What temperature should breastmilk be heated to?

The Ideal Temperature for Heating Breast Milk
When it comes to warming breast milk, parents often seek the safest and most effective methods to ensure their little ones receive the best nutrition. The temperature at which breast milk should be heated is crucial, not only for the comfort of the baby but also for preserving the milk’s nutritional quality.
Recommended Heating Temperature
Breast milk can be safely warmed to body temperature, which is approximately 98.6°F (37°C). This temperature is ideal as it mimics the natural warmth of breast milk when it is freshly expressed. Healthy, full-term babies can consume breast milk at room temperature or warmed to this body temperature without any issues.
Avoiding Overheating
It’s essential to avoid overheating breast milk, as high temperatures can damage its beneficial components. Research indicates that warming breast milk above 143°F (62°C) can significantly reduce its nutritional value, including the loss of heat-sensitive nutrients like folate, which can decrease by as much as 24% at elevated temperatures. Therefore, parents should be cautious and ensure that the milk does not exceed this threshold.
Methods for Heating
When warming breast milk, using warm water is recommended rather than hot water. Many households have water heaters set between 120°F to 140°F (49°C to 60°C), which can be too hot for breast milk and may lead to scalding. Instead, placing the bottle in a bowl of warm water or using a bottle warmer designed for this purpose can help achieve the desired temperature safely.
Practical Tips
For those who prefer to warm breast milk quickly, it’s advisable to take the milk out of the refrigerator and allow it to sit at room temperature for a short period before warming. This method not only helps in mixing the milk back to its original consistency but also reduces the time needed for heating.
In summary, the best practice for heating breast milk is to aim for body temperature, ensuring that the milk remains safe and nutritious for your baby. By avoiding high temperatures and using gentle warming methods, parents can provide their infants with the best possible feeding experience.

How warm should breastmilk be warmed up to?

To warm your milk, place the breast milk bottle or bag into a cup, jug or bowl of lukewarm water for a few minutes to bring it to body temperature (37 degrees Celsius or 99 degrees Fahrenheit). Alternatively, use a bottle warmer. Do not allow the temperature to go above 40 degrees Celsius (104 degrees Fahrenheit).

What is the 5 5 5 rule for breast milk?

Something I recommend to moms is the 5-5-5 rule. Try and use milk within five hours at room temperature, five days in the fridge, and by five months in the freezer.

What temperature is bad for breast milk?

For freshly expressed breastmilk, you may refrigerate (40 degrees Fahrenheit or below) for up to four days and freeze (0 degrees Fahrenheit) for six months for best quality, but safe for up to 12 months. Prepared formula can be stored in the refrigerator for a maximum of 24 hours.

Why wait 30 minutes before making formula?

Leave the water to cool in the kettle for no more than 30 minutes. Then it will stay at a temperature of at least 70C. If you’re using a baby formula preparation machine, make sure the water is at least 70C. Water at this temperature will kill any harmful bacteria.

How to tell if milk is too hot for a baby?

Test the bottle
Before you start feeding, give formula-filled bottles a good shake and gently swirl bottles filled with breast milk, then test the temperature — a few drops on the inside of your wrist will tell you if it’s too hot. If the liquid’s lukewarm, you’re good to go.

What is the 120 pumping rule?

The first 12 weeks of your breastfeeding journey requires frequent breastmilk removal, stimulating healthy milk production. Studies show moms who exclusively pump for a minimum of 120 minutes per day can make enough to feed their babies primarily breastmilk.

At what temperature is milk no longer safe?

Prevention. Choose pasteurized milk and dairy products, making sure to read labels carefully. Refrigerate perishable foods at 40°F or colder to slow bacterial growth. Bacteria can multiply rapidly if left at room temperature or in the “Danger Zone” between 40°F and 140°F.

What temperature should formula be heated to?

Babies milk should be at blood temperature – approx 37 deg Celcius or 98.5 deg Farenheit. This can be tested by dropping a few drops on the inside of your wrist – if it feels hot or cold it is the wrong temperature.

Can babies drink cold breast milk?

Breast milk does not need to be warmed. It can be served room temperature or cold.

At what temperature does breast milk lose nutrients?

So, when rewarmed at temperatures higher than 40°C (a temperature that most describe subjectively as lukewarm and not hot), human milk nutritional and immunological values begin to deteriorate. At temperatures of 50°C the rate of the milk quality [28] deterioration increases significantly [13].