If there is one piece of baby paraphernalia that tops the list for making life as a parent that little bit easier, the best bottle warmers would win our vote every time.
These handy gadgets make light work of gently heating your baby's milk to the right temperature. But not only do they prevent heat spots, they can also minimise the loss of nutrients.
Better yet, it’s not just formulated milk that bottle warmers can help heat. Those breastfeeding can benefit from these kitchen additions too. Gone are the days of heating the best baby bottles in a microwave or in a jug. Using a bottle warmer takes the guesswork out of the whole process, making sure your baby’s milk is warmed to the perfect temperature every time.
In today’s market, bottle warmers go one step further than just heating milk. Some options can warm and defrost baby food and other bottle warmers have useful audible alerts to notify you when your baby's bottle has reached the right temperature.
So, to help you track down the best bottle warmer we tasked a panel of parents to put a selection of the top-rated options to the test. Along with our expert insights and their hands-on testing, here are the picks worth your hard-earned cash.
The quick list
Need quick help to choose the best bottle warmer to buy? Here's our shortlist...
This gadget can warm baby milk from refrigerated or frozen, as well as from room temperature. An easy-lift cradle holds the food or milk in place, so you can take the item out easily without dripping water all over the kitchen floor.
Warning: this bottle warmer comes with no bells or whistles - but that's what we like most about it. It's a compact bottle and food warmer that heats both breast milk and baby food safely. Plus it fits a range of baby bottles and baby food jars.
Along with heating your baby's milk, this can sterilise bottles and soothers. Stylish and contemporary in design, it has a swish LCD control panel and one-button start mode, plus audible/visual alerts to notify you when your item is ready.
This is the most expensive bottle warmer in our guide but it's the complete package when it comes to sterilising, defrosting, and warming your baby's milk or food. It also has a 'keep warm' mode that keeps items warm for up to 45 minutes.
Best bottle warmers 2024 - tried and tested by parents
Why you can trust GoodtoKnow. Our experienced Consumer Editor & parent reviewers spend hours testing products to help you make the best choice. Find out how we test and review products.
Best bottle warmer overall
Buy it if
✅ You're looking for ease: This bottle warmer is quick and easy to use and warms your baby's bottle in minutes.
✅ Overheating your baby's milk is on your mind: Thanks to the clever smart temperature control, you can gently warm milk and baby food and get it just right. That means no overheating bottles and then waiting for them to cool down.
✅ Space is an issue: Kitchen space is a premium but this doesn't take up any more space than it needs to.
Don't buy it if:
❌ You're looking for a premium model: If you're looking for a machine that has a one-button start mode for quick access to your preferred heating times, an LCD screen, and audible and visual alerts that notify you when the item is ready, Dr Brown's Deluxe Bottle Warmer and Steriliser could be a better fit.
The bottom line
🔎 Philips Avent Fast Bottle Warmer With its clever smart temperature control feature that can keep your baby's bottle warm for up to 60 minutes, and the ability to heat milk in 3 minutes, this product is stress-free as it does exactly what you need it to, promptly and efficiently. It's also easy to clean and won't take up lots of space on your kitchen counter. Top marks from us! ★★★★★
Tested by: Nansi Hitchman and her baby Jesse, who was 12 months.
Our baby gear expert says: "This is the perfect product if you're short on space in the kitchen and need a quick, fuss-free bottle warmer that's easy to operate. It has smart temperature control, which detects the starting temperature of the milk and gently heats it to the optimal temperature in less than three minutes. It also has an easy-to-use status display, which indicates when the milk is ready. This bottle warmer prevents overheating and can keep your baby's milk at a constant temperature for up to 60mins."
Our tester, Nansi, says: "This is a compact and easy-to-use bottle warmer that had my baby's bottle at the perfect temperature in three minutes. It has a defrost option too, which is handy, and you can also use it to heat baby food."
Nansi found this machine especially easy to set up and use. "You pour the water directly into the warmer, instead of filling a fiddly bottle which you then have to fit to the machine," she says. "It has a simple dial to select how many ounces you're heating, and the 'on' button lights up to indicate when the milk is ready."
Verdict: Overall, this is a fast, efficient bottle warmer that ticks all the important boxes – it's easy to use, takes up minimal space, and it looks good in the kitchen. "I love how easy to use this bottle warmer is, and how quick it is to fill and get going," Nansi added. "If I was buying a bottle warmer, this is the one I would choose."
