Baby bottle warmers to warm your milk to perfection

Baby bottle warmers

by Eleanor Weaver |
Updated on

Perfect for busy mums and demanding family life, a baby bottle warmer is a compact and convenient device to ensure your baby's milk is warmed to perfection. Just like a baby food maker, these kitchen gadgets can make life so much easier for parents.

Whether you're using breast milk stored in the fridge, defrosting frozen supplies of milk or even heating baby food, a hassle-free bottle warmer will quickly and safely bring your baby's feed to the best temperature. We love that this mimics the comforting warmth of breastfeeding and saves your little one from getting more hungry and tearful while they wait.

The best baby bottle warmers at a glance:

Best baby bottle warmer overall: Tommee Tippee 3-in-1 Advanced Electric Bottle and Food Pouch Warmer - Buy now on Amazon UK
Best multi-purpose baby bottle warmer: MAM Electric Baby Bottle Steriliser & Express Bottle Warmer - Buy now on Amazon UK
Best comprehensive bottle warmer: Tommee Tippee Ultimate Formula Feeding Kit - Buy now on Amazon UK

Best battery-powered baby bottle warmer: NUPEAA Bottle Warmer Active - Buy now on Precious Bear

But how does it work? And do you really need one? We've shared a handy guide to baby bottle warmers and included the best you can buy, whether you're looking for one to put in your kitchen or carry one in your baby's changing bag.

Best comprehensive bottle warmer

The Tommee Tippee Ultimate Formula Feeding Kit was awarded Silver for Best Product for Bottle Feeding at the Mother&Baby Awards 2024.

The Tommee Tippee Ultimate Formula Feeding Kit includes an Electric Steam Steriliser, Perfect Prep Day & Night bottle maker, bottles, soothers, bibs, and more. The steriliser works by using natural steam to sterilise six bottles in just five minutes, ensuring your baby's items are free from harmful germs without the need for chemicals. Our mum testers loved the design, commenting; “the prep machine included is extremely easy to use and the design is very stylish and clean. The steam steriliser is easy to use and big enough for bottles and other feeding accessories.”

With features like anti-colic bottles, slow flow teats, and breast-like soothers, this kit provides everything needed for bottle feeding for all babies. Our mum testers loved how convenient and time-saving this kit was for nighttime feeds when preparing bottles at the perfect temperature quickly and easily. 

While some suggested including larger bottles for older babies, mums found the inclusion of bibs and an insulated bottle bag further enhances its practicality for on-the-go feeding. One mum tester said, “I think this kit is well worth the money and a great investment for new parents. The fact all of this comes in one convenient box along with some other access like bottles, a bottle warming bag and dummies is amazing and just what you need for baby!!”

Read our full Tommee Tippee Ultimate Formula Feeding Kit review.

Pros

  • Slow flow teats
  • Anti-Colic
  • Easy to use
  • BPA free

Cons

  • Bottle sizes - could do with bigger bottles
Suitable for:Premature babies
Usage:Dishwasher safe<br>Microwave safe
Included:1 x Electric Steam Steriliser, 1 x Perfect Prep Day &amp; Night Machine, 2 x 150ml Closer to Nature Baby Bottles, 2 x 150ml Closer to Nature Anti-Colic Baby Bottles, 2 x Milk Feeding Bibs, 1 x Insulated Bottle Bag, 2 x Breast-Like Soothers, 1 x Bottle &amp; Teat Brush
  • Closer to Nature bottles: The Complete Kit comes with 2 CTN bottles and 2 Anti-Colic CTN bottles, all 150ml with slow-flow teats, making it essential for parents with newborns.
  • Perfect Prep Day & Night: With the Tommee Tippee Perfect Prep Day & Night bottle maker, you can prepare fresh baby bottles at the correct temperature in only 2 minutes.
  • Breast-Like soothers: Tommee Tippee Breast-Like soothers are made from soft silicone with symmetrical teats that flex and stretch just like mum for a natural latch.
  • Insulated bottle bag: Designed for life on the go, the portable Tommee Tippee insulated bag allows you to store warm water in your baby's Closer to Nature bottle for feeding out and about.
  • Plastic bottle.
  • BPA free.
  • Anti-colic.
  • Standard neck bottle.
  • Slow flow teats.

