I read recently that heating up formula before you feed the baby is an old wives tale and doesn't decrease fussiness or make them spit up less. I did it with my other two because that's what my mom did with me, etc..

I would like to avoid having to waste time heating up bottles if I don't need to. Anyone else not heating them?

I don't heat either. My kids only got warm bottles when it was bedtime. I actually only used warm tap water. They are fine with cool, not cold, formula.

I never heated my daughter's bottles. I always used room temperature water because if we were out and she needed a bottle, I didn't have to worry about the ability to warm one.

I've read that the only reason to warm bottles is because very young babies can have difficulty maintaining their body temperature. The only reason we warmed them was b/c DS was a preemie and the hopsital had been warming them the 10 days he was in there before he could come home. He always took them room temp, but if they'd been refrigerated they had to be warmed. At 7 months I still can't get him to take his formula even cool, it has to be room temp or warmer, just b/c it is his preference now. There's no reason why it ever has to be warmer than room temp though.

I never warm my DD's bottles unless they have been in the fridge. When we took our childbirth class they actually told us not to warm them up because it was unnecessary unless they were in the fridge. I was glad to hear this because it meant that I wouldn't have to worry about heating them up while we were out. It makes it much easier!!! My mom had a hard time with the idea of not warming them up but she's ok with it now. She can see it doesn't make her fussy. Hope this helps!!

Amy

I always heat ds's bottles if they've been in the fridge, but like the other's have said--usually only to room temperature. Sometimes I heat them so they're warm though, he'll have it either way. I've been doing that since he was itty bitty, so I think he got used to having it either cool or warm. I've heard that if it's cold though, it can upset their tummy's, when they're really young. But it's nice because if we're out at the mall or something, I don't have to bother heating a bottle--he'll take it just as it is! But like the PP mentioned her mom having a hard time with it, I have taken so much you-know-what from people (friends, relatives, etc.) for not heating his bottles, but he really doesn't prefer them warm over room temp. and he's just fine drinking them that way! If you don't always want to have to be heating bottles, then I'd say give them room temperature from the start, then your baby won't get used to having them warm.

Whiskers :)

it's funny, but i'd never even given it a second thought! i just always warmed the bottles for my girls. now that i'm pregnant with baby #3, and want to simplify my life, maybe i'll try not warming bottles this time! :)