Read more: Philips Avent Fast Bottle Warmer review
.
Best value bottle warmer
Buy it if
✅ You prioritise value for money: It retails for around £50 but if you're lucky, you can find it for under £40. We think this is excellent value for money. In fact, it's such good value that we had to check the price twice!
✅ You plan on defrosting/warming milk from frozen: What's great about this machine is that it works to heat milk no matter the temperature.
✅ You want a bottle warmer and steriliser: The electric steam sterilising unit sterilises items in seven minutes and it will keep items sterile for 48 hours. Plus, it has a detachable microwave steam sterilising unit, which fits in standard microwaves, and is also suitable for cold water sterilisation.
Don't buy it if:
❌ You need speed: Our tester found it slow to warm room-temperature milk.
The bottom line
🔎 Tommee Tippee All-in-One Advanced Bottle and Pouch Warmer One of the best things about this bottle is how simple it is to operate. It's intuitive and fuss-free to use. Plus, we love the fact you can sterilise bottles too. Getting it in such an affordable package is the icing on the cake. ★★★★★
Tested by: Lauren Godfrey, mum to Margot, 11 months.
Our baby gear expert says: "The Tommee Tippee All-in-One Advanced Bottle and Pouch Warmer warms baby milk from refrigerated or from frozen, as well as from room temperature. You can heat it in a baby bottle, or in a baby food pouch or jar. It has an easy-lift cradle, which holds the food or milk. This makes it really easy to lift the bottle, pouch, or jar in and out of the bottle warmer without dripping water everywhere."
Our tester, Lauren, says: "I was particularly impressed by how quickly and easily this bottle warmer defrosted and warmed a pouch of breastmilk from frozen. It's so easy to use – you choose one of the three settings, then press 'start' and wait for the beep. The warmer is also a neat, slim-line design, so it doesn't take up lots of space in the kitchen."
The machine is particularly easy to operate. It heats milk from either chilled or frozen. An automatic timer works out the optimum warming time based on bottle type and the volume of the milk you're heating. Additionally, the starting temperature of the milk determines how long the machine takes to warm it. Lauren adds: "I had to read the instructions twice, but that was only because I really couldn’t believe how easy it was to operate."
Verdict: We wouldn't hesitate to recommend this bottle warmer to a friend and Lauren said the same for two very good reasons: "It's very affordable and so easy to use," she says. As for whether it's the best bottle warmer for you, Lauren thinks it's best suited to a parent who often needs to warm milk quickly, and with only one hand free. It's also a good space-saving choice for those with smaller kitchens or limited worktop space. We agree.
Read more: Tommee Tippee All-in-One Advanced Baby Bottle and Pouch Warmer review
Simplest to use
Buy it if
✅ You plan on only using a bottle warmer occasionally: This product does what it says on the time. But just note: it comes with zero frills or preset function so isn't the most intuitive product on the market.
✅ Want a bottle warmer that's budget-friendly: Priced at under £20, you won't have to pay a fortune for function.
✅ Simplicity is important to you: With just one button, this is a real plus for parents who dislike fiddly gadgets.
Don't buy it if:
❌ You want a bottle warmer that comes with all the frills: We love this easy, simple but effective product. But if you're looking for a bottle warmer that goes above and beyond, check out Dr Brown's Deluxe Bottle Warmer and Steriliser which, as its name suggests, can sterilise bottles as well as warm up your baby's food and milk.
The bottom line
🔎 Nuby Electric Bottle & Food Warmer Combining budget with ease, this basic option is easy to operate and won't take up lots of all-important counter space. In our opinion, this budget-friendly product is perfect if you only plan on using a bottle warmer every now and then. ★★★★
Tested by: Nansi Hitchman, mum to Jesse, 12 months.
Our baby gear expert says: "Sometimes, you want a no-nonsense piece of baby kit with no fiddly extras. The Nuby Electric Bottle & Food Warmer is exactly that. It's a compact bottle and food warmer that heats both breast milk and baby food safely, including from frozen. It fits a range of baby bottles and baby food jars. It heats the contents within three minutes. It has a lift-out basket so you can retrieve your bottle or jar without touching the hot water. Additionally, it comes with an adapter ring that fits most baby bottles and brands of baby food."
