As a new parent, you go home from the hospital with more than your little one. You also go home with a vast list of parenting do’s and don’ts.
To save time, many parents mix up bottles for the next day and place them in the refrigerator. This is a great technique; just remember that mixed baby formula is only good for 24 hours.
Are you wondering what happens if baby drinks cold formula? Why do we recommend a baby bottle warmer? Is there a perfect temperature for the bottle?
Also, are all babies comfortable with cold formula, or is that a learned preference? Keep reading, as we answer all these questions and more.
Why We Suggest A Baby Bottle Warmer
A baby bottle warmer is a great addition to every nursing mother. Many nursing mothers buy bottle warmers to bring their baby formula to the perfect temperature.
While this may seem like a very important tool for new parents, some experienced parents feel bottle warmer is not the only way.
Normally, babies will drink the bottle if it is mixed with room temperature water. If you are outside and have a bottle of water you are using to mix the formula, you’re hungry baby will likely drink that bottle with that room temperature water. Although, it won’t be as warm as the bottle warmer will make it.
Always remember, the temperature for the baby formula should not be hot. To test run the temperature, apply the formula on your wrist first to make sure the baby formula is around body temperature.
Read Also: How To Wash Baby Feeding Bottle
Is It Safe To Feed My Baby Cold Formula?
Yes, of course, it’s safe to feed your baby cold milk. Many parents choose to heat their baby’s milk, but this is mainly done based on the parent or baby’s preference and not for health reasons.
Frozen baby formula can serve as a form of pain relief for teething babies! If you have a teething baby and you are curious how to do this? Just put your breast milk in an ice cube tray.
After it freezes, place the breast milk cube in a mesh feeder to allow your baby to enjoy it.
While many parents choose to warm their baby’s milk, there may be more risks to overheating it than having your baby drink it cold.
Remember, it’s important to stop and note that you should never feed your baby cow’s breast milk whether it’s warm or cold.
Cow’s breast milk is not good for babies until they are a year of age, so ensure you stick with formula or breast milk until then.
Read Also: How To Store Formula Milk For Night Feeds
What Happens If Baby Drinks Cold Formula
There is no evidence that warming up the formula is any healthier or safer for your baby. Babies do have preferences when it comes to what they eat. For some babies, the colder formula just does not taste as good.
Some mothers believe that when a baby drinks cold formula, it upset the baby’s stomach. There is plenty of anecdotal evidence that supports this theory.
Many new parents struggle to calm their baby’s stomach, and it can be a trial to find a formula that minimizes gas and indigestion.
If you have a newborn baby, experimenting with warm formula only makes sense. You can take the initial chill off from your baby feeding bottle by simply pouring warm water over it in the sink for some time and swirling it.
Or to conserve water, you can place the bottle in a deep bowl filled with warm water for a few minutes.
While there is no scientific need to give your baby warm formula, new parents should always make choices that make their lives and their babies’ lives happier.
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- What Happens If Baby Drinks Hot Formula
- How To Make Formula Taste Like Breast Milk
Conclusion
Always remember that cold formula does not hurt babies, and in fact might be the preferred temperature for your baby.
Be aware that your baby shouldn’t have refrigerator cold formula, but after this stage, it is perfectly acceptable to introduce the formula cold.
Always make sure you monitor your baby and don’t force your baby to drink cold formula if they refuse it. It’s best advised to feed your baby and take the extra few minutes warming it up each time if they are finicky with cold formula
I hope this article “What Happens If Baby Drinks Cold Formula” helps bring a little peace of mind when nursing your baby.
If you have any questions or experience in feeding a baby with cold formula, drop your comment down below. We would love to hear it