Best baby bottle warmer overall

The Tommee Tippee Easiwarm Electric Bottle and Food Pouch Warmer offers a convenient solution for quickly heating breast milk, formula, or baby food. With a warming time of as little as four minutes, it preserves all the nutrients while ensuring a comfortable feeding temperature for your baby. 

One mum tester said, “It's incredibly easy to use, heats the bottles quickly, and gives us the peace of mind that the milk is being warmed safely.” 

Featuring one-dial operation and three settings, it warms bottles from fridge temperature, room temperature, or maintains warmth with the keep-warm function. Its gentle warming mechanism prevents hot spots for added safety. The intelligent warmer automatically calculates the optimum heating time based on the selected setting and starting temperature of the feed so you don’t have to guess. It also comes with a setting to keep the bottle warm for up to 30 minutes after heating.

Pros

  • Automatic timer
  • Suitable for most bottle sizes

Cons

  • Some people found it noisy
Warming time:4 minutes
Temperature settings:2

Best battery-powered baby bottle warmer

Boasting the title of 'The World's First Battery Powered Portable Bottle Warmer' the NUPEAA Bottle Warmer Active fits easily into your baby bag, ensuring convenience wherever you go.

This warmer efficiently heats your baby's milk to the ideal temperature in just six minutes and maintains warmth for up to six hours on a full charge, ideal for night feeds. It's suitable for both breastfed and formula-fed babies, featuring a one-press formula dispenser for added convenience.

Mum tester Natalie found this very useful when it came to travel, thanks to the USB-powered feature for charging on the go, commenting, "it’s perfect for when you are travelling and need to make bottles on the go and it’s also useful at home as you can keep a full days’ worth of feeds in the fridge and just heat the bottles up as and when required.” With three heat settings and a generous formula compartment, it offers versatility. 

The NUPEAA warmer's silicone lid keeps the heating plate sterile for quick and hygienic warming. Parent tester particularly loved the product's silent operation and lightweight design. The main thing our parent testers would have liked to see be improved is the display visibility as well as clearer instructions.

Read our full NUPEAA Bottle Warmer Active review

Pros

  • Great for travel
  • Holds for 6 hours on a full charge

Cons

  • The instruction booklet could be clearer
Warming time:6 minutes
Temperature settings:3

Best multi-purpose baby bottle warmer

Shortlisted for the Mother&Baby Awards 2022.

Combining multiple functions in one compact device, the MAM Electric Steam Steriliser & Express Bottle Warmer sterilises bottles effectively, but it also serves as a bottle and food warmer and breast milk defroster. This all-in-one feature reduces clutter on your kitchen countertop while providing essential functionalities for feeding and hygiene.

Featuring four different warming functions, including a 'keep warm' setting for up to 45 minutes, this device ensures that your baby's feed is always at the ideal temperature. With a MAM Easy Start Anti-Colic Baby Bottle, a MAM Slow Flow Teat, and a MAM Baby Soother included, it's great value for money. 

Real parent testers have praised its convenience and effectiveness, highlighting its ability to streamline feeding routines and reduce stress. Its multiple functions, including electric and microwave sterilisation, make it suitable for various scenarios, from home use to travel. Mum tester Katie agreed, saying “able to use at home or travelling as a microwave steriliser which was great and really convenient as it is super compact so hardly takes up any room.”

