Tips for Keeping Baby Bottles Warm on the Go

It is important to keep your baby bottles warm or cool, and to always keep checking your child’s bottle to ensure proper temperature throughout its journey. Remember also to always take extra measures during warmer seasons.

Keep reading to learn all there is about how to keep your baby’s bottle warm or cool when traveling. 

Methods For Keeping Baby Bottles Warm

Now that you know why you should keep baby bottles warm while traveling, it is time for us to look into several methods of doing so. To begin with, you can choose from the following options:

Option 1: Wrap the bottle using a wet paper towel

If you want something simple yet effective, wrap a small piece of wet newspaper around the bottom part of the bottle. Be careful however, to remove all traces of moisture from the paper by wiping the surface thoroughly. Make sure to place the wrapped bottle in a plastic container to prevent the wrapping from drying out.

Don’t forget to make sure you leave some space inside the wrapping because otherwise, the bottle won’t fit snugly enough. You can try storing this method in the refrigerator for later use.

Option 2: Fill the bottom part of the bottle with cold water

You can either warm up the whole bottle or keep the chilled water in the bottom part of the bottle. In fact, it is better to store the chill water in the bottle while you travel since hot water needs to be kept warm and hot water needs to be left alone until it is used.

Option 3: Place a heating pad underneath the entire length of the bottle

If you don’t own an electric heating pad, then consider purchasing one instead. These pads are designed specifically for babies and even adults too. The best thing about them is that when heated, their temperature can easily reach 140 degrees Fahrenheit (60 Celsius) which makes them ideal for baby bottles. They also come equipped with multiple settings to ensure you get a personalized solution according to your requirements.

This could work if you plan to bring along a bottle on a plane, car ride or train journey where there isn’t much room to maneuver. Simply lay the bottle on top of the heating pad and let it do its job.

Using Bottle Warmers, Thermal Bags and Flasks

Purchase A Bottle Warmer

A bottle warmer is usually made of silicone rubber. Some models feature a base unit connected with a flexible plastic tube which ends in a circular section that’s similar to a funnel. The tube has a special connector attached to fit into the neck of a baby bottle. You screw off the base by turning a dial, so all you need to do now is place the bottle inside the funnel-shaped nozzle and attach the fitting to the bottle’s mouthpiece.

Next, plug the appliance into power and turn it on. The base unit heats up the bottle while the flexible plastic tubing transfers the heat directly towards the bottle’s opening.

Although cheaper options exist, you may want to opt for the ones that are priced higher considering they offer better quality.

Use A Thermal Bag

If you prefer not to buy an appliance but still want to maintain the temperature of your bottle, try this method instead – thermal bags! These are reusable storage containers that you put hot or cold liquid inside them and then use as a sleeve around a bottle.

They come equipped with two openings at each end and have pockets for holding your bottle when needed. One way of using a thermal bag is to put some food coloring inside it. Then place the bottle in the bag and squeeze the air out, thereby creating a seal. Next, pour water inside the bag until you fill most of its space. Lastly, close the other end tightly and insert the bag into a microwave oven to warm the water or leave it outside on a sunny day to cool down. Afterward, pull out the bag from the bag and gently remove the bottle from it.

However, it’s best if you use an insulated mug to place the bottle inside the bag since the heating process will create too much steam.

Use A Thermal Flask

A thermal flask may seem like an expensive item but it’s worth every penny because they allow you to carry your baby’s bottle anywhere without worrying about the temperature being right. They come equipped with a pocket at both ends to hold your baby’s bottle securely when needed.

When you need to heat up the contents of your thermal flask, just put it in boiling water (but don’t overdo the amount). This could take several minutes before the internal temperature reaches the desired level, so make sure to check regularly whether the drink has reached the ideal temperature. Once done, turn off the burner and let the drink cool down naturally by removing the flask from the pot.

You can also add flavors to help mask the taste of the infant formula. For example, you can mix powdered lemon drops in the milk or use honey to sweeten it all up.

Some people recommend adding sugar-free gelatin powder to their baby’s milk. Although we do not suggest doing this ourselves due to concerns regarding safety, this does work well for babies who cannot consume regular milk products.

Additional Tips

Here are a few more helpful tips on how you can keep baby bottles warm while traveling:

• Place the bottle in an insulated jacket pocket. This way, the bottle will stay warmer when placed near your body.
• Wrap a cotton cloth around the bottle before placing it in a backpack.
• Use a portable electric heating pad to heat the bottle.
• Keep the bottle covered in a Ziploc bag

When traveling by plane, avoid taking liquids along due to security reasons. This means that if you need to take water through airport checkpoints, you will have to wait longer compared to those who brought their own beverages.

Also, don’t forget to pack thermoses when flying as well since they are much safer compared to the regular plastic bottles. If possible, try finding a way to bring them directly from home rather than buying them online after arriving at your destination.

During the summer period, heaters become mandatory in many parts of the world including the United States of America. Many hotels and motels offer fans with an additional heater so make sure to check ahead before booking.

During colder months or times where temperatures remain below zero degrees Fahrenheit (F), remember not to leave bottles outside your vehicle because snow, ice or rain could quickly cause severe damage to your property. Furthermore, if you must bring out the bottles outdoors, do it far away from doors and windows to prevent extreme drops in temperature.

Lastly, if you are visiting areas with high humidity levels, you should avoid leaving your bottles unattended outside. Because condensation forms almost immediately, it creates a risk of bacteria forming on every surface.

For babies and children who rely heavily on breast milk, try wrapping the bottle in a cloth napkin to ensure better absorption rates of the nutrients needed during long periods of time. Alternatively, try freezing the liquid inside a clean Ziploc freezer bag to help maintain the right temperature longer than just minutes.

The Importance Of Keeping Your Baby Cool When Travelling

Keeping baby bottles cool and avoiding overheating while traveling can help reduce many health issues, both short term and long term. It can also make it easier to enjoy the trip itself as well.

Studies show that overheating is linked to increased risk of death following car accidents. The American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists recommends maintaining body temperatures between 99.5°F – 101.8°F (38°C – 38.6°C) for newborns and infants. Babies require more heat when sleeping because their bodies produce less heat as compared to adults. This means that babies should sleep in rooms that are slightly cooler than normal room temperature, which is usually 68°F (20°C).

This doesn’t mean that babies shouldn’t be exposed to sunlight and bright lights though.

Here are five ways to keep the bottle cool while traveling:

• Use insulated bags and carriers to carry bottles through airport security checkpoints.
• Pack snacks such as yogurt (with fruit), applesauce and frozen juice cubes to use as pacifiers for the flight.
• Add ice packs and ice-packs in your luggage in case the airplane gets too hot.
• Bring along reusable water bottles filled up with filtered tap water to avoid drinking bottled water.
• Keep your fridge door open to keep your baby’s bottle cool.

As such, there are several factors to consider before deciding where and what you will do while traveling with your baby. For instance, while traveling by plane, a baby must remain reclined and asleep most of the day. However, it is best to follow medical guidelines and let him/her be alert and awake when needed.

Conclusion

It is always important to keep the bottle temperature in mind when traveling with your baby. This will keep your baby healthy and happy throughout the trip, and will keep your mind happy and healthy too!

 

About the author 

James Grasty is a father of two (Maximilian 2, and Lillian 4) and an avid user and purchaser of new and used baby gear.  After trying out a lot of gear for his kids, he grew tired of either not finding the product he wanted, them being low quality and cheap, or super expensive.  Being an entrepreneur he decided to start his own brand of baby and kids gear aimed at helping parents like himself solve their problems and make parenting a bit easier in the process because we all know how hard it already is.