If you’re formula-feeding your baby then you’ll know it is one of the most time-consuming activities. Crucially, it is also one that must be done perfectly each time.
We at Best For Mums recognise how stressful it is and how busy you are, so we’ve come together to create the ultimate list of the best baby bottle makers and formula prep machines you can buy to help find the perfect one to fit your budget and needs.
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Best Baby Bottle Maker Reviews
Feeding your baby is going to be one of the activities which takes up most of your time. In addition, it will be one of the most important things you can do to help their development.
While making a bottle of baby formula milk will never be as easy as breastfeeding, the gap is slowly closing through technological advancements such as automatic bottle makers (aka formula prep machines or baby milk machines). Of course, at the end of the day the most important thing is that your baby is fed.
If you’ve opted for baby bottle feeding with formula over breastfeeding then the best baby bottle maker should be an essential piece of equipment. From day one, purchase a formula prep machine, along with a monitor, nappy bin, carrier and of course, bottles.
In this buyer’s guide we are going to go into depth on a short list of recommended models of bottle prep machines, what to look for in your purchase and some background on how these magical devices work (and at 3am it really will feel magical!). Your baby’s food is at the heart of every decision.
Image | Product | Features | Price |
---|---|---|---|
Best Overall | Tommee Tippee Perfect Prep Machine |
| Check Price |
Best For Convenience | Baby Brezza Formula Pro Advanced |
| Check Price |
Best for Quiet | YXLONG Perfect Prep Machine |
| Check Price |
Best Budget Option | ÜneeQbaby Baby Formula Kettle |
| Check Price |
Best Technology | Burabi Formula Maker |
| Check Price |
Best for Travel | Nuby RapidCool Portable Baby Bottle Maker |
| Check Price |
1. Tommee Tippee Perfect Prep Machine
Tommee Tippee is perhaps the most universally recognised brand for parents who bottle feed in the UK. This reputation, however, is not for nothing as the Tommee Tippee Perfect Prep Machine delivers on its promise of preparing formula bottles quickly and to the exact temperature every time.
What sets the Perfect Prep baby formula machine apart from the competition is how simple it is to use, especially for someone who has never had to make bottles before. Furthermore, it is impressive how quickly and perfectly it does its job. The formula milk you get at the end has no air bubbles and a great consistency. In the end, it is a perfect blend of water and formula.
It’s a doddle to adjust settings and add your program. It also comes with various lights to let you know when the filter is ready to be changed and when it needs to be cleaned.
With thousands of reviews and a stellar star rating on Amazon, you’ve got a lot of parents out there who can attest to this formula prep machine being the only one you’ll ever need to make baby’s bottle. We think it’s great and because it is a part of a well known brand, the price is usually reasonable and can often be on sale.
After being on the market for years and perfected over time, we feel that the Tommee Tippee Perfect Prep baby milk machine is the best value for money. This baby bottle maker won’t cost you the earth either, with prices almost always being less than £100.
Tommee Tippee have also introduced a new model of their best selling formula maker – the Tommee Tippee Perfect Prep Day and Night. While more expensive, this updated version includes the benefit of a quieter, night-friendly machine, and a clear and easy to use digital display. Overall, the quality of the baby bottle making is the same, so we will leave it to you to decide if the additional features are worth the cost.
Available at: Amazon, Boots, John Lewis
Pros
- Takes less than 2 minutes to get a bottle ready
- Compatible with any powdered formula
- Initial hot water shot kills bacteria
- Can use most brands of baby bottles with it
- In stock and easy to get from most stockists of baby products
Cons
- Can be noisy at night time
- Is more expensive than using a kettle
- Not the most portable for road trips, holidays etc
- Minimum feed size is 4oz
- Requires Tommee Tippee brand replacement filters
- Does not mix the formula for you
2. Baby Brezza Formula Pro Advanced Baby Bottle Maker
The Baby Brezza Formula Pro baby bottle maker gives almost instant results – mixing, heating and dispensing baby formula to the perfect consistency and temperature.
Simply choose the settings and push a button, and it gets to work. There is no measuring or mixing required from your end, and it has been designed to work with pretty much all of the most popular brands of formula from Cow & Gate to Aptamil.
The formula powder is dispensed from a hygienic, sealed compartment so you never have to check on it or waste any time. You can also see when it needs topping up without opening it up, which could let air and nasties in.
The customising allows you to adjust the bottle size (2 to 10 oz), temperature (room, body and warmer than body) and formula concentration so you get the perfect results, without having to manually alter anything. Incredibly, the formula is dispensed ready for your baby in just 15 seconds.
Another bonus feature is that once the automatic bottle making machine has been purchased there is little ongoing cost, as you don’t need to buy replacement filters.