While some would have appreciated clearer water level indicators and a more compact design, overall, they did find this product very easy to use. Mum Jenny commented, “there doesn’t appear to be a maximum line for the water to be filled to, which would make using the steriliser a bit easier to use. I find myself having to measure out the recommended 200ml in a measuring jug to get the correct amount of water.” 
**
Read our full MAM Electric Baby Bottle Steriliser & Express Bottle Warmer review**

Pros

  • Not noisy
  • Very quick
  • Easy to clean

Cons

  • Takes up a lot of space
Warming time:2 and a half minutes
Temperature settings:3

Best wire and battery-free baby bottle warmer

The Babymoov travel bottle warmer is the ultimate solution for parents on the go, offering easy bottle heating without the need for batteries or electricity. With just a simple twist of the cap, you can activate the heating system, warming bottles and jars of all shapes and sizes in just five minutes. The neoprene isotherm casing ensures that the temperature is maintained for up to four to five hours, perfect for days out away from home.

This bottle warmer also features a carrying handle that can be easily attached to any pushchair or maternity bag, making it a practical accessory for busy parents. Its also compatible with every type of baby bottle and jar. Having said that, mum tester Annette found the shape of the bag a problem for her bottles. “The only problem is the shape of the bag. It made it very difficult to get my Avent bottles in and out.”

Parents found it very quick to heat bottles up and loved the design. Although it does require recharging and cleaning after each use, cleaning is easy and it’s easy to recharge.

Pros

  • Suitable for most bottle sizes
  • Great for travel

Cons

  • Takes longer to heat bottles than other bottle warmers
Warming time:12 minutes
Temperature settings:1

Best baby bottle warmer for speed

The NUK Thermo Express Bottle Warmer gently warms a bottle using steam, to help them reach the perfect temperature in just 90 seconds. It’s designed to accommodate various bottle and jar sizes and includes a practical basket for easy lifting in and out.

To use, simply fill it with the appropriate amount of water, place your bottle or jar inside, and press the button to start the heating process. An indicator light illuminates during the warming phase, and the warmer automatically shuts off at the end, providing added safety and energy efficiency. Parents loved how easy this was to use, with one mum tester saying, “once you find the correct amount of water for your bottle then that's all you need, add, press button and wait. No annoying beeps, the light just turns off.” 

Parents loved its ability to warm a fridge-cold bottle in just four minutes and the compact design means it doesn't take up much space on your kitchen counter, making it very practical. The compact design was also loved by parents when it came to travel, with one mum commenting, “We bought it for travelling purposes, and it worked wonders.”

Regular descaling is recommended for maintenance, and it's important to note that this is not suitable for PE bottles or breast milk bags.

Pros

  • Works quickly
  • Compact size
  • Practical basket for removing glass jars and bottles

Cons

  • Has to be unplugged via main plug to stop early
Warming time: 90 seconds
Temperature settings:1

Best baby bottle warmer with auto shut-off

DR BROWN'S Deluxe Electric Bottle Warmer & Steriliser

Rrp: $48.99

Price: $41.99
Alternative retailers
Target$41.99View offer
Kohl's$42.99View offer
Walmart$49.98View offer
Macy's$49.98View offer

This bottle warmer and steriliser in one makes it easier to warm your baby’s bottles to perfection while also making sure they are thoroughly sterilised, eliminating any hidden germs. Featuring pre-programmed settings for different bottle sizes and temperatures, it quickly prepares your baby's food with just one touch of a button, and its large water reservoir minimises the need for frequent refills. Mum testers loved that it did this job in one, commenting, “this was perfect for our needs in terms of steriliser and bottle warmer as its compact and does both jobs. Doesn’t take up too much room on the worktop either.”

Compatible with Dr. Brown bottles and most other brands, it’s operated with an easy-to-use LED control panel with a touch keypad and button start function. It efficiently heats multiple bottles before requiring a refill, and the audio and visual alerts signal the end of the warming cycle. 

Safety features include an automatic shut-off after eight minutes and cycle memory to repeat preferred heating times. One downside mums found is that it requires filtered water to prolong its use.

