What are the benefits of bottle warmers?

Bottle warmers heat up your baby's breast milk or formula. Some also can defrost frozen milk, heat up baby food, and/or accommodate two bottles at once. Many babies prefer to drinker warmer liquid, mimicking the warm temperature of breast milk babies get when breastfeeding. However, note that other babies may do just fine drinking room temperature or cold breast milk or formula from a bottle.

Can you use tap water in a bottle warmer?

As long as your tap water is safe to drink, you can feel confident using it in your bottle warmer. In any case, the water does not go into the bottle, so your baby will not be consuming the water. See the manufacturer's instructions for the bottle warmer you buy. These may suggest distilled water to keep your warmer's water reservoir cleaner.

How do you clean a bottle warmer?

Clean your bottle warmer with warm, soapy water. You can use a mild dish detergent. Be sure to rinse and dry thoroughly.

Can a bottle warmer stay on all night?

A bottle warmer should not be used overnight, as it is not safe to use the formula or breast milk that was prepared from the day before and left out all night, even if it's kept warm. Breast milk and formula should be used within 4 hours or can be kept in the fridge for up to 4 days. Instead, the safest method is to use the bottle warmer to warm up the breast milk or formula right before you intend to use it.

The 10 Best Bottle Warmers of 2022

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Warming up breast milk, formula, or food for your baby can be a difficult task when you're in a rush and trying to calm a screaming child quickly. A perfect bottle warmer should not only heat up your baby's food of choice evenly and quickly, but it should also offer a little extra versatility to help future feeding times to run as smoothly as possible. There are lots of options available to help meet your specific needs.

Here, our picks for the best bottle warmers out there.

Our Top Picks

Best Overall:

Dr. Brown's Deluxe Baby Bottle Warmer at Amazon

Fill up the reservoir with water and you can heat several bottles.

Best Overall Runner-Up:

Philips AVENT Baby Bottle Warmer at Amazon

It also features a defrost setting.

Best Budget:

The First Years 2-in-1 Simple Serve Bottle Warmer at Amazon

Heats milk, formula, and baby food simply and effectively.

Best for Car:

Munchkin Travel Car Baby Bottle Warmer at Amazon

The light-up timer displays when the milk is heated.

Best With Remote:

The First Years Baby Bottle Warmer And Bottle Chiller at Walmart

Just use the remote to start warming up the bottle.

Best Travel:

Tommee Tippee Travel Baby Bottle Warmer at Amazon

Keeps water hot in its thermos.

Best With Sterilizer:

EIVOTOR 6-In-1 Baby Bottle Warmer at Amazon

Sterilize pacifiers, bottles, food, and more at 212 degrees Fahrenheit to ensure all is clean and safe for baby to use.

Best for Multiples:

MOSFiATA Bottle Warmer and Sterilizer at Amazon

With an easy-to-read display, the warmer can hold up to four bottles at one time and even has extra room for a pacifier.

Easiest to Use:

Tommee Tippee Easi-Warm Bottle & Food Warmer at Amazon

Simply pour water into the warmer, adjust the dial for the temperature, and four minutes later, the bottle is ready to serve.

Best Multi-Function:

GROWNSY 6-In-1 Baby Bottle Warmer at Amazon

From warming formula or breast milk to thawing or steaming food, bottles of all sizes will fit with the warmer's adjustable cover.

Pros

Audio and visual alerts
Automatic shut-off
LCD control screen

Cons

Does not fit all types of bottles
Must be plugged in

When it comes to safely and conveniently preparing breast milk or formula for your baby, this electric steam warming system from Dr. Brown’s gets top marks across the board. It offers enough extra features to make it convenient, but not so many that it becomes a pain to use.

It can be started with just the touch of a button, but you can also program it or use the memory feature via the LCD control screen if you prefer. Audio and visual alerts let you know when it’s finished warming the bottle, and the machine automatically shuts itself off after 10 minutes.

Once you fill up the reservoir with water, you can heat several bottles, so you don’t have to refill it after each use. It works with all Dr. Brown’s bottles and most other bottle brands, as well.

Power Source: Electric | Product Weight: Two pounds | Bottle Capacity: One | Heating Time: Customizable

Pros

Heats sippy cups, baby bottles, and baby food
Defrost setting
Small design

Cons

Only fits one bottle
Must be plugged in

For overall functionality at a good price, this bottle warmer from Philips AVENT is hard to beat. It heats baby bottles, sippy cups, and baby food safely and evenly. You just add water, adjust the dial, and your baby’s food is ready in about three minutes.

