Philips Avent Express Baby Food and Bottle Warmer
by Philips AVENT
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Our Price: $49.95 Availability: Usually ships in 1-2 business days Buy Used: from $38.95 (click here) Category: Baby Product See more product details |
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Baby Products Reviews of Philips Avent Express Baby Food and Bottle Warmer
Customer Review: It's a life saver!!!!
Summary: 5 Stars
Honestly, I don't know why all these negative reviews. But it looks like they haven't been using it correctly, or at least not the way we do. I personally haven't read the instructions, but someone else in the family did so I think we aren't doing anything we shouldn'tSince the day we bought it, we never had a single problem with it. We decided to get this one beacause we already had products from Avent (bottles, nipples, breast pump, etc...) and certainly it is worth the money. I can't tell you it's the best out there cause we never tried a different brand, but why would we if this one is working out great.
As I said, after reading those negatives reviews, I realized we use ours in a different way:
- first of all, we live the warmer plugged in ALL the time. We never unplug it even if we leave the house, although that's your choice, but while at home, you can leave it plugged. It's like a coffemaker or a radio, you don't unplug it, right? we have ours in a safe and dry place without worring,
- to avoid the water to overflow... just use less water! It does have marks for it, but I never used them. You should know that if you use a big and full bottle you'll need less water then if you put there a smaller bottle. After using it for a while, you'll know how much water it needs without worring. And we don't use new water with every bottle, it stays there for longer. It's your choice when change it,
- there's always a new, full bottle in the warmer, so it's always warm and ready for a hungry baby :). If your baby doesn't drink it all... no problem... just put it back and it'll wait there for the next time,
- the warmer has 3 settings of warming. Ours is always set to 1, and that's the perfect temperature. You'll never have to worry about overheating the bottle. We only use the other two when we need something to heat right away, or when we're leaving and we need a bottle to be very warm so it doesn't get cold with the weather so quickly,
- and as for the specific times to heat something... well, you can't always rely on the instructions. Those times are approximate, and you should check the bottle to know when it's ready for your baby. But, as I said, if you leave it always on 1 and the bottle is all the time inside... you will get a perfect temperature even if you wait more time (there is absolutely now danger of overheating)
Well, I think I said everything I could about it. As you can see, there's a solution for pretty much every problem you can think of. We are really very satisfied with this product and it's one of those things you need no matter what, specially since you can't microwave the formula. And now, we also use it with baby food and it also heats the jars perfectly, although you might want to put them in some time before you need it so you don't have to wait later. Level 1 works fine for that too but if you're really in a hurry you'll need a higher level, but then you'll have to check on it once in a while because you might overheat them on those levels.
I hope this review helps you out a bit, and remember to keep the box so if you're not satisfied with it after all, you can return it and get another one that works better for you :).
P.S. This warmer works with all bottles not just Avent, although Avent bottles have the height just right for this and other bottles would be much higher but they would still get warm fine. If you haven't decided yet what bottles will you use, you can see my review on Avent's 9oz set of three bottles :).
Customer Review: Definite Time Saver- 99% Satisfied
Summary: 4 Stars
This is one of my favorite baby products as far as convenience goes. I've read several of the reviews here. I do agree that the absence of an on/off switch is somewhat of a nuisance, however this is my only complaint. With regard to a lot of the other consumer gripes and methods of use, I disagree and feel I must address them. Obviously, as with any new product acquired, it is usually most beneficial to a consumer to carefully read the instructions and follow them. The front of the warmer has a convenient diagram to remind the user of heating and timing settings per size and type of bottle. To warm regular Avent 4 oz. or 9 oz. bottles that have previously been refrigerated (~40 degrees), and for bottles prepared at around room temp (~70 degrees), the thermostat needs to be at 3. The water levels and heating times differ. I feel that I need to reiterate some of the instructions for any of you prospective consumers who would like to be well and accurately informed:Hazard Warning:
-Always unplug when not in use.
-Always place bottle into warmer BEFORE adding water.
-Ensure water has been added before switching the unit on.
-When the feed has reached the required temperature, remove immediately. If left in the warmer, the temperature of the feed will continue to increase.
Instructions for use for regular Avent feeding bottles:
-Ensure basket is in place inside the warmer.
-Place the assembled, filled bottle in the warmer.
-For 4 oz. bottles, (slowly- to avoid air bubbles) fill the warmer with water to just above the level of milk in the bottle.
-For larger bottles, fill the warmer to 1/2 inch below the rim of the warmer.
-Never let the water level rise above the neck of the bottle, or spill over the edge of the warmer.
-Plug in the unit . Turn the dial setting to 3.
-The light will illuminate to indicate the warmer is working.
-When the water has reached the correct temperature, the light will come on and off to indicate that the water surrounding the bottle is kept at a constant temperature.
-Always shake the bottle gently and check the temperature of the milk by sprinkling a few drops on to your wrist before you feed your baby.
If you follow these instructions and set a timer you should have a perfectly warmed 4 oz bottle in 5 minutes for previously refrigerated bottles; a 9 oz (previously refrigerated) bottle will be warmed in 6 minutes. Times for heating bottles from room temp are 4 minutes for either size.
I personally own the regular Avent bottles. This warmer will also accommodate the Avent Disposable System bottles, Avent Magic cup, baby food jars, and other makes of bottles. Instructions for these vary slightly for heat settings and times.
The basket can also be removed to allow the varying types to fit inside.
Overall, I am very happy with this product. It has saved me a lot of time and headaches.
Customer Review: Good but not great.
Summary: 3 Stars
I have bought several bottle food warmers trying to get the right chemical composition of convenience and adequate warming without scalding. It is largely a mixed bag with all the warmers. I have yet to find one that does it all.
