Playtex Drop-Ins System

Updated on February 13, 2008
V.K. asks from Traverse City, MI
42 answers

With my 2 1/2 year old, we tried nearly every bottle on the market before he settled on the Avent bottles. They were great, but I'm thinking with the next one (due in a couple weeks), I would like to use the Playtex Drop-Ins. But my question is this... To those of you who have used these, how do you warm the milk or formula? Microwaving is always a no-no, and with the other bottles we've used, we heated the contents with a bottle warmer. These say not to put the bottle into a heat source. Do I have to heat it in a separate container first and then put it in the bottle? If so, then maybe these don't seem so "convenient...???" Thanks so much for any input.

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So What Happened?

WOW! Thank you all so much for your input! You have all given me many ideas! We didn't use powdered formula with our first, but it has crossed my mind for this one. If we could use warm tap water that would be so perfect, but I don't care for our water quality for a newborn. I thought about the room temp nursery water and may go that route, but I would likely still need to warm any stored breast milk. It sounds like a bottle warmer with a low setting would work, the crock pot (same idea), or just a bowl of water. I contacted Avent thanks to the link provided, and they claim that their Tempo Drop-Ins can be warmed in their warmer on a low setting. This sounds promising, however the collars for the nipples for their system seem a bit much with the special "ring." I will likely order one to see what it is like since I did like the many nipple flow choices Avent offered. I was hoping to use the drop-in style system just because the boys are / will be in daycare, and I know from expreience that an unrinsed formula bottle doesn't take long to get smelly. I thought the drop-in would prevent this. Thank you all so much again! Your insight has been very helpful!

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H.L.

answers from Charleston on

We put the bottle in a hot cup of water to warm up the breastmilk or formula. It worked well, but it does take a little longer. But the thing with the drop-ins is that you can just put in a new liner and new nipple you don't have to wash the whole bottle before it can be reused. I found it easier, but not everyone does. So good luck!

2 moms found this helpful
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J.J.

answers from Detroit on

The Playtex system worked great for my son, he had a lot of problems with gas and stomach aches. Everyone I know who used them, including myself microwaved them.

1 mom found this helpful
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L.O.

answers from Detroit on

V.,
A bottle warmer works great for the playtex drop ins or you can heat water in the microwave and put the bottle in the water after you've heated it! L.

1 mom found this helpful

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C.F.

answers from Detroit on

We used them for our son but we didn't use powder formula. We used the cans of already mixed fromula. We just put the already prepared bottle in a pan of hot water for a few minutes. If they were refrigerated bottles which we had alot, then it took a little longer to heat up but they are still the most convenient bottles that I have ever run across.

1 mom found this helpful

C.F.

answers from Lansing on

V.,
I had those for both my boys. I used a bottle warmer, can't remember what kind it was though. I poured a little bit of water in it(there was a seperate measuring cup that came with) and the metal plate inside got hot and caused steam to warm up the bottle. I never had any problems. Of course you still need to swirl it around so there are no hot spots. If you have anymore questions, I'm here. Hope this helps.
~C.

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T.C.

answers from Detroit on

Hi V.,

I used the Drop-Ins with both of my children and I really liked them. I didn't warm up bottles for my son. When you have the baby and start them on formula at the hospital, they give you room temperature bottles and there is no need to warm them. So with the Drop-Ins I bought the jugs of nursery water and filled my bottles up ahead of time with just water and scooped the formula in when needed. I also had a great little divided container that you could measure out the formula for 3 bottles when you are on the go. It was a must have and I never had to worry about keeping bottles cold in the diaper bag either. Hope this helps!!

T.

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B.D.

answers from Grand Rapids on

I used the playtex system and loved it. I warmed the milk in either a warm glass of water if we were at someone's house other wise I used a bottle warmer with no problems. I actually forgot a bottle in the warmer once and when we got home(a few hours later) the liner was still intact. So I wouldn't worry about the liners. They are pretty strong. Hope this info was helpful. Congrats on the new little one!!

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T.V.

answers from Detroit on

Hi V. -

That's what we've used since birth for my now 17-month old. I think they're very convenient, because if we used the powdered formula, we just used warm water to mix it each time, and if you use pre-made or milk, you can just drop the full bottle in a cup (we always used a plastic sports cup -- it was just the right size) of hot water and it heats up in about 5 or 10 minutes.

Good luck!
T.

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L.G.

answers from Detroit on

I used the playtex drop-ins. I really liked them. You can still warm them in the warmer. You just don't want the bottoms to touch the heat source. I didn't have a bottle warmer and would just let the bottle sit in a glass or bowl of very hot water. They used the warmers when he was in daycare and never had a problem with them. On a side note, I tried the walmart brand drop-ins. They were not my favorite, they were very firm and it was difficult to fill with formula or milk. The Target brand was better but I very much preferred the Playtex brand best.

