Storing And Warming Feeds

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Storing and warming feeds

When it comes to storing and warming up bottle feeds, it is safest to:

• prepare a fresh feed each time you need one
• give it to your baby as soon as it has cooled to the right temperature

This is because warm milk provides ideal conditions for bacteria to grow, especially at room temperature.

Safely store bottles

To safely store made-up bottles:

1. Make up bottles following steps to safely prepare baby formula.
2. Place cooled bottles in the back of the fridge. Make sure the temperature of the fridge is 5 degrees Celsius or less.
3. Throw away any feed not used within 24 hours.

Never use a microwave to warm feeds

Microwaves heat unevenly. They may cause ‘hot spots’ that could scald your baby’s mouth.

Warming up refrigerated bottles

To warm up refrigerated bottle feeds:

1. Remove the bottle from the fridge just before you need it.
2. To warm the bottle, place it in a bowl of warm water, making sure the level of the water is below the neck of the bottle. You can also use a bottle-warmer. Do not warm it for more than 15 minutes.
3. Check the temperature of the milk by dripping a little onto the inside of your wrist. It should feel lukewarm, not hot.
4. Throw away any feed that your baby has not taken within 2 hours of starting the feed.

How to give a baby a bottle

Page last reviewed: 20 November 2022 Next review due: 20 November 2025