Tommee Tippee Travel Warmer Review

In the 1960s, three brothers from California designed a spill-resistant cup for toddlers with a weighted base to keep it from tipping over. The cup caught the attention of a British businessman who decided to grow the company, and Tommee Tippee was born. Tommee Tippee is one of the most recognizable names in the baby world, selling sippy cups, bottles, and other feeding accessories worldwide. Today, it is part of the larger Mayborn group and is based in the UK.

Performance Comparison

Health and Safety

The Tommee Tippee Travel Warmer is just above average for the group in terms of health and safety. It utilizes boiled water kept hot in an insulated flask to create a water bath that gently warms bottles.

Although there are no adjustable settings or auto-shutoff, there is little risk of overheating baby's milk because the water does not continuously heat. Even when left in the water bath for longer than intended, the milk's temperature did not get astronomically high. In our tests, the maximum temperature hovered between 109-110 degrees and then began to drop again. While this is not an ideal scenario for heating breastmilk, it is only slightly too hot. We appreciate that there is no risk of extended exposure to extremely high temperatures.

We do worry that the water may stay too hot in the flask. The water may still be at a scalding temperature even after hours of sitting in the container, making it too hot to safely warm breastmilk and creating a burn hazard for those using the device. You must also note that this method may cause bottles to heat unevenly, as there is no water circulation. We found that the difference in temperature between the top and the bottom of the beaker was nearly 7 degrees at any given moment.

Ease of Use

The Travel Warmer scored a bit below average for ease of use due to the lack of an auto-shutoff and audible beep. However, the method to operate the Travel Warmer is one of the simplest of the group. Essentially, it is the same method many parents use when they do not have access to a bottle warmer. The Tommee Tippee brings the benefit of having compact hot water storage and a receptacle for bottle heating in one self-contained system. When you're done feeding, the press of a button seals off the warm water, and the beaker screws shut over the top of the flask.

Using this bottle warmer requires some forethought and planning. You will have to prep the water beforehand, along with any other bottle supplies you may need. With dimensions of 7.75"H x 3.5"L x 3.5"W, the Tommee Tippee will take up a considerable amount of space in your diaper bag. However, for park outings, longer drives, or restaurant feedings, this simple warmer is the perfect solution.

Warming Efficiency

The slow-warming water bath brings milk to body temperature at an average of 5:30 in our tests, putting the Travel Warmer a little above average for the group. We appreciate that there is no wait time between warnings, and when filled to capacity, the flask holds enough water to warm two bottles at different times while on the go. However, once you use all the hot water, you will have to make a pit stop and take the time to prepare more.

We don't like that there is no way to tell when the milk is ready other than by feel. There is no timer or built-in alarm to let you know when the milk is warm. We fear that parents may tend to leave it in too long and allow it to reach temperatures above what is considered safe for breastmilk.

Ease of Cleaning

The Tommee Tippee warmer is one of the easiest to clean, and it earned an impressive score for the group. The two parts of the flask require handwashing to maintain the integrity of the insulation. The plastic beaker is dishwasher safe, although we recommend handwashing all plastic items. Descaling is unnecessary, and because you will only be putting water inside, the warmer only needs periodic washing. Tommee Tippee recommends giving it a good scrub with baking soda if there is ever any build-up. We appreciate the simplicity of the entire system.

You may find that it is easier to reach through the flask's narrow mouth with a bottle brush, but if you have bottles, you will likely already have this tool on hand. Overall, the Tommee Tippee Travel Warmer is one of the easiest bottle warmers to use and clean.

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