In conclusion, this is a fairly expensive product to purchase up front, especially comparing the Baby Brezza vs Tommee Tippee, which is more popular. However, for many busy, tired parents, the time and energy savings will more than make up for it over the period of use.
Available at: Amazon, John Lewis
Pros
- The most stylish looking formula making gadget
- Automatically mixes the correct amount of water with baby formula, based on your settings
- Can make a fresh bottle in 15 seconds
- Best capacity
- Can be used with other brands of bottles
- No ongoing costs
Cons
- Expensive to purchase
- Requires cleaning every 4 bottles
- Not very portable
- Not as widely reviewed as some other brands
- Has been reported to be inconsistent at times
3. YXLONG Constant Temperature Perfect Prep Machine
The YXLONG Constant Temperature baby bottle machine is a snazzy alternative for busy mums who don’t have the time to boil a hot kettle and hope that they’ve got the perfect temperature right every single time. The instant feeding module enables baby bottles to be made in 10 seconds provided the formula powder has been added to the tank in advance and it has the water ready to be boiled.
During the water boiling process it is quiet as a mouse which is ideal for those hard night feeds and won’t wake the house up. You can operate the YXLONG intelligent automatic milk machine with just one finger so even if you’ve got your other hand full with the baby you can still get the job done.
The intelligent configuration means the baby bottle is a perfect mix every time. The mixing follows three principles – no bisphenol A, no harmful pigments, no heavy metal pigments – so no need to worry despite many product descriptions being written in broken English.
In closing, what we would say about this product is that it does the job well enough, but not the best. The baby formula that comes out is perfect and safe and the whole thing is easy to clean with water. However, the manufacturers have not made anywhere near enough effort in writing good product descriptions.
In addition, it doesn’t have many verified reviews. So all in all, it becomes a tad worrying given the cost. This is not a cheap product and we just feel a little bit more effort for the UK market would have gone a long way.
Available at: Amazon
Pros
- A viable alternative to the mainstream baby brands
- Fixes up fresh baby milk in 10 seconds flat
- Can be operated with a single finger – just add water!
- Silent when operating
Cons
- Yxlong product descriptions and manuals written in poor English
- On the expensive side, even for baby products
- Very few customer and third party reviews out there
4. ÜneeQbaby Baby Formula Kettle with Built in Thermostat
One of these is not like the others, and that’s the ÜneeQbaby Baby Formula Kettle with Built in Thermostat. Now, clearly this mega kettle is a completely different baby bottle maker as it doesn’t mix baby formula for you. Instead, what it does is provide water at an exact temperature readily available throughout the day. This just leaves you with the task of getting the bottle ready to manually mix the formula up.
With one press of the button on an easy-to-read touch screen display, you can boil the water and it will then be kept warm at the specified temperature (anything from 37°C to 90°C). As a result, feeding time is fuss free as your sterilised water is ready to mix with formula for your baby’s bottle.
This might sound like more hassle for you when compared to the others we’ve reviewed so far. Admittedly, you’d be half right with that thinking. But, here’s some food for thought.
It’s easy to focus on what this kettle can’t do but it’s important to focus on what it does. First, it has perfect temperature water available at all times. Second, it sits stylishly in your home. Third, it doesn’t require any sort of cleaning whatsoever after formula starts to clog up the pipes. Finally, this kettle is half the price of most other baby bottle makers.
In addition, this kettle is completely silent and can be kept in the same room as your baby when they sleep. This makes it great for the dreaded night feeds when they just need food.
Overall, this makes it ideal for those on a budget but who still don’t want to do everything manually and take any chances with the wrong temperature.
Once your baby has weaned and moved on from formula then this just becomes a kettle to make tea or coffee. If you plan on having more children in the future it can then be resurrected as a bottle prep machine again. Amazing.
Available at: Amazon
Pros
- One of the cheapest options
- Completely silent
- Made with high quality materials that feel strong and safe
- Can be used as a normal kettle
- Perfect temperature water available for 24 hours
Cons
- Doesn’t mix the baby formula for you
- A normal kettle can do the same thing
- Does not conform to NHS guidelines for safe bottle making
5. Burabi Smart Baby Formula Dispenser, with WiFi App control
The Burabi WiFi smart formula mixer is a sight to behold and arguably one of the best and the most technologically advanced products in this whole buyer’s guide. We’ve mentioned about the convenience of these kinds of products and this one takes that to a whole new level. This baby bottle prep machine adds WiFi capabilities, allowing you to start preparing a perfect bottle of formula from anywhere inside the house.
