Bests & Worsts Reviews from Amazon

Heating breastmilk...who knew it would be such a science! The microwave will cause loss of nutrients and hot spots, and a pan of hot water will take an agonizingly long time when accompanied by a hungry, crying baby. Enter the Quick Serve Bottle Warmer, what I thought would be the most convenient method. It is...and well, it isn't. Yes, this warmer is convenient, as it can heat bottles in under the five minutes it advertises, especially if you are using disposable bags or drop-in liners. However, it can get these bags extremely hot, so you need to stand by the warmer and test the bottle periodically. Regular plastic bottles tend to take longer and don't heat up as well. The performance of the warmer is not consistent. It works well sometimes, but usually only if you pay close attention to it, testing the bottle as it warms. Goldilocks would lose her patience with this one, as it is hardly ever "just right". Here's how it works: You fill the included blue vial to the first line for smaller bottles (4 oz.), the top line for bigger bottles (8 oz.). You dump the water (which is a tiny amount) directly into the chamber where the bottle will sit. Place the bottle in and press the button on the front. In about 30 seconds steam begins to form and in about two minutes (when the nearly all the water has been turned to steam) the unit automatically shuts off. This does not mean, however, that the bottle is done. It may need to sit there longer if you have more liquid or a larger bottle. And, with drop-ins, it may need to be removed from the warmer sooner. Some problems with the warmer include: - The blue filling vial. It is difficult to see the fill lines on it, especially at night. A clear fill cup with printed lines would be visually better. Moreover, the amount they suggest for smaller vs. bigger bottles doesn't necessarily fit your own bottles. You need to test it out and see what amount of water works best for you. And there's such a small amount of water that you're using that it is difficult to use the same exact amount each time. - Smaller bottles. Steam quickly rises around smaller/thinner bottles, making them too hot to pick up and swirl to mix or to test the heat of the bottle. - Wait 10 minutes to try again. The instructions state that the unit needs 10 minutes to cool down if you need to use it again. Well, I have gotten it to work again more quickly than that (sometimes immediately), although, I don't know if this is damaging the product in the long run. This is why it's better to put MORE water than you need into the unit and test the bottle as it warms. This way you're not stuck waiting for the unit to work again to heat up a cool bottle. These caveats aside, this is a nice accessory for your nursery, especially for late-night feedings. No drowsy trips to the kitchen. Keep a cooler next to it with your bottle and you never need to stumble to a downstairs kitchen. The bottom line: if you realize that heating bottles is not an exact science and that every bottle needs to be tested and adjusted, then you will do well with this warmer. If you think there is a magic alarm that will go off when the bottle hits the exact perfect temperature, well, I've got a bridge in Brooklyn for ya...