It’s 2 a.m. and you’re not sure who’s more upset — you or your baby. She’s hungry and you’re frustrated. Trying to warm her ice cold breast milk bottle you took out of the refrigerator by placing it in a small bowl of hot water is taking forever.
To prevent that situation from happening to you, you might want to invest in a good bottle warmer before your baby arrives. To find out about one of the more prominent brands of bottle warmers on the market, read our Dr. Brown bottle warmer review.
Product Overview
The Dr. Brown Bottle Warmer earns 4 out of 5 stars on our rating scale. This bottle warmer is designed to heat up both baby bottles and baby food jars quickly and evenly by using steam heat. You’ll avoid hot spots in your baby’s food and drink by using the steam method this warmer employs.
It includes:
- The bottle warmer.
- Electric plug.
- Instruction manual.
Pros
- You don’t need to change the reservoir water before every use.
- There’s no need to calculate how much water you need for how many ounces you’re trying to warm — all you need is to have some water in the reservoir before using it.
- It heats quickly.
- It has an electronic timer.
Cons
- Wide-mouth bottles won’t fit in this warmer.
- Hard to clean the water reservoir because it is so narrow.
Key Features and Benefits
Ease of Use
- This is one of the simplest bottle warmers to operate:
All you do is make sure the water reservoir isn’t out of water, stick your bottle in the compartment and press a button to begin the warming process. When it’s done, an alarm will let you know the bottle is the right temperature. Warming your baby’s food and drinks is foolproof with this thing. That’s great news for sleep-deprived moms who are too exhausted to correctly follow complicated instructions.
Cleanliness
- It comes with a very thin water reservoir:
Cleaning the Dr. Brown bottle warmer isn’t as easy as using it is. The water reservoir is slim, which means it’s hard to clean, even with a narrow brush to help you. If you leave water in it for your convenience so you don’t have to fill it up every time you steam a bottle, you’ll run the risk of the reservoir becoming slimy with no way to clean it. There are other places on the bottle warmer that are hard to clean as well, which is frustrating to moms who don’t want to spend the little bit of free time they have cleaning a bottle warmer.
Compatibility
- It’s compatible with some other brands of bottles:
More than ever, moms are looking for baby products and gear that are compatible with other brands. We’re not always crazy about every product a company puts out, so we might like the bottles offered by one company and the warmer made by another company. But if those bottles can fit into a warmer made by a different company, we’re happy campers. It saves us time, money and aggravation. Dr. Brown’s bottle warmer is compatible with other brands of bottles to an extent. Most standard sized bottles will fit into the warmer, even if they are made by another company. The compatibility ends, however, when it comes to the wide-mouthed bottles that are becoming popular, especially among moms who like them because they more closely mimic the experience of breastfeeding for babies.
Price
- You’ll pay a fair price:
More than ever, moms are looking for baby products and gear that are compatible with other brands. We’re not always crazy about every product a company puts out, so we might like the bottles offered by one company and the warmer made by another company. But if those bottles can fit into a warmer made by a different company, we’re happy campers. It saves us time, money and aggravation. Dr. Brown’s bottle warmer is compatible with other brands of bottles to an extent. Most standard-sized bottles will fit into the warmer, even if they are made by another company. The compatibility ends, however, when it comes to the wide-mouthed bottles that are becoming popular, especially among moms who like them because they more closely mimic the experience of breastfeeding for babies.
Space
- It won’t hog all your counter space:
Counter and storage space is important for moms. We have so much stuff that we have to cram into our homes when our babies are born. It can be a challenge sometimes to find a way to include everything and not feel like your house is too cluttered. The Dr. Brown bottle warmer doesn’t take up much counter space at all, and it isn’t so tall that it won’t be able to fit under cabinets.
Build Quality
- The unit has a nice, attractive design:
This warmer has a sleek and compact design, which is appealing to moms who don’t want a clunky warmer.
- It leaks a bit when putting the reservoir in:
The minor problem with the build quality of this warmer is that a little bit of the reservoir water leaks out every time you fill it because you’ll need to place the opening upside down to put it into the warmer.
