In Depth Baby Product Reviews Led by a Pediatrician
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The Tommee Tippee Pump and Go Bottle and Pouch Warmer is a water bath warmer that holds a variety of bottle sizes and materials including breastmilk pouches. This versatility makes the Tommee a great choice for those who aren't sure what kind of bottle their baby will prefer. This unit has an easy to understand interface with straightforward icons and buttons for warming settings. The Tommee is safe, easy to clean, and consistently warms bottles to the same average temperature. This unit is larger than some, so it might not be the best choice for kitchens with limited real estate. Plus, it only heats to around 78F at shut-off, which may be cool for some babies. Overall, we really like this warmer and feel the features and ease of use make up for any shortcomings.
REASONS TO BUY
Versatile
Consistent heat
Easy to use
REASONS TO AVOID
Larger
Longer to heat
More to clean
New Version Update — July 2020
Tommee Tippee has a new bottle warmer called the 3-in-1 Advanced Electric Bottle and Pouch Warmer. Boasting a warm time of 4 minutes, automatic timer, and simple operation, this new warmer has similar features to the Pump and Go, with a new design. We are now linking to the newer version in our review.
Our Analysis and Test Results
Tommee Tippee started more than 50 years ago by three brothers. The three plastic businessmen were contacted by a doctor who wanted to create a new cup for toddlers. The original doctor didn't like the final design, but a British businessman decided to invest in bringing the cup to parents everywhere to help avoid spills. The brothers used a picture of their dog Tommee on the side, launching the Tommee Tippee brand. Tommee Tippee is part of the Mayborn group and sells worldwide.
Performance Comparison
The Tommee Tippee Pump and Go Bottle and Pouch Warmer is a water bath warmer that works well with many bottles and storage pouches.
Credit: Abriah Wofford
Health and Safety
The Tommee earned a top score for health and safety, beating out most of the competition with significantly lower results.
This unit uses water bath technology, which is inherently safer than steam baths reducing the potential for burn-related injuries. The water temperature, while hot, will not cause pain or injury should it come in contact with skin.
The contents of the containers being warmed are at low risk for becoming overheated with average temps of only 95F after 12 minutes in the bath using manufacturer directions and a maximum recorded temperature of 115F using the product at its highest setting. Ninety-five degrees F is within the “safe” guidelines for breastmilk being close to body temperature and not warm enough to suffer nutrient damage (104F). One hundred and fifteen is lower than much of the competition, with at least one competitor reaching 150F when used at its highest heat setting.
With three buttons and easy to identify icons the Tommee Tippee is easy to set without the aid of a chart or manual.
Credit: Abriah Wofford
Ease of Use
The Tommee is a straightforward warmer with easy to understand settings which helped it earn an outstanding score for ease of use. It features an auto-shutoff with an audible beep to let you know the bottle is ready.
Three buttons on the front of the warmer allow you to choose the temperature of the bottle before warming, the material of the bottle, and the amount. There are no complicated charts to memorize or try not to lose, and if you need to heat something different than the usual container, you won't need to guess.
The Tommee Tippee will fit the widest of bottles with ease.
The included pouch basket makes the Tommee Tippee a perfect place to heat breastmilk.
Unlike much of the competition, the Tommee Tippee can easily heat breastmilk in storage pouches.
This warmer holds bottles of different shapes and sizes, including tall and wide bottles (above left) that may not fit in the competition. It also comes with a handy pouch basket (above middle) that accepts and warms breastmilk storage pouches (above right). Not all of the competition can do this, so it is an excellent choice for parents who are incorporating breastmilk into their regular feeding routine.
Tall bottles are no problem for the Tommee Tippee with plenty of water bath space for efficient heating.
Credit: Abriah Wofford
Warming Efficiency
The Tommee is not the quickest warmer, earning a moderate score for warming efficiency.
Warming efficiency is determined using the manufacturer's directions and a glass bottle with a silicone sleeve. Your results may vary depending on your bottle or content type. Using the manual and selecting the appropriate settings resulted in an automatic shut-off of 5:30 minutes. The temperature of the bottle contents was 78F on average. This temperature is within the recommended temperature guidelines and will not destroy breastmilk nutrients, though it might be cool for babies accustom to body temperature breastmilk.
The heating time could be shorter, and you might wish it was if your baby is crying while the bottle heats, but it is one of the faster water bath warmers on par with the Kiinde Kozii, another high ranking product. To us, it is more important that there is consistency in temperature from bottle to bottle. Leaving the bottle in the chamber past the auto shut-off will result in a warmer bath, but up to 12 minutes is safe without worrying that the bottle is too hot.
Test the Contents
Always swirl the contents of a heated bottle for about 30 seconds, then drip a few drops on the inside of your wrist to ensure the contents are not too hot. The inside of your wrist has thinner, more sensitive skin and is preferable than using your finger.
Daily cleaning of the Tommee is simple, but monthly cleaning requires a bit more effort.
Credit: Abriah Wofford
Ease of Cleaning
The Tommee isn't difficult to clean; however, some of the directions pose a challenge, which is why it only earned a slightly above average score for ease of cleaning.
After each use, you should let the warmer cool and then dispose of the leftover water. Wipe the inside and outside with a clean, damp cloth. You do not need to use any cleaners or solvents for everyday cleaning. Every four weeks, if not sooner, there is a more involved cleaning process involving descaling with a cup of vinegar. We suspect some parents will forget this process or skip it due to time and effort. Tommee Tippee does give you two cleaning options, but both require vinegar and waiting.
