As adults, parents often worry whether the warmth of the food they are feeding to their baby has anything to do with its nutritional elements. With the intention of destroying any sort of germ hiding underneath, some parents prefer warming baby food before giving it to their baby, especially when the baby is being introduced to packed foods for the first time.
Although pediatricians say that it does not matter whether the baby food is heated or not, and its fine as long as the warm food does not cause irritation in a baby’s mouth, parents often go with their little ones’ preferences. Let’s find out how to keep baby food warm while feeding.
How To Warm Baby Food?
One of the easiest and trusted way to warm baby food is the hot water method. All you need to do is find a heat-safe dish, place the food into it, and put it over a pan of hot water. Remember to avoid boiling water as it will turn the food too hot. Stir the food continuously to ensure proper heat distribution and avoid any hotspot.
Is Microwave Safe For Warming Baby Food?
While many parents do not suggest microwaving baby food for it may cause negative health issues, others use it for its convenience and simplicity. It is up to you to decide which one you will consider.
Microwave truly is a life-saving tool for working mothers or when you are hurrying to feed your hungry and annoyed baby. Since the water bath method takes a while to work, microwaves can be a quick solution for urgent situations. Here’s a list of facts on how to heat baby food in a microwave:
- First things first, make sure to use microwave-safe containers to warm baby food. This list excludes a lot of materials you might have considered to be useful. Whether they are microwave-safe or not, any plastic material can bear harmful chemicals to leach into the food. Regular plastic storage containers, takeaway bags or plates must be avoided while warming baby food.
- Never use foil paper to warm baby food. It does the same harm to the food as plastic containers.
- Ensure to cover the food with a glass or silver lid so that the food does not sry out of its moisture.
- Wait for the food to be steaming hot. Just because your baby cannot handle too warm food does not mean that you are allowed to heat it unevenly or superficially. If the food is not heated properly, it can leave some cold and hotspots causing your baby annoyance. It can also make environment for bacteria.
- Stir the food for a while after taking it out of the microwave. Since your baby will not be able to check the temperature and let you know, you have to make sure it is moderate enough to not to burn your baby’s mouth.
How To Keep Baby Food Warm While Traveling?
Parents who are constantly at move often find it difficult to find convenience while keeping their baby’s food warm. They either rely on carrying warm food or warm it up just before feeding. For both these methods, we have some advice for you.
- Thermos or insulated containers works best while traveling. If you are traveling for 3-4 hours or more, you better take the food in a cool storage container and warm it when you need. If you traveling time is shorter than that, you can easily carry warm food in an insulated bottle.
- Hot food should be kept at minimum of 60 degrees C to ensure its safety and harmlessness. Keeping it below that temperature can cause bacterial intrusion:
- If you prefer warming it just before feeding, you need to follow the instructions:
- Fill the thermos with boiling water
- Leave it for 5-7 minutes
- Empty the container, refill it with the baby food and close the lid to warm it up.
- In addition to making sure that the food is not below the temperature mentioned above, you also need to check whether your baby can tolerate the temperature you just warmed the food with.
- Another best way to keep baby food warm is a portable bottle warmer when you traveling.
A Bit Of Suggestions For Mother’s
Know your baby’s preference
Instead of providing warm food consistently, it is more effective to explore with baby’s taste by giving food with different temperatures. That’s how you will be able to know your baby’s preference and at the same time allow him to be comfortable with variety of foods.
Does every food need warmth
Knowing which food needs warmth or can eaten chilled is the key to entertain your baby’s taste. Since both the breastmilk and formula are warm to a certain degree, babies might find other liquid food like these tastier while warm. But this may not be the case for solid food or commercially packaged food. These foods do not need to be heated since it will cause more irritation for the baby to accommodate with them at its first years. Above all, these choices are up to you. Follow your own instinct and guidelines that you feel to be best for your baby.
Final Verdict
While we suggest to consider the basic rules of taking care of the baby, we also do not deny the bonding that parents have with their babies. Other than the generalized guidelines for all babies, we find it overwhelming how different babies form a special relationship with their parents and convey their feelings in their own way.
As parents, you must understand and follow what baby is trying to say about its tastes and preferences. Experts’ suggestions are certainly undeniable, but the baby is yours, who knows it better than you do!