Internet connectivity aside, the Burabi mixer can create a baby bottle in 8 seconds. The result will be a perfect mix thanks to the smart app-based identifier, which can scan the barcodes of formula to know the precise ratios and set the program for you. Currently, the Burabi database has over 10,000 formula types stored, so chances are your baby’s formula brand will be recognised.
The thermoblock function heats up only the amount of water required to the exact required temperature for your formula. The Burabi is silent and should not wake anyone up in the middle of the night for those dark and cold feeds.
Formula feeding itself heavily relies on best technological advancements and this baby bottle maker is a testament to just how far we’ve come with infant food. The convenience of being able to prepare a perfect bottle anywhere from a simple tap on your phone is almost worth the hefty price tag alone. Baby bottles have never been this easy.
For added convenience, this automatic formula prep machine is not only useful for making baby bottles. It can be used to easily mix hot chocolate, protein shakes, or just add hot water for tea. As such, its lifespan can be extended, enhancing its value proposition.
Additionally, this magic gadget will even fit into your decor nicely. Perhaps even add to it, especially if you have a modern decor. The resulting baby bottle is based on the quality of the formula mostly – you should choose this mixer above the others if you want the extra convenience. Think of this as the Hive of the bottle maker world.
Available at: Amazon
Pros
- Unprecedented convenience and the best tech
- Perfect bottles free of air bubbles every time in 8 seconds or less
- Easy to maintain
- Stylish and ultra modern design
- Comes with 1 year warranty
Cons
- It’s very expensive
- Pre-boiled or purified water is required to add to baby formula machine
- Not too many third party or verified customer reviews
6.Nuby RapidCool Portable Baby Bottle Maker
The Nuby RapidCool Baby Bottle Maker solves one of the main problems that all of the best baby bottle makers on our list have, and that is portability. The Nuby RapidCool is an ingenious device which will help you mix and cool your baby’s bottle to the perfect temperature while on the go.
This milk prep machine will cool your baby’s formula milk from boiling to the perfect drinking temperature in just under 2 minutes. The RapidCool doesn’t need any power to work, and the innovative technology works by absorbing heat from the hot liquid.
To use this formula prep maker, first you need to source your hot/boiling water (keep in mind NHS guidelines to use water that is at least 70C in order to kill any bacteria in the formula). Then measure your formula powder using the provided up, fill with hot water, add the formula, and mix well. When the Nuby label turns green, you know the formula is the perfect temperature to add to your bottle and feed your baby.
One of the down sides of this baby bottle maker is that is just a flask to mix and cool the formula. However, you do need to provide the boiling water separately. You can purchase Nuby’s RapidCool Baby Bottle Making kit, which does include a flask to keep hot water, plus an additional RapidCool bottle.
Pros
- Sized for portability and easily fits in your nappy bag
- Bottle ready in under 2 minutes
- Confirms to NHS formula feeding guidelines
- Easy to clean and set up
Cons
- Still need to add boiling water (not included)
- The green light system can be fiddly and takes some getting used to
- Need to sterilise after every use
- Takes less than 2 minutes to get a bottle ready
- Compatible with any powdered formula
- Initial hot water shot kills bacteria
- Can use most brands of baby bottles with it
- In stock and easy to get from most stockists of baby products
Baby Bottle Maker Buyer’s Guide
Feeding your baby is going to be one of the activities which takes up most of your time and be one of the most important things you can do to help their development. Despite decades of research, making a bottle of baby formula milk will never be as easy or as nourishing as breastfeeding but slowly through technological advancements the gap is closing.
At the end of the day the most important thing is that they get fed. If you’ve opted for baby bottle feeding over breastfeeding then a baby milk prep machine should be an essential piece of equipment from day one along with a monitor, nappy bin, carrier and of course, bottles.
In this buyer’s guide we are going to go into depth on a short list of recommended models, what to look for in your purchase of the best baby bottle maker and some background on how these magical formula prep machines work with your baby’s food at the heart of every decision.
What are bottle makers?
Baby bottle makers are devices which will either mix baby formula for you to the correct temperature or simply boil water to the temperature you desire. The reason why milk prep machines exist is because most formula needs to be made with water no less than 70ºC according to the World Health Organisation’s guide to prepare formula for Bottle-Feeding at Home to protect the baby from any bacteria present in the powder such as Cronobacter.
Different brands of baby formula (in the UK mainstream brands are Cow & Gate, SMA and Aptamil) require specific ratios of formula to water before being given to babies. Without a baby bottle prep machine you will have to do this all manually. An article by CafeMom stresses the importance of bottle formula preparation and we agree that it should not be taken lightly.
Benefits of having a baby bottle maker
The benefits of baby bottle makers for those choosing to formula feed are massive, with the biggest advantage being the convenience, speed and accuracy for the resulting bottle. Being a mum is hard work enough so a good bottle prep machine can be a helpful tool in your day to day job caring for your little one. Here is a break down on why you should buy one today.
