In Depth Baby Product Reviews Led by a Pediatrician
We buy all the products we test — no freebies from companies. If you purchase through our links, we may earn a commission, which helps support our testing.

Munchkin Speed Review

Inexpensive, fast heating warmer with serious health and safety issues
gearlab tested logo
Munchkin Speed Review
Credit: Abriah Wofford
Price:  $22 List
  • 1
  • 2
  • 3
  • 4
  • 5
Manufacturer:   Munchkin
By Juliet Spurrier, MD and Wendy Schmitz  ⋅  Jan 2, 2019
42
OVERALL
SCORE
  • Warming Efficiency - 25% 9.0
  • Ease Of Use - 30% 4.0
  • Health/Safety - 40% 1.0
  • Ease of Cleaning - 5% 6.0

Our Verdict

The Munchkin Speed is a fast heating steam warmer that warms bottles in as little as 90 seconds. This unit works with a variety of bottle sizes and materials, but it will not work with breastmilk storage pouches. It does have an auto shutoff when the cycle is over, but there is no audible sound to tell parents it is time to remove the bottle. This design flaw could result in parents missing the end of the cycle which could lead to a bottle that is too hot as it overheats quickly when left in the chamber. While we like most things that help parents and give them time, the safety concerns with the Speed make it a warmer we don't recommend. We feel that a few more minutes to warm a bottle is acceptable if it means avoiding potential risks.
REASONS TO BUY
Inexpensive
Fast
Quick second bottle heating
REASONS TO AVOID
Too hot
Hard to fill vial
Gross build up

Our Analysis and Test Results

Munchkin was founded in 1991 by a dad who liked inventing. Since then, the company has acquired over 200 patents and a loyal following of parents worldwide. Munchkin's tagline is that it is the little things that matter most, offering all sorts of gear from feeding to diaper pails.

Performance Comparison


munchkin speed - the munchkin speed is a steam bottle warmer that is the faster...
The Munchkin Speed is a steam bottle warmer that is the faster warmer in the group.
Credit: Abriah Wofford

Health and Safety


The Munchkin Speed earned the lowest score for health and safety in our tests. The Speed is a very hot unit with potential for steam related injuries. While it heats faster than any other option when following directions, it heats ridiculously high temperatures if you stray from the guide and either leave the bottle in after the heat cycle is over (132F at 12 minutes) or use the maximum heat setting. In our tests, maximum heat resulted in bottles with temperatures as high as 147F at 12 minutes and over 104F at only 3 minutes. This temperature is when breastmilk starts to lose nutrients, and we imagine it might be tempting to heat a bottle on high and forget it is in the chamber until it is over the recommended body temperature.

munchkin speed - the speed doesn't have any settings to bother with and includes only...
The Speed doesn't have any settings to bother with and includes only an off/on switch.
Credit: Abriah Wofford

Ease of Use


The Munchkin has some ease of use issues that hurt its score in our tests, earning it a below-average score, but not the lowest of the competition. The munchkin instructions are easy to read, with each language having its own section. However, the heating chart is convoluted, and you'll need it every time you change a bottle type, size, or content level. If this chart were on the warmer, this would make life easier, but as it stands, you'll need to keep the instructions nearby. It has an auto shut-off, but there is no audible indicator for the end of the cycle.

We like that the vial included with the Speed attaches to the unit...
We like that the vial included with the Speed attaches to the unit so you are less likely to misplace or lose it.
The vial included with the Speed has letter labeled markings that...
The vial included with the Speed has letter labeled markings that correspond to a warming chart in the user manual. If you lose the vial you might be out of luck for accurately filling the steam chamber.

The unit includes a vial for water measuring with arbitrary lines labeled with letters. It's nice that the vial attaches to the warmer, so you are less likely to lose it, and if you do, the warmer is virtually useless. Once you know your line, you are set, but this line can change as your little one needs more food. Also, the vial can be challenging to fill to the right line and requires some patience and time to get right. It also involves the use of the adapter ring to heat the bottle properly. You could easily forget this ring in the middle of the night. The user interface is off and on, which is as straightforward as it can be.

The Munchkin works with a variety of bottle shapes, though taller...
The Munchkin works with a variety of bottle shapes, though taller bottles may not heat efficiently as much of the bottle will be outside the warming chamber.
Forgetting the containment ring on the Munchkin will impact the...
Forgetting the containment ring on the Munchkin will impact the temperature of the bottle's contents.

Warming Efficiency


The Munchkin Speed has the fastest heat cycle time in this review, earning it a top score for warming efficiency. Following the instructions, this unit shut off at 2:30 minutes, and the bottle reached a temperature of 97F, which is one of the closest to body temperature without going over in the group. So, not only is it fast, but it delivers the temperature most parents desire. However, during testing, we did have some disparity with bottles that varied from 75-97F degrees using the same settings and water. While not a deal-breaker, it is something to keep in mind. Unfortunately, if you don't follow the instructions, or you don't remove the bottle when the heat cycle is over, you can find yourself with a bottle that is too hot for a little one's mouth or breastmilk losing nutrients if temperature surpasses 104F.

munchkin speed - despite having a bottle basket and containment ring, steam has a...
Despite having a bottle basket and containment ring, steam has a higher chance for potential injuries due to the temperature of the steam compared to water bath technology.
Credit: Abriah Wofford

Testing Content Temperatures
Before you give a bottle to your baby, you should test the temperature of the contents. This includes swirling the bottle to limit hot spots and dripping some on the inside of your wrist. Your wrist is more sensitive than your finger, and therefore, better at determining if something is too hot or cold.

You only need to wait about 5 minutes before heating a second bottle, but you do run the risk that the second bottle will be warm faster or too hot if you warm it for the same amount of time.

The plastic ring included with the Munchkin helps retain the heat...
The plastic ring included with the Munchkin helps retain the heat from the steam to warm bottles more efficiently. If you forget the ring, the bottle contents will not heat properly.
The Speed has a few different parts including a basket and ring that...
The Speed has a few different parts including a basket and ring that can be cleaned in the dishwasher. The chamber isn't too hard to clean but you will need to do regular descaling.

Ease of Cleaning


The Munchkin Speed earned a slightly above-average score for ease of cleaning. Everyday cleaning requires dumping the cooled water and wiping the unit clean. The basket and ring are dishwasher safe, or you can wash them by hand and air dry. Many users report that regular use creates a brown and crusty residue in the chamber that is hard to clean. We didn't experience this, but it seems common enough to mention.

The Speed also requires descaling about once a month, something true of each unit. Descaling consists of a vinegar/water solution that you let sit in the chamber until the mineral deposits are gone. This time can vary depending on how significant they are.

Manufacturer's Video



— Juliet Spurrier, MD and Wendy Schmitz
 
Table of Contents

You Might Also Like