microwaving

[Rose-Roget]

My mother kept dd this afternoon for a few hours during which dd needed to eat. I thought I'd already given her instructions to warm the milk in warm water, rather than the microwave, but maybe not because she used the microwave. When ds was a baby, I didn't hesitate about the microwave, so that may be what she was thinking.

She doesn't keep dd terribly often - come February a little more when I return to work (she'll for sure keep her one day per week, plus other incidental times). So how big of a deal is it that she microwaves bottles for dd - do I "correct" her, or do I let it go?

[CookAMH]

I would definitely correct her since she will be feeding her in the future. If it was a one off and already in the past, maybe not. But for two reasons, you should speak to her about it: 1) hot spots can occur and burn your LOs mouth and 2) microwaving will begin to destroy the nutrients in your milk.

[sunshynbaby]

Originally Posted by CookAMH

I would definitely correct her since she will be feeding her in the future. If it was a one off and already in the past, maybe not. But for two reasons, you should speak to her about it: 1) hot spots can occur and burn your LOs mouth and 2) microwaving will begin to destroy the nutrients in your milk.

If you think it might be an issue, you can get her a bottle warmer.

[EmilyG]

I don't think it's that huge of a deal if it's not that often. I mean it does destroy nutrients, but that won't hurt the baby if it's not that often. I guess you can mention something about how you read that it's better not to microwave breastmilk or something like that, that you're going to try warming it in hot water.

[PatioGardener]

I'd worry about hot spots in the milk and baby getting burned more than nutrient degredation (since it is just once in a while.)

[tanyam926]

I would mention it for 3 reasons:

1) Why would you want to destroy any of the nutrients, antibodies or good bacteria in your breastmilk? It takes a lot of work to pump and your baby needs all the good stuff in there.

2) Bc microwaves warm from the inside out and unevenly (I have read) there can be hot spots even when mixed or shaken that can burn your baby's mouth. Major pain that is easily avoided.

3) It's not that big of a deal for her to warm the milk another way. She probably hasn't heard that it might be a bad idea, especially if you approach it in a loving way, like, "Hey mom, I just read that warming bm in the micro can [insert above reasons], I didn't know that, did you? I guess we should warm it in hot water instead".