Pros

  • Anti-colic vent system
  • Pre-programmed warming settings
  • Audible alarm with auto shut-off

Cons

  • Adding the water can be tricky
Temperature settings:1

Best baby bottle warmer for travel

Designed for on-the-go feeding, this Tommee Tippee Closer to Nature Portable Travel Baby Bottle & Food Warmer stores hot water, to warm up expressed milk or water for bottle feeds while traveling. It also has the ability to keep water warm for up to four hours making it ideal for suitable for short trips and outings, with one mum tester commenting that it “keeps water really hot and its ideal for travel.” 
Although it's specifically designed for use with Tommee Tippee Closer to Nature Bottles, it can accommodate multiple food containers, and parents particularly loved how convenient it was for both bottle feeding and transitioning to solid foods.

The thermos-like design holds approximately two bottles worth of hot water, ensuring you have everything you need while on the move. While it lacks temperature control, its affordability and practicality make it a worthwhile investment for parents, although some parents would have also liked it to hold more water, with one mum commenting, “doesn’t hold a massive amount of hot water and feel it does get cold after about 4/5 hours.”

Pros

  • Great for travel
  • Keeps water warm for up to four hours
  • Doesn't require external warming source

Cons

  • Some found the closing mechanism confusing
Warming time:N/A

Best smart baby bottle warmer

Designed to fit most major bottle brands securely without leaks, the Munchkin 37° Digital Bottle Warmer comes with five adapters for added compatibility. The digital display monitors the liquid temperature as it warms, ensuring precise heating up to 37°C and maintaining this temperature for 30 minutes, with one parent saying, “we checked the temperature a few times after reading some reviews but it was always perfect.”

User-friendly and compact, this bottle warmer requires no water reservoir or measurements, making it ideal for busy parents. Simply twist the bottle into the base, flip the unit, and press to start warming. It's efficient and doesn't clutter your countertop. Plus, there's no need for batteries; just plug it in and go! 

It's a convenient solution for warming breast milk or formula, whether you're at home or on the go. One mum tester said, “we're only formula feeding once per day so are using ready made and once in the bottle this little gadget warms it to the perfect temperature in literally a couple of minutes.” The main downside was how tricky it was to clean, with one mum saying, “only thing that's not great is cleaning it. You can't detach the heat plate to clean. Makes sense really as it needs to stay attached to warm the milk. If you're a germ freak and really want to sterilise everything, it's just something to be aware of.”

Pros

  • Easy to use
  • Compact
  • Comes with 5 bottle adaptors

Cons

  • Wipe clean only
Warming time:N/A
Temperature settings:1

Best one-touch baby bottle warmer

Its one-touch design and compact size make the Nuby Bottle Warmer ideal for travel, fitting all sizes, shapes, and brands of bottles. Whether you’re warming breast milk, formula, or baby food, even from frozen, this warmer gets the job done in as little as three minutes.

To use, simply add water following the instructions, load your bottle using the provided basket, and touch to start. It's important to note that the unit requires a 10-minute cooldown between uses and the power button should be pressed firmly to operate. One mum tester found this very easy to use, commenting, “So easy to use, just use the measuring jug each time and flick the button then just wait! I have noticed over time the wait time for the warming has become a little longer each time but still great!”

Parents love how quick this is when it comes to heating compared to traditional warmers. The main downside they found was that it doesn’t have an off switch, with one mum commenting, “it doesn’t auto turn off the light stays on and the only way to stop it is turn it off at the wall.”

Pros

  • Great for travel
  • Easy to use
  • Works quickly

Cons

  • No off button
Warming time:3 minutes
Temperature settings:1

Best baby bottle warmer with smart control

Philips Avent Fast Bottle Warmer with Smart Temperature Control
Price: $49.95
Alternative retailers
Target$49.99View offer
Walmart$53.10View offer
Overstock$55.09View offer

The Philips Avent Bottle Warmer can warm milk in just three minutes, defrost frozen milk and baby food, and keep warmed milk at the ideal temperature for up to 60 minutes. Compatible with Philips Avent bottles and most other brands, parents found this warmer very easy to use, with one mum commenting, “it is very easy to use and keeps the milk nice and warm without overheating it and making it to hot.”

Featuring smart temperature control, this warmer ensures that milk and baby food are heated evenly without any hotspots. The temperature control also prevents overheating and adjusts the heating pattern for fast warming. 