Our tester, Nansi, says: "I am impressed by how easy this is to set up, and by how little space it takes up. Babies come with so much kit, as everyone knows, and I'm glad this isn't yet another giant item on my countertop."
Nansi found this bottle warmer particularly easy to use – a real plus for parents who dislike fiddly gadgets.
"You can set it up in seconds and there's no need to learn how to navigate a control screen or complex settings – you just press one button and it gets going. However, you do need to keep the booklet handy so that you know how much water to add to achieve the correct temperature."
Verdict: Overall, this is a basic bottle-warmer that's quick and easy to operate. It's a good choice if you have limited worktop space in the kitchen. It's brilliant value for money, and ideal if you're on a budget or don't want to spend over the odds on a bottle warmer that you'll only use occasionally.
Best timer function
Buy it if
✅ You have a fear of overheating your baby's milk: Simply set the timer and when the time has elapsed, the warm water drains back down into the tank and the Kozii™ bottle warmer shuts off automatically. So you'll avoid overheating milk, which can destroy its nutrients.
✅ You're looking for simplicity: With just one dial on the front, you can't go wrong.
Don't buy it if:
❌ You've got thick bottles: This bottle warmer took a little bit longer to heat super-thick milk bottles. So this is something to keep in mind.
❌ You want a machine you can use with one hand: Our tester found filling the water reservoir a fiddly task - especially if you're holding your baby at the same time.
The bottom line
🔎 Babymoov Kozii Baby Bottle and Food Warmer The internal water reservoir and automatic shut-off timer make this easy and oh-so-simple to use and ensures you won't destroy all of the milk's nutrients. ★★★★
Tested by: Lauren Godfrey, mum to Margot, 11 months.
Our baby gear expert says: "This bottle warmer has an internal water reservoir to create a continuous flow of water around your bottle or baby food pouch, ensuring the contents are heated evenly and gently. This means you don't need to fill the bottle warmer with water every time you use it. Simply set the timer, and when the time is up, the water drains back into the reservoir. There's no risk of overheating either as it has an automatic shut-off timer."
Our tester, Lauren, says: "This bottle warmer completely removed my fear of overheating milk or creating heat pockets within it, as it shuts off and the water drains immediately back into the reservoir as soon as the milk is at the correct temperature.
Lauren tried several different bottles and baby food pouches in this bottle warmer. She found they all fitted but says thicker bottles took a little longer to heat up. "Filling the water reservoir is quite a fiddly task, and certainly not easy to do one-handed, but the dial on the front is very straightforward and easy to use."
Verdict: This bottle warmer is a good choice if you're keen to avoid overheating milk, which can destroy its nutrients.
Most stylish
Buy it if
✅ You're looking for a stylish bottle warmer: Coming with an LCD display and a contemporary and sleek design, this is an ultra-modern bottle warmer.
✅ You'd like to be notified when the milk has been warmed: This handy design comes with audible and visual alerts that notify you when the item is ready.
✅ A 'memory function' is important for you: When you've got a hungry baby on your hands, this bottle warmer comes with all the time-saving capabilities.
Don't buy it if:
❌ You want a basic model: While this machine is super easy to use, it comes with a range of features for you to use. If you're looking for a more basic option, try the Nuby Natural Touch Electric Bottle and Food Warmer.
The bottom line
🔎 Dr Brown's Deluxe Bottle Warmer and steriliser With audible and visual alerts plus a handy memory function and a stylish and contemporary design, who knew heating your baby's bottle could be so easy and effortless? ★★★★
Tested by: Nansi Hitchman, mum to Jesse, 12 months.
Our baby gear expert says: "This high-tech machine heats bottles and baby food jars and also sterilises baby bottles and soothers. It's a stylish-looking product, so it'll appeal to parents who like contemporary, sleek design. It has an LCD control panel and a one-button start mode for quick access to your preferred heating times. Audible and visual alerts notify you when the item is ready."
Our tester, Nansi, says: "This is so compact and sleek, it's a very stylish item for any kitchen. It looks and feels like an expensive bit of kit, so you get a lot for your money. You definitely need to read the instructions before using it, as there are multiple features to get to grips with, but the LCD screen is easy to follow once you get the hang of it."