It’s also small enough that it won’t take up too much counter space. Some customers say it’s perfect to keep on the nightstand for easy feeding. It also features a defrost setting.

Power Source: Electric | Product Weight: 1.55 pounds | Bottle Capacity: One | Heating Time: 3 minutes

The First Years 2-in-1 Simple Serve Bottle Warmer

Pros

Budget-friendly
Automatic shut-off function

Cons

Needs frequent cleaning
Not customizable

For a straightforward bottle warmer that won’t break the bank, there’s this one from The First Years. It doesn’t come with a ton of bells and whistles, but it does promise to heat milk, formula, and baby food simply and effectively. It works with most bottles and features an automatic shut-off function for safety.

To use, measure the water with the enclosed measuring cup, press a button, and wait until the light goes off. Parents say it works well and is a great value. However, note that you do have to clean it occasionally.

Power Source: Electric | Product Weight: 3.52 ounces | Bottle Capacity: One | Heating Time: 1 to 5 minutes

Pros

Travel-friendly
Light-up timer display

Cons

Can only be used with car adapters

When you find yourself frequently on the go with a hungry baby in tow, a travel bottle warmer is a game-changer. This one from Munchkin makes mealtime much easier for everyone. You just plug it into your car’s 12V outlet, and the light-up timer display lets you know when the milk or formula is properly heated. It fits most bottles and most car cup holders too.

Customers say it’s a great bottle warmer for out-and-about families, whether for road trips, at a bigger kid's soccer practice, or for feedings between errands.

Power Source: Car adapter | Product Weight: Eight ounces | Bottle Capacity: One | Heating Time: Not Listed

The First Years Remote Control Bottle Warmer

Pros

Remote start
Preset bottle warming time

Cons

Costly

New parents can use every convenience and extra minute of sleep they can get. This bottle warmer from The First Years provides a little bit of both. It allows you to chill a bottle in the machine before you hit the hay (it will stay cold for up to eight hours), then when you hear baby stir, just use the remote to start warming up the bottle, without even getting out of bed. Brilliant, right?

You can even preset the length of time you want the bottle to warm, so you can just push one button and catch a few extra Z’s until it’s ready.

Power Source: Electric | Product Weight: 3.12 pounds | Bottle Capacity: One | Heating Time: Not Listed

Tommee Tippee Closer to Nature Portable Travel Baby Bottle Warmer

Pros

Budget-friendly
Holds up to 18 ounces of water

Cons

Not all bottles may fit
Requires a source of hot water

If your plans often include being out all day, you might want to invest in a portable baby bottle warmer. This model from the baby bottle brand Tommee Tippee keeps water hot in its thermos. Then when your baby is ready to dine, you pour that hot water into the large BPA-free lid and place the bottle inside to warm up. The generously sized lid will fit Tommee Tippee bottles, and most others, including Avent and Dr. Browns.

While the size might be a bit cumbersome for those trying to travel light, this product is a real problem-solver for warming up baby bottles on the go. And while you could just use a regular thermos, this one's lid is designed to fit baby bottles.

Power Source: None | Product Weight: 11.64 ounces | Bottle Capacity: One | Heating Time: Not Listed

Pros

LED panel control
Fits two bottles
Steam clean option

Cons

Long dry time
Bulky

Cleaning bottles just got a whole lot easier for parents and caregivers as this bottle warmer is also a sterilizer. Sterilize pacifiers and bottles at 212 degrees Fahrenheit to ensure all are clean and safe for your baby to use.

Parents of multiples can rejoice, as two bottles can safely be warmed up at the same time. And you don't have to worry about the safety of the heating element of the warmer because it shut offs automatically after use.

Power Source: Electric | Product Weight: 2.09 pounds | Bottle Capacity: Two | Heating Time: 4 to 11 minutes

Pros

Holds up to 4 bottles
LED display

Cons

Costly

This bottle warmer from MOSFiATA is a game-changer for parents and caregivers of multiples. With an easy-to-read display, the warmer can hold up to four bottles at one time and even has extra room for a pacifier.

Seven functions are available: breastmilk warming, formula mixing, fast warm, fast food heating, steam, defrost, and timer reservation. With all these options, you're sure to get your money's worth for a long time.

