1. It’s Not The Safest Way To Heat Formula
The one thing people say over and over is that heating food or drinks in a microwave can be convenient.
Sure, the microwave is a time-saver, but several babies have experienced burns - between six and seven percent of the body - after drinking microwaved baby formula.
Injuries ranged from mild skin burns to more severe burns that required skin grafts on the trachea, esophagus, and/or pharynx.
2. Plastic Releases Chemicals
While BPA in bottles have been banned since 2012, it is still common for plastic to release chemicals into the food and drinks Americans consume. Studies also suggest that BPA-free baby bottles still pose a significant health risk to babies when the plastic is heated.
Since research is still unfolding on this subject, it’s best to play it safe and avoid heating the plastic baby bottles in the microwave.
3. Heat Can Harm The Nutrients In Baby Formula
Did you know that heat can harm nutrients such as B1, vitamin C, and probiotics? By heating formula slowly, it warms the nutrients rather than losing them with extreme heat.
We know how important each of these nutrients are for our growing babies, so we definitely don’t want to chance losing nutrients to save time.
4. Microwaves Distribute Heat Unevenly
Microwaves distribute heat unevenly as the radiation changes the cooking process. Just think about something you microwaved recently. It was likely either partly hot and cold or overheated and too hot.
You might ask then, can I warm water in a microwave for baby formula? Just as with the baby formula, warming water in a bottle can lead to a variation in hot spots.
It’s better to simply use a tea kettle or water warmer that was designed to evenly warm the water.
5. Nipples Can Get Too Hot And Explode
We are often asked, is it safe to microwave baby bottles? You may not know this, but nipples get too hot and explode even after short cooking time.
If the nipple does not explode, once heated, it can burn a baby’s mouth. It’s best to avoid placing nipples in the microwave altogether