Correct temperature and ratio of formula and water
Automatic milk prep machines will prepare the water to the exact temperature you set it every single time it is used, without fail. We’ve already discussed how crucial temperature is in this arena. Most of the baby products we review (and we will state if it does not have this feature) will also mix the formula in with the water to the exact measurements required by the manufacturers of that formula.
A human being will never be able to measure the baby formula exactly with a scoop but a bottle prep machine can and will. This again saves you time and stress time and time again.
Sterilisation
Sterilising baby bottles between food is crucial to protect your baby from infections which can lead to diarrhoea and vomiting, says the NHS. Some of these baby bottles maker can sterilise the baby bottles before/after use which is yet another time saver for mums and dads up and down the country.
Speed and convenience
It is impossible for a human being to make a baby bottle as perfect and quickly as even the worst of these products, and you can quote us on that! Indeed, these baby milk machines really do make a bottle feeding parents’ life so much easier and convenient.
No more will you have to boil a kettle with one hand, shuffle over to get the baby formula tub and the scoop then hope you got the measurement right with a hungry baby in the other.
Buy a baby bottle maker and start getting precious time back, time you can spend bonding with your children and helping them develop into strong young children.
Always there
Once you’ve bought the product, all it should need is a regular clean and it will continue to prepare baby bottles for your baby for as long as they are still fed formula. Then, you can pack it up and keep it until the next child comes along, if you choose to formula feed babies consecutively then you can divide the original cost by the number of babies you’ve had.
What to look for in the best baby bottle maker
Follows guidelines on safety
There are a staggering amount of guidelines on baby nutrition and everything to do with formula and food in general – way too much for us to list them all here. Luckily, UNICEF have gathered a host of resources on Infant Feeding which we highly recommend reading up before making a big purchase or before putting any food in your baby’s mouth that isn’t breastmilk. Bottle makers should be BPA (Bisphenol-a) free and be CE (consumer electronics) and EMA (European Medicines Agency) approved.
Ease of use
A fantastic bottle food product should be easy to use even for the biggest technophobes out there. No one should need to be a master of IT to be able to easily configure, use and maintain a formula bottle maker.
Let’s not under emphasise that baby formula prep machine’s are designed to be convenient and fast so if you’re having to potter around working through confusing modes and dials then it’s simply not good enough. A good litmus test should be whether or not it can be used with one hand as many parents will be holding their baby while preparing a bottle, especially during night feeds.
Flexible with which bottles you can use
Our top rated bottle maker recommends only using the same brand’s bottle, which is an inconvenience. However, you can purchase formula prep machines which do not require you to buy any specific bottle.
Easy to clean and maintain
Unfortunately we have not found a single self-cleaning baby bottle maker so it is down to the user to clean it regularly. Because it is essentially a formula shake it gets messy and the stuff gets everywhere in a cycle.
Formula milk is organic material and if left can go off and create a nasty mess which can carry bacteria which will inevitably get into the bottles and make your baby sick. Get one that is easy to clean and with clear instructions on how to do so.
A good warranty and guarantee
We have this section in every baby product guide we write. Research what the returns, warranty and guarantee period for any product which is more than £20 – this is especially true if you are chancing your arm on a brand that is perhaps not as well known as the others.
Value for money
Don’t pay over the odds for a product when you’ve just had a newborn as this is just one of many things you can get. As soon as you’re confirmed to be pregnant spend the next 9 months finding the exact one you want within your budget and wait patiently to see if it becomes on offer somewhere and during times like Black Friday further discounts can be found.
Well reviewed
Products which have garnered hundreds if not thousands of positive reviews are the ones least likely to give you any problems or disappointments. We are just one baby product review website – see if others have said more or less the same.
Baby Bottle Maker FAQs
What is the best formula dispenser?
In our opinion the best formula dispenser is the Tommee Tippee perfect preparation machine.
Do bottle prep machines sterilise bottles?
No, most bottle prep machines don’t sterilise the bottles but there are some models out there that do.
Do baby bottle makers kill bacteria?
It depends on the brand. An initial shot of hot water is designed to kill the bacteria before it starts to mix the formula with water. Not all of the brands provide this function.
Does the Tommee Tippee Prep machine work with other bottles?
Yes, but it is not recommended by Tommee Tippee and performance may differ. It may also invalidate the warranty.
Beth
After learning all she knows about pregnancy, birth and babies the hard way, Beth is now sharing her knowledge with you. She has a degree in business but has honorary Masters in Taming Tantrums, Messy Play, Toy Finding and Cuddling.