Our favourite feature is the memory function. You can repeat the last setting used, or use the timer to create your own custom setting. This makes heating your baby's milk and food especially easy.
Verdict: Our tester found the bottles heated up quickly overall, and kept their heat for a long time. "The bottle is also easy to remove, and I was able to clean the machine very quickly," she says.
Best multi-purpose bottle warmer
Buy it if
✅ You want a steriliser and bottle warmer: Consider this option the complete package for sterilising, defrosting, and warming food and milk. However, we'd say this is best suited to parents who primarily want a steam steriliser, with the ability to heat bottles occasionally.
✅ Space is short: From sterilising, defrosting and warming milk, there's not a lot that this product can't do. But all these functions are compact in their design. You can still fit all of these products into your kitchen drawer or cupboard.
✅ You want function and ease: One of the best things about this product is the fact it's so easy to use. It might come with loads of features, but that doesn't make it a hassle to use.
Don't buy it if:
❌ You'd prefer to spend less: At more than £100, this is the priciest option in our guide. If you're on a budget, consider the Nuby Natural Touch Electric Bottle and Food Warmer or Dr Brown's Deluxe Bottle Warmer which can sterilise too.
❌ You want a bottle warmer: Choose the Philips Avent Fast Bottle Warmer instead.
The bottom line
🔎 Mam Electric Steriliser & Express bottle warmer Sterilising your baby's bottle is super important — and this product prides itself on that. While it can heat milk and food, it's a steriliser first and foremost. Only consider buying this you want a steam steriliser and a bottle warmer. ★★★★
Tested by: Lauren Godfrey, mum to Margot, 11 months.
Our baby gear expert says: "The Mam Electric Baby Bottle Steriliser and Express Bottle Warmer is a complete package for sterilising, defrosting, and warming your baby's milk and food. The 'keep warm' programme keeps the contents warm for up to 45 minutes. The electric steam sterilising unit sterilises items in seven minutes. Items stay sterile for 48 hours. It also has a detachable microwave steam sterilising unit, which fits in standard microwaves, and is also suitable for cold water sterilisation."
Our tester, Lauren, says: "You immediately feel like you're getting a lot for your money when you unbox this. There's a lot of functionality, and it comes with lots of products included, whilst still being a compact unit that can fit into a kitchen drawer, cupboard or even sit unobtrusively on the kitchen counter."
Nevertheless, Lauren feels this is best suited to someone who primarily wants a steam steriliser, with an occasional need for heating bottles. "The amount of water required to be added to the unit changes depending on what you're heating, which is a little confusing, and adds more time to warming up the milk," she says. "However, it’s good that the heating process is so quick once the water has been added. It heats room temperature milk in just over two minutes, which is fantastically fast, and both the milk and bottle feel lovely and warm."
Verdict: With so much included, this is a brilliant-value product overall, and a good buy for anyone who wants a multi-purpose product that can sterilise as well as warm milk and baby food.
How to choose the best bottle warmer for your baby
Bottle warmers vary wildly in price ranging from just above £10 to around £150, but they all do the same thing, via different means. Take these factors into consideration to help you choose the best bottle warmer for your needs.
- Cost - Decide how much you want to spend on a bottle warmer, and shop around for one that matches your budget.
- Space - Think about how much space you've got in your kitchen. If you're short on worktop space, you won't want another bulky kitchen gadget taking up even more room.
- Multifunctional - Consider whether you'd like a machine you can continue using once your baby starts weaning onto solid food. If so. choose one that's compatible with lots of baby food jars and pouches. (Some bottle warmers only fit certain types of baby bottle or baby food jar).
- Portability - If you're likely to take the bottle warmer with you on trips away from home, choose one that's practical for packing. For instance, make sure it's light and compact. If you're bottle-feeding your baby most of the time, a bottle preparation machine is a better investment than a bottle warmer. A bottle warmer is handy for heating the occasional bottle of breastmilk, rather than for preparing all your baby's formula feeds.
What is the best bottle warmer to buy?
The Philips Avent Fast Bottle Warmer gets our vote. That's because it can be used for warming both milk and baby food, and it does so quickly yet evenly. This prevents hotspots and overheating. In addition, as well as warming 150 ml/5 oz of milk in three minutes, you can use it to warm frozen milk, plus it's really intuitive to use and easy to operate.
What do bottle warmers do?
