To Heat or Not Heat?

We’ve taken a few mini trips this summer, and on each stay – during our flights, in the hotel or just while we’re on the go – I’ve questioned my early decision to heat Surya’s formula when I first weaned her to a bottle. We gave her heated formula, then transitioned at a year to heated cow’s milk.  We got back to our hotel in California late one night, and gave Surya a sippy cup of cool/lukewarm milk.  She sat in the bed saying “I don’t want cold milk.  I want hot, hot milk.  I neeeeed hot milk.”  I need hot milk??  Really?  That made me giggle.  Then kick myself.  Were all of those parents who didn’t heat their baby’s bottles because they didn’t want to create a habit where they had to always give their baby hot milk RIGHT?  Surya went to bed without drinking her milk that night.  We could have had room service heat it for her but it was late, and she was already sleepy.  

Then there were the few flights where it wasnt “milk time” but there was a Starbucks available, so we ran in to get her a kid’s steamed milk, poured it into a sippy cup, made our way onto the flight just in time only to find that she wasn’t just yet in the mood for milk. (There is occasionally an inverse correlation to the amount of effort I put into getting Surya something and her interest in it).  By the time she was ready to have the milk, it was – wait for it, wait for it – too cold. 

Ultimately, I would prefer hot milk to cold milk for myself, especially in times of wanting comfort and cuddles like first thing in the morning or right before bed.  And , I drink hot coffee almost all summer long, only rarely opting for iced coffee.  So it only seemed fair to do the same for Surya. Even it meant a little inconvenience.  

But still, I wonder if I created a little bit of a diva.  Did you (or do you) heat your baby’s milk?

Photo Credit: BlueWaiKiKi