How Does It Compare?
Here’s how the Dr. Brown Bottle Warmer compares against its competitors.
The First Years Quick Serve Bottle Warmer
Being a parent may be a priceless experience, but it sure costs a lot of money. Moms who are worried about their funds might want to opt for The First Years Quick Serve bottle warmer because it costs much less than the Dr. Brown bottle warmer.
Philips Avent Bottle Warmer
Moms who want an even faster way of warming their baby’s milk because they can’t stand to hear their baby cry may want to consider the Philips Avent bottle warmer. It can heat 5 ounces of milk in about 3 minutes, which is a little faster than the Dr. Brown warmer can do it.
Kiinde Kozii Bottle Warmer
Parents who aren’t fond of being burned by steam warmers might want to look for a product like the Kiinde Kozii bottle warmer which uses a warm water bath to heat the milk. The tradeoff is that the Kiinde Kozii warmer takes longer to heat milk than the Dr. Brown one does.
Anself 2 in 1 Portable Double Bottle Warmer
Moms who have been blessed with twins and don’t want to make one baby wait to eat while the other digs in may want to consider the Anself 2 in 1 double bottle warmer. You can heat two bottles at once, which is a real problem solver for moms of multiples.
Dr. Brown Bottle Warmer Review FAQs
Is it Worth Getting a Bottle Warmer?
A bottle warmer is a great and helpful tool for parents who use bottles to feed their babies. It makes sure the milk or formula is heated to the perfect temperature, which makes feeding easier and more comfortable for the baby.
What is the Best Baby Bottle Warmer on the Market?
There are a bunch of bottle warmers available to choose from, but each has its pros and cons. The Dr Brown bottle warmer is definitely one of the best. It’s easy to use, warms the bottle quickly and safely, and has a variety of settings to suit different bottle sizes.
How Hot Does a Dr Brown Bottle Warmer Get?
The Dr Brown bottle warmer heats a bottle of milk or formula for two minutes and fifty seconds and ends off at a temperature of 64 degrees Fahrenheit.
What Bottles Fit in Dr Brown Bottle Warmer?
The Dr Brown bottle warmer can accommodate most standard-sized baby bottles, including ones from other brands of glass and plastic.
But it’s specifically designed to work with Dr Brown’s bottles, which boast a unique vent system that stops air from getting into the milk and causing colic.
Do You Have to Use Distilled Water in a Dr Brown Bottle Warmer?
It’s best to use distilled water in the Dr Brown bottle warmer to prevent any mineral buildup, which can negatively affect the performance and lifespan of the warmer itself. But, you can also use filtered or tap water as long as it is clean and free of impurities.
Can You Put Frozen Breast Milk Bags in a Dr Brown Bottle Warmer?
Yes, the Dr Brown bottle warmer can safely thaw and warm frozen breast milk bags. Just know, it’s important you follow the instructions carefully to avoid overheating or underheating the milk.
How Do You Sanitize a Dr Brown Bottle Warmer?
It’s easy to sanitize the Dr Brown bottle warmer. Just wipe the interior with a damp cloth soaked in a solution of equal parts water and white vinegar.
You can also run a cycle with distilled water to remove any buildup or residue left behind. Make sure to unplug the warmer and let it cool down before cleaning.
Why It’s a Solid Choice
The Dr. Brown Bottle Warmer may not be flawless, but for the price and ease of use, it’s a decent pick.
You don’t need to be a genius to figure out how this one works. It does heat the bottle thoroughly and consistently. The electronic timer is a nice touch, so you’ll always know how much time is left on your bottle.
How To Clean a Dr. Brown Bottle Warmer
- You put hot, soapy water in the reservoir and let it sit for several minutes to loosen any debris.
- You take the water out.
- Put two spoonfuls of dry, uncooked non-instant rice and one spoonful of water in the reservoir and shake it.
- Make sure you rinse the unit well.
The unit also comes with instructions on how to de-scale lime deposits that build up over time.