The perfect warmer would have a temperature probe, an on/off switch, shut off automatically, chime when finished, have clear directions, fit all size bottles and work correctly 99% of the time. Sadly except for the tempurature probe, the above features are not found in any one warmer but several. The temperature probe was my idea, but a good one I think.
This warmer is about twenty dollars more than any other on the market, but I don't believe you get twenty dollars of bang for your bucks. The newer models and the one I have does have an on/off switch, so if you were to buy it today you will have one. The problem with all warmers, this one included, is the amount of water needed. It is fairly difficult to get a consistent bottle temp. You will get it perfect one time, and then the next you have to run it under the cold tap for two minutes to get it back to the right temp. The instructions across all of them are poor at best.
This warmer does a decent job if you make sure to pull out that bottle in five minutes, for refridgerated milk. If you don't you will be trying to cool it down. It would be nice if it had auto shut off, or a chime. This warmer soaks the bottle in water that doesn't boil but warms it slowly.
The long and short of it comes down to features that are important to you, because no one warmer (at least at this writing) seems to do it all. Here is a list of features of the popular models:
Avent - Uses warm water, largest opening, fits all bottles, has switch, no auto shut off, no chime, approx. five min. heat time. $40.00
Dex - Similar to the Avent, but it does have a chime when finished heating, fairly consistent heating, approx. five min. heat time, bottle opening is smaller than Avent so disposables Avent bottles do not fit well, all others are fine. $18.00
First Years - Uses steam, heats faster than other models - approx. 3 min., difficult to get appropriate water level, inconsistent heating, has an auto shut off when finished heating, fits all bottle sizes. $25.00
Phillips makes one as well but I refuse to buy yet another one. I find myself using the Dex version the most because it is similar to the Avent, I rarely use disposable bottles, I like the chime feature, it is very consistent, and costs less than all the others. Hope this helps, happy warming.
Customer Review: Inconvenient features
Summary: 1 Stars
Yes, it warms your bottles.
But not without some inconvenient flaws. Although a later model has an on/off switch, if you don't shut if off, even when the light indicating your bottle blinks off...the heating unit doesn't. Which means you have be on your toes to remove it or your bottle become too hot, and the milk will rise up and start to leak out of the screw cap into your water in the unit. Is it my bottles? I have Dr. Browns and Avent.
The light will switch on and off for the different bottle sizes at timed intervals. Meanwhile the unit keeps heating and will continue to do so until you turn it off. So you really have to be watching it.
Also, it's inconvenient to have water in the unit. Once you're done, you could opt to leave it in there (it gets yucky and white with milk as the aforementioned problem occurs...), or you have to pour it out each time. Yes, the unit is small and light, but it's not a convenient "pourer," especially with the cord and the removeable basket.
Finally, while maybe there is a line that shows you where to fill the water to, there is no accessory to easily pour the correct amount of water into the unit...use your cups, glasses, etc. But it's still one more step each and every time you warm a bottle.
Did I mention that, yes, you can warm baby food in it...but use a pair of tongs to get it out.
My husband and I used this unit for 6 months until we discovered the "First Years" model at my sister-in-laws house. Not only does it stop heating when the bottle is done and therefore shuts off automatically, it has a measuring device attached to the warmer to dispense water into it, and then it uses steam to warm the bottle so the water is completely gone when it's done. It also warms baby food jars, but it has a convenient over-the-edge hook-on basket so you don't have to worry about lifting it out with your hands (or tongs). This model needs some trial and error to get it to the right temperature (the directions are right for the most part, but will differ with respect to the bottle having been refrigerated, etc.)...but once you figure it out, you're set. And at half the price, I wish we had found it first.
In my opinion, Avent does many things right but not on this product.
Customer Review: Does the job, with Radio Shack's help....
Summary: 4 Stars
Our daughter is 6 weeks at this time and we have been warming breast milk and formula in Express Bottle and Babyfood Warmer since day 5. This is an excellent bottle warmer. First, its the only warmer (that I know of) that you can insert the Avent milk storage bags in alone. Second, it warms all kinds of bottles very effectively and quickly. We just turn it to the high setting, turn it "on" and, when the light goes off, the milk is warm or at room temperature (after having being chilled at 35-37 degrees by our refigerator).Now here is the catch, as you will read other reviews of this product, this warmer has a glaring (and inexcusable) deficiency. There is no on/off switch. In other words, the unit is contantly on when its plugged in to the wall outlet and it will warm to its dialed setting unless and until it is unplugged. This is a pathetically inconveneint design flaw. Nonetheless, I believe, once this design deficiency is remedied, this is an excellent warmer.
What is the remedy? Well, it costs an extra $15-20.00, but its worth every penny in my opinion. Its a wireless a/c on/off adapter. Basically, its an adapter that plugs into your wall, the bottle warmer (or other power device) then plugs into the adapter, then a wireless remote control allows you to turn the power the warmer either on or off (single button). The only drawback is that there is no power on light on the adapter or on the warmer (the light on the warmer is a warming light, that turns off after the warmed water gets to a certain temperature). I'm sure there are other wireless on/off units on the market that allow you to tell if the switch is delivering power to the warmer or not, but I just didn't have time to search.
Also, I would recommend buying some velcro or RadioShack's powerful non-abrasive velcro sticky tabs that will allow you to attach the remote to your nightstand, wall or other convenient place where you can just reach for the button and not have to fumble around for a loose remote control.
So, in sum, I think this warmer is excellent, albeit only if you purchase an on/off adapter to control the delivery of power to the warmer with a touch of a button.