“Effective bottle warmers heat the milk in an even and relatively fast manner without overheating, so that there aren’t hot zones that could burn a baby’s sensitive mouth – like heating milk in the microwave would,” explains Chandani DeZure, M.D., FAAP, a board-certified Paediatrician and a member of the BabyCenter Medical Advisory Board.
Regardless, parents should be testing the temperature of all milk that is given to a baby prior to feeding by drizzling it on the back of their hand, Chandani advises.
Chandani DeZure, M.D., FAAP, is a board-certified paediatrician and a member of the BabyCenter Medical Advisory Board. She is a neonatal and paediatric hospitalist in Palo Alto, California. Dr. DeZure specialises in the care of newborns in the neonatal intensive care unit and paediatric patients in acute care settings. In addition, she cares for healthy newborns in the well-baby nursery and attends deliveries of high-risk infants that may require assistance at birth. She is also qualified and trained to treat paediatric patients in the outpatient setting.
Is a bottle warmer necessary?
It’s not, but Chandani points out that babies prefer warm milk. “There’s no harm in drinking cold milk, and getting a baby to like or drink cold milk is a win for most mums,” she says.
However, if you’re using frozen breast milk, it would need to be thawed or warmed. Chandani says it’s OK if you don’t have a bottle warmer, and you can still heat the milk by placing the bottle in a mug or bowl of warm water and checking the temperature before giving it to your baby.
Is it safe to use a bottle warmer for formula?
Chandani says it is safe to use a bottle warmer for formula if used as directed, just like for breast milk. “Before giving any formula to a baby, the temperature should be tested by placing a few drops on the back of your hand,” she adds.
How we tested these bottle warmers
Here at GoodtoKnow we pride ourselves on a product review testing process that is fair, consistent, and robust.
Our Consumer Editor Heidi Scrimgeour came up with a shortlist of the best bottle warmers based on more than a decade's worth of product knowledge and industry research. She looked at the latest offering from the market-leading brands - and as a parenting journalist for 15 years and mother of three, what she doesn't know about baby products isn't worth knowing. She also selected products from a broad range of price points so there's a bottle warmer on this list to suit every budget.
Next, we called on our pool of parent testers and assigned each of them a bottler warmer to review with their baby. They tested the product rigorously for at least a month. After this, they gave each product a rating out of five for overall performance. We also asked for comprehensive feedback on key factors including design appeal, functionality (how easy is it to assemble and use), and value for money.
After reading about the best way to warm a bottle, you might be wondering is the Tommy Tippee bottle warmer worth it? Find out in our Tommee Tippee All-in-One Advanced Baby Bottle and Pouch Warmer review. Plus, you can never be too careful when it comes to your baby’s health, which is why so many parents choose the best bottle sterilizer to prevent germs and bacteria from spreading in the kitchen.
-
Cosatto Wow 3 hands-on review: practical, beautiful and comfortable - wow!A versatile travel system with a newborn carrycot, upright pushchair seat and a compatible car seat - everything you need in one stylish package
-
14 of the best pushchairs to buy in 2024: buggies and strollers for growing toddlers reviewedWe asked a panel of parents to put the latest pushchairs to the test - here's what they thought
-
Best toys for 6 year olds 2024: 45 age-appropriate gift ideas from just £6.99From Barbie to slime, and from educational to creative, these top toys for six-year-olds are sure to be a big hit
-
The best baby walkers to buy in 2024: 9 top tried and tested push toys for girls and boysThe best baby walkers are sturdy and stable — here are the top-rated options that made the cut according to parent testers
-
Best cot beds in 2024: 12 sleep solutions, all tried and tested by babies and toddlersDiscover the best cot bed for your baby based on our tried-and-tested parent reviews
-
First Look: the new Joolz Hub² is the urban stroller I wish I had when my lads were littleJoolz, the premium pushchair brand, launches its latest masterpiece today - and we got an exclusive early first look
-
First Look: Match Attax Advent CalendarWe recently got our hands on this year's festive must-have for footie fans. It's safe to say our 11-year-old tester (and a total baller) was absolutely thrilled.
-
Shimmerverse Pixlings Pegacorn review: this toy might involve a mystery reveal, but it's the doll and her pet that are the real magicFind out how this new Magic Mixies toy faired when tested by our parent tester Punteha and her eight-year-old daughter
