Posted on 23 May 2022
This comparison is certified 100% impartial and follows our selection process.
Beaba BabyMilk
Simple but effective, this bottle warmer uses steam to heat bottles and jars, which it can keep warm for several minutes thanks to its airtight cover. It also acts as a steriliser.
Very easy to use, this bottle warmer is equipped with a timer adjustment wheel, allowing the heating time to be adapted to the container (bottle or small pot, plastic or glass). The airtight cover can keep the bottle warm if it is not consumed immediately, and is surrounded by an anti-heat ring that allows it to be handled without risk of a burn. Our tests also showed that the warming time is quite short for a device in this price range. It is capable of heating bottles and small pots, but also acts as a steriliser: its performance-price ratio is thus more than convincing.
Most appliances heat the bottle either in a hot-water bath or with steam.
Be sure to read the instructions carefully before use, especially if this is your first appliance.
The average heating time is between 4 and 8 minutes, although this figure is variable.
An ergonomic model is always welcome.
Some appliances have additional features, such as sterilisation.
Be careful when using your bottle warmer to avoid burns.
Beaba Bib’Expresso
Easy to use, this bottle warmer heats up the water in just 30 seconds so that it can be poured into the bottle and topped up with powder. This is the fastest solution in our selection.
This appliance operates in two modes. ‘Instant Preparation’ allows you to heat the water to the desired temperature (22°C or 37°C), with a precision that we have been able to appreciate during our tests. An audible alert warns you when the water is ready to be poured into the bottle and a simple press of the dispense button is all it takes. In ‘Hot-water bath’ mode, the upper part of the bottle warmer can be removed to easily warm up baby bottles and milk bottles at two different intensities, whether at home or on the move.
Philips Avent SCF355
This bottle warmer is the basic model par excellence. It works in a hot-water bath and is suitable for all sizes and materials, but you need to keep an eye on your watch.
This model does not revolutionise the principle of the bain-marie, but it is still safer than a pot of boiling water thanks to its quality design by Avent. Its different modes allow you to choose between defrosting, slow or fast heating of a small or large bottle, or a small pot. After our tests, here is our conclusion: the absence of an automatic shut-off can be a disadvantage for those who are distracted, as you have to keep an eye on the time, but it can also be an advantage, as you choose when to remove the bottle.
Tommee Tippee Perfect Prep
This bottle warmer is designed to make everyday life (and nights) easier for young parents by heating water to the optimum temperature before pouring it into the bottle, in just 2 minutes and 3 steps.
The operation of this automatic bottle warmer is quite similar to that of a coffee machine as it does not simply heat the water. During our tests, we noticed how easy it is to use: after selecting the desired quantity of water, the machine pours it into the bottle at the right temperature in less than 2 minutes. All you have to do is add the powder, shake the bottle, and it is ready. However, it only works for preparing milk powder bottles. This is why we prefer the Béaba Bib’Expresso.
Our selection
| Our choice, Best budget | Best high-end | Budget alternative | High-end alternative |
|---|---|---|---|
| | | |
| Beaba BabyMilk | Beaba Bib’Expresso | Philips Avent SCF355 | Tommee Tippee Perfect |
| Simple but effective, this bottle warmer uses steam to heat bottles and jars, which it can keep warm for several minutes thanks to its airtight cover. It also acts as a steriliser. | Easy to use, this bottle warmer heats up the water in just 30 seconds so that it can be poured into the bottle and topped up with powder. This is the fastest solution in our selection. | This bottle warmer is the basic model par excellence. It works in a hot-water bath and is suitable for all sizes and materials, but you need to keep an eye on your watch. | This bottle warmer is designed to make everyday life (and nights) easier for young parents by heating water to the optimum temperature before pouring it into the bottle, in just 2 minutes and 3 steps. |
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Honorable mentions
Tigex Express (£24,61 upon publication): very simple to use, this model works with steam with very little water and an automatic stop system. It is nomadic and comes with an adapter to run on your car’s cigarette lighter. Unfortunately, our tests showed a lack of precision in the heating and users who have had it longer than us mention a fragile inner basket that tends to warp. It is therefore a practical bottle warmer for emergency use away from home, but not efficient or durable enough for an everyday use.
Chicco Digital (£39,90 upon publication): this appliance with a digital panel heats up baby’s meal by means of a steam system. It is very versatile and offers 12 heating programs (depending on the type of food, the quantity, the initial temperature of the liquid,…). It is compatible with most of the bottles and baby food on the market, and has a small basket for smaller products. On the other hand, we realised through our tests that a pre-heating is necessary to obtain an ideal bottle temperature, which makes the process a little too long for a device in this price range.
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How to choose your bottle warmer?
Feeding a baby with a bottle means heating it countless times: the classic hot-water bath quickly becomes restrictive, and the microwave does not allow the nutrients in the milk to be preserved in an optimal way.
It is no wonder that bottle warmers have become a great ally for young parents. But with so many models to choose from, it can be difficult to decide which one will suit your preference and lifestyle.
Here are the main criteria that distinguish the different models on the market:
- Heating method: most appliances heat the bottle either in a water bath or with steam. In both cases, this means taking precautions when handling the bottle to avoid any risk of burns. Some top-of-the-range appliances are real bottle preparers: they heat the water to the right temperature before pouring it into the bottle. Some can even mix the water with the powder beforehand, for a ready-to-eat bottle. But these are only compatible with powdered milk.
- Speed of heating: the main advantage of the bottle warmer is the time it saves. Although it still varies greatly from one model to another, heating generally takes between 4 and 8 minutes on a conventional bottle warmer. This figure can vary depending on the quantity of liquid to be heated, the material of the bottle, the initial temperature of the liquid, etc.
- Multifunctionality: in addition to being able to heat up baby bottles, some models can also be used as a steriliser, which does not have to be purchased separately.
How do we test?
For this test, we heated several bottles with water, first at room temperature (for the preparation of powdered milk) and then with milk stored in the refrigerator. After heating, we checked the temperature obtained with a food thermometer, bearing in mind that it should not exceed that of the human body, i.e. 37°C.
Of course, we took care to check that the advertised heating time was respected and we noted our impressions of the design of the appliance, its material quality and its ease of use. We concluded this process with the maintenance of each model, which is quite basic but not insignificant.
Translated by Aylin Akturk
