A common question asked by parents is how to warm Comotomo bottles or how to clean them.
Comotomo bottles, as we discussed in the previous Comotomo vs. Mimijumi article, are unique. One thing that makes them unique is the silicone material they are made of.
If you are used to plastic and glass baby bottles, you may find yourself wondering how to handle silicone bottles. In this article, we answer this question as well as point out the various ways of warming Comotomo bottles.
Why are Comotomo bottles difficult to warm or heat?
Before we dive into the different ways to warm these bottles, it is important we understand why parents have a hard time heating Comotomo bottles.
The reason why you may find it difficult to warm these bottles compared to plastic or glass bottles is that they are made of heat-resistant silicone.
What does this mean?
Heat-resistant silicone is difficult to burn. Yes, your silicone baby bottle will not catch fire in case you accidentally drop it on fire. This is a good thing, right?
Of course, it is good to know that your Comotomo bottles (which are quite expensive, by the way) are heat resistant.
The only problem now is that since they are heat resistant, they do not heat up as fast as you would want them to. This is why the question of how to warm Comotomo bottles is quite common.
How to warm Comotomo bottles
There are several ways through which you can warm your baby’s breastmilk or formula in a Comotomo bottle. You can use a bottle warmer, microwave, or under running hot water or boiling water in a pot.
Method 1: Using a Bottle Warmer
Comotomo bottles are not your ordinary long-slim bottles that can fit in any bottle warmer.
They have a wide neck that makes it difficult to fit properly in most bottle warmers. So, when warming formula or breast milk in these bottles, ensure that you use a bottle warmer with a wide opening.
Also, as we have already noted above, these bottles are pure silicone. Therefore, they might take longer and require more heat to completely warm milk in a warmer compared to your normal plastic bottles.
If you are used to placing your Dr. Brown bottles in a warmer and the milk is heated in about 2-3 minutes, it may not be the case with Comotomo bottles.
Although bottle warmers come with temperature instructions, you may have to ignore them and just set the highest temperature.
Then let the bottles sit in the warmer for about 5 to 10 minutes in order to heat the milk completely.
However, do not overheat the milk, which may kill all the necessary nutrients.
If this sounds risky, another option is to put the milk or formula in a non-silicone bottle.
Then transfer it back to the Comotomo bottles to feed the baby.
That will be cumbersome, but it is a better alternative than overheating the milk.
See this: Bottle warmers that fit Comotomo bottles.
Method 2: Using a Microwave
Comotomo bottles are microwave safe, according to the manufacturers. This means that you can warm them in a microwave or sterilize them. Since they are BPA-free, no toxins will be released into the milk; hence, they are very safe.
There are, however, a few reasons why microwaving milk is not advised.
A hot patch forms in the milk because it does not heat uniformly. If you’re not careful, the baby could get burned.
Overheating the milk might destroy beneficial bacteria and enzymes.
Milk, especially breastmilk, should be heated gently and slowly since excessive heat can destroy the much-needed nutrients.
Therefore, if you must heat milk in the microwave, use medium temperature for a very short time and remember to stir before feeding the baby.
Method 3: In hot boiling or running water
Another question that most Comotomo users ask is, can you boil Comotomo bottles? Absolutely Yes. Since the bottles are heat resistant, they can withstand very high temperatures when boiling.
In fact, placing the bottles in a bowl of water like we normally do with plastic and glass bottles may not heat the milk at all. You need much hotter water for Comotomo bottles than regular bottles.
Don’t be surprised if, after ten minutes of warming the formula or milk, it is not warm at all despite the high temperature. That’s silicone for you. Its firmness prevents heat from passing through easily in order to warm the contents inside it.
So what do you think about warming Comotomo bottles?
Well, I’m sure you now have a clear understanding of why it is so hard to warm Comotomo bottles. Blame it all on the heat-resistant silicone material of the bottle.
However, you shouldn’t miss out on the special bonding time that occurs between you and your baby as you feed them from a bottle designed to mimic a mother’s breast.
The silicone substance gives the Comotomo bottles their unique skin-like texture and squeezability, making them unlike any other bottles on the market.
Whether you decide to use a bottle warmer, microwave or running/boiling hot water, remember, silicone needs a high temperature. So you need a high temperature in order to warm Comotomo bottles.
See also: Pros and Cons of Glass Baby Bottles.
FAQ about how to warm Comotomo bottles
Q1. Are Comotomo bottles dishwashers safe?
Babies are very sensitive to anything contaminated with germs. Thus, good hygiene should be observed when using feeding bottles, which includes cleaning and sterilizing them.
Immediately after buying a baby bottle, you should clean and sterilize it before use. This should continue every now and then after feeding.
Most baby bottles are dishwasher safe.
Comotomo bottles, for instance, are safe to be cleaned in dishwashers.
This is because since they are made of silicone rubber, as earlier mentioned, which has high elasticity. Thus, the bottles can withstand very high and low temperatures.
However, when placing the bottles in the dishwasher, it is advisable to place them in the top rack. This is to prevent damaging the bottles if they come into contact with the heating coils.
After cleaning, it is advisable to air dry the bottles and store them carefully to prevent the growth of bacteria that may cause illness to the baby.
Moreover, it is recommended to sterilize the bottles by boiling them for 5 minutes or using a bottle sterilizer as often as possible.
Q2. Are Comotomo bottles worth it?
Comotomo bottles are safe for babies since they do not contain the BPA chemical used to make hard plastic containers.
These bottles have anti-colic vents that are placed on the nipple. It allows proper ventilation and airflow that prevents gas that causes colic and spits-ups.
In addition, they come in two sizes 5oz for slow flow nipple, which fits newborns to three months, and 8oz with the medium flow for ages 3 to 6 months.
Also, the bottles have a wider opening, which makes cleaning easier, unlike the narrowed neck feeding bottles. For this reason, one does not need a bottle brush to reach the inside of the bottle.
Your fingers are able to reach the base of the bottle with a cleaning sponge, which ensures that all corners are cleaned.
Most importantly, the soft silicone material has a skin touch feeling that makes the baby feel calm because it mimics the natural breast.
This has a calming effect on the baby and also provides a better grip and a latch during bottle feeding.
In addition, your baby will not feel the transition effect of breastfeeding against bottle feeding, hence preventing nipple confusion.
Q3: Why has my Comotomo bottle turned yellow?
It is not unusual for plastic and silicone baby bottles to discolor over time.
Comotomo bottles, for instance, may turn yellow in color after prolonged use. This happens due to continued exposure of the silicone bottles to breast milk and fat in formula and failing to clean the bottles properly.
Also, frequent cleaning in a dishwasher along with other dishes may discolor the bottles due to the food particles and soup on the dishes.
Similarly, fruit juices like watermelon juice may discolor the bottles even after a single use.
This is why special cleaning of the bottles is necessary to help remove the discoloration and restore them to their initial condition.
Weekly sterilization using boiling water is necessary to avoid discoloration and to maintain them as well.
I think that the good old method for warming the bottles in hot water is good enough, plus you don’t need to buy a microwave or expensive bottle warmers. But we are living in 21’s century and we all want not to waste time and everything to be faster. So, thank God there are bottle warmers 😀