Have you started bottle feeding and are wondering, will a cold bottle cause stomach ache?
Feeding your baby might seem like a straightforward issue.
However, while it is not that overwhelming once you are familiar with what to do, it can be challenging at first.
For instance, what is the right temperature for your baby’s meal?
Every new parent struggles with it, especially when you have to wake up in the middle of the night to feed your little one.
Knowing the right temperature for your baby’s milk will save you from any guesswork (and time, as you will find out soon).
Will a Cold Bottle Cause Stomach Ache
Believe it or not, it is safe to give your baby cold milk. Parents have grown into this myth that a baby’s milk must be warm to a specific temperature.
However, it is not entirely true. Giving your baby warm milk is more of a personal preference for both the baby and the parent.
That said, a cold bottle will not cause your little one any stomach aches. In fact, cold foods can help relieve the pain of a baby who is teething.
What You Need To Know About Cold Bottle Feeding
Now that we have established it is safe to feed your baby cold milk, below is what you need to know about bottle-feeding your little one.
1. Why warm milk?
So what’s the best temp for the child? Some mummies will swear by the warm milk, and rightly so if it works for them.
Others believe breast milk causes their baby to sleep and relax.
If your baby is more familiar with breastfeeding, they might appreciate warm milk more than cold milk.
Warming bottle milk is more of making your baby feel like they are breastfeeding. Still, cold milk should not be an issue for their health.
However, you do not have to warm your baby’s milk even if you get it straight from the fridge.
The next time you wake up late in the night to feed your baby, how about you skip the warming up and save some time?
2. The stomach upset
As mentioned, it is safe to give your baby a cold bottle. However, it is also important to note that babies are different, just like adults.
Therefore, whatever works for your friend’s baby might not work for you.
It’s worth noting that most stomach upsets result from the baby suckling more air than necessary into its stomach.
So it’s essential to check the bottle tops and nipples for any pinholes and bottle tops for a solid seal. This could allow too much air while your baby is suckling.
Indigestion is another cause of colics which may be commonly due to your little one’s immature gut.
Also, if your child is feeding on formula feeds, they stand a higher chance of abdominal discomforts.
If your baby has a stomach ache for unexplained reasons, consider seeking medical attention.
3. Overheating the milk
If you want to warm your baby’s milk, ensure that you do not overheat it. Overheating destroys the nutritional benefits and immune factors.
How about heating with a microwave? You should never heat breast milk in a microwave. Why? Because it heats unevenly.
Even if you test the temperatures of the milk on your arm, your baby could still burn their mouth and esophagus.
Scary, right? It’s safe to avoid using the microwave for your baby’s milk, both breast and formula milk.
You can use a bottle warmer or hot water bath but be cautious not to overheat.
Read more in a related post:
What Happens If Baby Drinks Spoiled Breast Milk?
How To Get Rid of Mommy Belly?
Will a cold bottle cause stomach ache? No, cold milk is okay for your little one.
You can now stop worrying and losing sleep over it, and take this opportunity to save some of your sleeping time.
If you have to feed your baby in the middle of the night, you can rest easy knowing you don’t have to spend half an hour warming the milk.
Mo Mulla is a work from home dad who enjoys reading and listening to music, He loves being a dad and husband to a growing family. He also loves writing about his passions and hopes to change the world, 1 blog post at a time!
