I had the Avent, but it got slower as it got older - so we replaced it with the First Year's one and loved it. The sterilizer that I got was the avent one and it works great as you don't need to buy anything else once you have it, just clean it every so often and ensure fresh water.

 These are time saving items and honestly when you have a crying LO, time saving items matter...

seastar77

I EPed with DD and used the sterilizer regularly with the pump parts and bottles, but this time around I probably won't use it as often, so I'd say not something you need to keep - they take up a lot of space. And even though I was constantly defrosting milk from the freezer or warming it from the fridge, a large cup of hot water always worked fine for warming the bottle, but like a PP mentioned, definitely do not microwave breast milk because it breaks down the nutrients.

rosesandpeonies

stick the bottle in a pot of hot water.  I formula feed and that is what I do.

Also, boil things and the dishwasher.  You don't need those other things....they just take up space.  As pp said do not use the microwave...nutrients are taken out and it heats unevenly.  Don't even use boiling water to warm....just very hot tap water in a pot will work.

NewBlue

Got not one bottle warmer but two!  I had to exclusively pump so we warmed many bottles.  Since we have a mini fridge upstairs, I would keep his night time bottles up there and ended up getting a warmer for upstairs as well.  Was really nice not having to go up and down stairs while sleep deprived holding a baby.

We didn't get a sterilizer (Dr. Browns) until he developed thrush.  The hot water in the dishwasher will sterilize but we didn't want to run our dishwasher daily.

Anyway, I would get a cheaper bottle warmer (First Years or Munchkin) and wait on the other stuff.  You can always get it later if you find yourself using more bottles.

ErinMTaylor

I had a Phillips Avent Express Bottle Warmer and LOVED it.  I just kept water in it all the time - and when I had to get up in the middle of the night to warm a bottle I just popped one in - and by the time I was done changing my son's diaper it was ready to go.

I actually started out without one - I just figured I would use hot water.  But of course I had to heat the water, which took some time (waiting for the tap water to heat all the way) and then the hot water warmed the bottle a lot slower than the bottle warmer did.  It got old really fast.  The bottle warmer was a million times better (for me, anyway).

Sterilizer - never used.