Are they necessary and helpful or just another thing for a new mommy to think she REALLY needs??
Dee7772
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Re: Food/Bottle Warmers and Bottle Sterlizers?
I use my bottle warmer and love it. It is quick and easy to warm the bottle. I know many people who just use hot water, which is great too, but IMO it takes to long. I also have the sterilzer, which I love. You can boil the bottles, but the sterlizer is so quick, only 8-9 minutes and its done. I guess they are not really necessary to have, it was just something I wanted to make my life a little easier.
Calla
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Re: Food/Bottle Warmers and Bottle Sterlizers?
Are you planning to breastfeed or formula feed? If breast feed, lots of moms pump straight into the collapsable bags that can attach to a bottle.
Kris
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Re: Food/Bottle Warmers and Bottle Sterlizers?
I loved mine for the late night feedings. Ours had an icepack that kept 2 bottles cold, and then warmed up each one. I didn't have to grope my way downstairs for a bottle. Also, I still use my sterilizer, I sterilize her bottles, pacifiers, toys, etc. I could use the dishwasher, but food usually ends up getting stuck in the nipple, which is totally disgusting. So, I say go for it.
jpsgirl
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Re: Food/Bottle Warmers and Bottle Sterlizers?
I boiled bottles when they were new, and then just washed them in the dishwasher about once a week, the other times I just washed them by hand. Personally I think sterilizing bottles every time you use them is a bit much. A did get a sterilizer, but I used it at work bc I would leave a set of pumping bottles there, and I would sterilize them there every day, since I couldn't wash them that well in the sink. As far as bottle warmers...if I had a treck to the kitchen, I would have used one - but we're all on one floor, and I found hot water to be just as quick. My milk was in ziplock bags in the fridge, and they heated up one two three in the water, then I just poured them in a bottle. When the milk or formula is already in a bottle, it takes a good 5 minutes in hot water to warm up.
ddunne23
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Re: Food/Bottle Warmers and Bottle Sterlizers?
We bottle feed Jack and i have no shame in admitting that I heat up his bottles in the microwave! Usually 25-30 seconds does the trick and takes the chill off. I wouldn't be able to stand a bottle warmer or boil water thing. Also I have the Avent microwave sterlizer and I still use it for his bottles. You just put everything in there and microwave for 4 minutes and it is sterilzed.
jpsgirl
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Re: Food/Bottle Warmers and Bottle Sterlizers?
FYI though - don't heat up breast milk in the microwave because the microwaves kill a lot of the enzymes in the milk that are so valuable.
DeniseMang
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Re: Food/Bottle Warmers and Bottle Sterlizers?
Thanks,
I plan on breastfeeding, so I will not use the microwave, but it sounds like a good idea using the ziplock bags.
So I don't have to buy those special liner bags that go in the bottle?
I plan on using Dr. Brown bottles, that I don't think even have liners...
Jenn524
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Re: Food/Bottle Warmers and Bottle Sterlizers?
I have a sterilizer and I love it. I use it with new bottles and then every once in a while I'll use it again. It's so much easier then boiling them. It takes about 4-5 minutes to do.
I don't use a bottle warmer. I microwave a cup of water for about a minute and stick the bottle in the cup. It takes about 2-3 minutes in total to heat up.
CathyB
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Re: Food/Bottle Warmers and Bottle Sterlizers?
The bottles I'm using (Playtex nurser) and the pacifers (NUK) say that you should only sterilize them before you use them the first time, then wash them in the dishwasher or by hand in really hot water for at least a minute.
Mindy0247
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Re: Food/Bottle Warmers and Bottle Sterlizers?
I am pumping and using the Dr. Brown bottles. I have the bottle warmer and LOVE IT!! I have the one with the cooler in Isabelle's bedroom and just a regular one in the kitchen. When you use the Dr. Brown bottles, you have to heat it up without the inside piece, because the milk instantly goes in it and doesn't get hot. I don't have the sterilizer, I just put them in the dishwasher and run it everynight.
Emma2-22
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Re: Food/Bottle Warmers and Bottle Sterlizers?
The bottle warmer is extremely handy but the sterilizer is not necessary. My pediatrician told me that warm water and soap is sufficient as well as a run in the dishwasher.
DeniseMang
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Re: Food/Bottle Warmers and Bottle Sterlizers?
Mindy, I don't understand what you are saying about heating up the milk without the inside piece. Can you explain what you mean. I plan on using Dr. Browns and not using a bottle warmer.
Thanks, Denise
Mindy0247
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Re: Food/Bottle Warmers and Bottle Sterlizers?
Denise, Dr. Brown's bottles have a removable piece that goes inside the bottle (looks like a straw, but it is not, it is to control the air intake). When I first got the bottle warmer and kept that piece in while heating it up the milk would collect inside the tube and not get warm. I think that happens because of the pressure from the bottle warmer. I now heat up the bottle and then place the tube inside the bottle. If you are not going to use the bottle warmer you do not need to worry about it. You can leave the tube in if you are heating up in hot water. Hope I explained it a little better. Mindy