The clear indicator light lets you know when the milk has reached the perfect temperature, and the warmer automatically shuts off after 60 minutes to prevent dry-boiling. Parents love how this streamlines bottle feeding routines and saves time. The only downside is that warming time can vary a lot depending on the starting temperature which is not ideal for night feeds as one parent found. “Sometimes the milk is 35 sometimes it is 23 and this can be frustrating especially during the night feeds with a screaming baby.” They said.

Pros

  • Smart temperature control
  • Defrosts frozen milk and food
  • Fits most bottles

Cons

  • No water gauge
Warming time:3 minutes
Temperature settings:N/A

How does a baby bottle warmer work?

Traditional baby bottle warmers have a central vessel where you put your baby's bottle in. You then fill around the bottle with water and switch on the power, which enables the heating element in the bottle warmer to heat the water and bottled milk in turn.

With a baby bottle warmer, you can take the guesswork out of warming your baby's bottle to the ideal temperature with a thermostat and clear indicator light that goes off when it's just right.

Suitable for breast milk, formula, and even baby food in some cases, make sure the bottle warmer you're looking to buy can accommodate the bottles you have at home. Many come with adapters for holding different shapes and sizes of bottles and jars.

What is the ideal temperature for baby milk?

The ideal temperature for breast milk is 37°C. Not only is it easier to digest for tiny tummies, saving discomfort at bedtime. But babies prefer their milk at natural body temperature. If you've stored your expressed breast milk in the fridge or freezer, using a bottle warmer will bring it back to this temperature for your little one.

The same temperature applies to formula milk too. You can use a bottle warmer with ready-to-use formulas that can be stored in the fridge. However, if you're using powder formula, it's recommended to make up each formula fresh for your baby. In comparison to breast milk, the formula isn't sterile. You should make it up using hot water to kill the bacteria and use it within two hours once cooled to room temperature.

Do you really need a bottle warmer?

While it's not completely necessary, using a bottle warmer is one of the best and safest ways to warm your baby's bottle. Not only that, but a bottle warmer is:

Quick: Baby bottle warmers are designed to be quick and efficient, so your baby isn't left crying or hungry for too long - something mum and baby can both appreciate! Some bottle warmers can reach the perfect temperature in as little as 90 seconds.

Easy to use: There's very little hassle involved; you just need to put in the bottle, fill it with water if the reservoir is low, switch it on, and go. Some baby bottle warmers have pre-programmed settings to suit different bottles and starting temperatures, whilst others just have a one-touch operation to save the faff if you're consistently heating the same type of bottles.

Reliable: Baby bottle warmers are designed to evenly heat up your baby's milk every time without the risk of overheating. Some will even keep your baby's bottle warm for a long period of time with auto-shutoff and overheating protection to prevent anything from getting too warm.

Transportable: As well as being generally more convenient, some bottle warmers are designed to easily fit in your baby's changing bag and carry on the go. These can be USB charged, require no power at all, or be mains-powered but light enough to carry with you when visiting family and friends.

Is a bottle warmer better than using the microwave?

It is definitely better. Warming your milk in the microwave is not recommended. Warming in the microwave can result in uneven heating as the milk is directly heated - bottle warmers heat the water surrounding the bottle instead. This transfer of heat is a much safer process – bottles heated in the microwave may continue to ‘boil’ after being removed and could end up being too hot for your baby’s sensitive mouth. Not only that but overheating the milk can damage baby bottles and destroy the natural nutrients contained in breast milk.

If you’re not using a bottle warmer, it’s recommended to replicate the process by filling a jug or bowl with warm water and placing your baby’s bottle inside for no more than 15 minutes.

Eleanor Weaver is the Deputy Homes & Garden Product Editor and has been a writer for titles such as Mother&Baby and Yours. In her role, she has researched and recommended the best products for parents, from breast pumps to toys, nursery décor to car seats. She's also kept a keen eye on celeb mums and influencers to share what they've been using to help make parenting that little bit easier.

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