Does It Matter What Temperature Baby Formula Is?

Babies should be fed breast milk or formula for the first 12 months, according to the National Institutes of Health's website, Medline Plus. Formula is available in powder, concentrated liquid and ready-to-use forms and is designed to provide all the nutrients babies need to grow properly. Many babies prefer to drink warm formula, but it doesn't need to be heated. If you decide to heat your baby's formula, take precautions to protect your baby against burns.

  1. Safe Temperature

    • Many parents warm baby formula, but this isn't necessary for nutrition; babies can also drink cool or room-temperature formula, according to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration. In fact, if you feed your infant refrigerated or room-temperature formula from the beginning, she is more likely to prefer feeding that way, according to KidsHealth.org. If you warm your baby's formula, ensure that the formula doesn't become hot. Babies can be seriously burned by formula that's too hot.

    Heating Formula

    • The safest way to warm baby formula is by placing the bottle in a pot of water and warming the water on the stove, according to the FDA. You can also heat formula by running the bottle under warm or hot water or by using a commercial bottle warmer. Heat the formula until it's lukewarm and similar to body temperature, but not hot. Before feeding your baby, shake the bottle vigorously and test the formula's temperature on the inside of your wrist. If the formula stings, let it cool further and test it again.

    Avoid Microwaving Formula

    • Never heat baby formula in the microwave. It may seem more convenient than other methods, but microwaving formula can create uneven hot spots in the bottle that can burn babies, according to the FDA. Even if the bottle is cool to the touch, some of the formula may be dangerously hot. Microwaving could also destroy the nutrients in formula, according to the Clemson University Cooperative Extension.

    Formula Safety

    • Boil water for one minute before mixing formula, even if you are using bottled water, according to the FDA. This kills bacteria that could make your baby sick. Follow the directions carefully; using more or less water than is recommended could make your baby dehydrated or not provide adequate nutrition. Don't add sugar or other ingredients to formula. Refrigerate formula immediately, unless you're feeding your baby right away. Don't save formula that's left in the bottle; throw it away and use freshly mixed formula for the next feeding. Talk to your doctor if you have questions about formula or if you're concerned your baby is allergic to it.

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