Power Source: Electric | Product Weight: Not Listed | Bottle Capacity: Four | Heating Time: 6 to 8 minutes

Tommee Tippee Easi-Warm Bottle & Food Warmer

Pros

Warms baby bottles and food jars
Budget-friendly

Cons

Only fits one bottle

If you're looking for a simple, easy-to-use bottle warmer strictly for warming purposes, this bottle warmer from Tommee Tippee is it. Most bottles will fit inside the warmer, along with baby food jars, and it can warm up milk in just four minutes or keep items warm once they've been heated.

Simply pour water into the warmer and adjust the dial for the temperature. Four minutes later, the bottle is ready to serve.

Power Source: Electric | Product Weight: Not Listed | Bottle Capacity: One | Heating Time: 4 minutes

Pros

6 different functions
Quick heating time

Cons

Costly

The GROWNSY bottle warmer does it all thanks to its six different functions that are sure to fit your family's needs. From warming formula or breast milk to thawing or steaming, bottles of all sizes will fit with the warmer's adjustable cover.

Keep food warm for hours without having to worry about the heating element since there's an automatic power-off option. It can hold up to two bottles at once and is fully customizable for how much milk you're warming at the desired temperature.

Power Source: Electric | Product Weight: 2 pounds | Bottle Capacity: Two | Heating Time: 3 to 11 minutes

Final Verdict

If you're looking for a bottle warmer that's safe and easy to use, you can't go wrong with Dr. Brown’s Deluxe Bottle Warmer (view at Amazon). However, if you're looking for something a little more convenient, go for The First Years Remote Control Bottle Warmer (view at Walmart.com). You can spend a little extra time in bed at night when you hear your baby stir by using the remote control to heat your bottle.

What to Look for in a Bottle Warmer

Ease of Use

A bottle warmer should make feeding a hungry baby quick and easy. Try to find a bottle warmer that doesn't require any complicated assembly. You'll also want one that will heat the bottle fast and evenly. Additionally, consider the clean-up required. You'll want to keep the water reservoir clean between uses, so make sure it can be easily emptied and wiped down.

Features

Some bottle warmers offer chill, defrost, and keep-warm options, as well as a sterilization feature that not only works on bottles but other baby gadgets, too. There are also some that are remote-controlled so you can heat up the bottle without getting up from bed right away. How many and which features your bottle warmer should have will depend on your personal preferences.

Dependability

The most important quality you want in a bottle warmer is dependability. You need it to be able to warm bottles evenly and to the right temperature (as well as quickly). If breast milk or formula is not warmed evenly, or worse, it's too hot, you risk burning your baby's mouth and throat. Overheating milk also can lead to the breakdown of nutrients in the milk as well. And if the warmer fails to work at all, you're stuck looking for a plan B in the middle of the night.

Frequently Asked Questions

What are the benefits of bottle warmers?

Bottle warmers heat up your baby's breast milk or formula. Some also can defrost frozen milk, heat up baby food, and/or accommodate two bottles at once. Many babies prefer to drinker warmer liquid, mimicking the warm temperature of breast milk babies get when breastfeeding. However, note that other babies may do just fine drinking room temperature or cold breast milk or formula from a bottle.
Can you use tap water in a bottle warmer?

As long as your tap water is safe to drink, you can feel confident using it in your bottle warmer. In any case, the water does not go into the bottle, so your baby will not be consuming the water. See the manufacturer's instructions for the bottle warmer you buy. These may suggest distilled water to keep your warmer's water reservoir cleaner.
How do you clean a bottle warmer?

Clean your bottle warmer with warm, soapy water. You can use a mild dish detergent. Be sure to rinse and dry thoroughly.
Can a bottle warmer stay on all night?

A bottle warmer should not be used overnight, as it is not safe to use the formula or breast milk that was prepared from the day before and left out all night, even if it's kept warm. Breast milk and formula should be used within 4 hours or can be kept in the fridge for up to 4 days. Instead, the safest method is to use the bottle warmer to warm up the breast milk or formula right before you intend to use it.

Why Trust Verywell Family

Katrina Cossey has been a digital content producer and news and feature writer for more than six years. She has covered local and national news as well as writing and researching parenting topics. Katrina is a parent herself and purchased The First Years 2-in-1 Simple Serve Bottle Warmer (view at Amazon) when her child was a newborn. She loved how easy and quick it was to use.

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