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J.B.

answers from Saginaw on

You can heat them up in a bottle warmer (the one I have you can) but you can't put as much water as it says to. I just switched to Avent bottles from the Playtex drop in's mainly because I got tired of buying the drop in's. I figured you have to wash the bottles anyway so what is the point.

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A.D.

answers from Kalamazoo on

Hi! I am a mom of three. 14yrs, 12yrs, and 18months. I used the platex drop ins and I loved them!! I had a bottle warmer and on the instructions it said how to warm if you used the bag bottle system. The only difference I found was that it took less water and a little less time. (even less than what the instructions said.) I used this system for my 18 month and 12 year old. My 14 year old would only take regular bottles.
Good luck to you...

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C.M.

answers from Detroit on

We microwave a cup of water and then place the bottle in the cup of water. You could also get a mini crock pot and keep water in it on low then place the bottle in that. The second way is how most daycares are heating bottles now. It is great if you are exclusively using bottles.

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D.R.

answers from Detroit on

Hi V.,

I LOVE the drop in system! What I've always done is one of two things (whatever I was in the mood to do!)

1. Warm water up in a pan on the stove, and when it's hot enough, I remove the pan from the stove and plop the bottle in for a few minutes. Or...

2. I bought a big (4 cup size) glass measuring cup and fill it most of the way with water, then put that in the microwave for about 2 minutes. When it's heated, again, I just plop the bottle in there for a few minutes until the milk/formula is warm enough.

But I never did have luck with the travel bottle warmers...with those, I think you would need to put the milk/formula in a different bottle (glass or plastic, whatever) and put the liquid in the playtex drop in bottle when it's warm. For me, when I knew I had to go somewhere, I just used the ready-to-feed nursette bottles of formula that were room temperature. (Oh, I did breastfeed for 6 months, and again, if I knew I was going somewhere, I just made sure the expressed breast milk was left out long enough so it would be room temperature by the time my son would need it.)

Good luck!

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M.

answers from Grand Rapids on

We have used the drop-ins for my now 3-year old son and my almost 9 month old daughter. We think they work great and are quite convenient and easy to use. We simply add warm water to the drop-in first, then add the formula and shake it up. If the water that you add is warm first, there is no need to warm the bottle once mixed. Does that make sense? Good luck with your new little one!

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J.G.

answers from Detroit on

I warmed the bottles by putting them into a warm bowl of water. The only bad thing is it is not quick. By the time she was close to one year she drank them cold.
Good luck.

1 mom found this helpful
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S.W.

answers from Detroit on

Hi V.! I am a mom of a 1 1/2 year old and we used the drop in bottle system with a bottle warmer. I did not have any issues using the drop ins with one of those steam bottle warmers. The trick is just not to overheat the bottle. We had to do some experimenting and adjusting of the water amount put into the warmer, but it worked just great!

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K.K.

answers from Detroit on

I just read in a magazine that Avent has come out with a drop-in system also. You may want to try that since you have had success with Avent in the past. It is called the Tempo. Here is a link to more info:

http://www.aventamerica.com/products/bottlefeeding/tempo_...

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M.W.

answers from Detroit on

We used the Playtex drop in's for both of our children and love them to this day! To heat the breast milk we would put it in the bottle and then for a few minutes (really did not take long) put that bottle in a cup of warm water. For formula we would just start with warm water and then add the formula(powder). We just found them so easy and clean too! Good luck.

1 mom found this helpful
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L.S.

answers from Detroit on

I used Playtex with both kids and the way that we heated them was to heat water on the stove and sit the bottle down in the pan. Shake it to get the heat evenly. I really like them.

1 mom found this helpful
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M.S.

answers from Detroit on

I used the Platex Drop-In's with my first born, I would run the bottle undre hot water for about 30 seconds and the plastic liners are thin enough that they warm up rather quickly.

1 mom found this helpful
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D.G.

answers from Detroit on

Hi, I love the playtex drop ins! I used a tall large mug to heat the Milk/Formula...Just ran hot water into it & dropped it in to let it heat up :). My mug was a ceramic travel mug with a rim on the inside that held the drop ins perfectly! Very easy & convenient. If your breast feeding you pump directly into the drop ins too. Sometimes you can find good deals on Ebay for BNIB Drop ins at a good price. I tried Target brand drop ins & Meijer and didn't like either (leaked). If/when I have a second, I''l definately use them again.

1 mom found this helpful
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L.B.

answers from Detroit on

V. - I'm currently using the drop-in system and I heat the bottles in a cup of hot water (from the tap). It doesn't take long at all to heat up. I used the drop-ins for my first baby as well. I find that the babies don't spit up as much with these bottles compared to others. The only bad thing, they do cost a little more (each box of drop-ins is near $8) and I do not like any of the off brands b/c they are not the same. But I still prefer them over any other bottle. : )

1 mom found this helpful
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A.T.

answers from Detroit on

HI
I babysit for an infant that uses these bottles. They are a pain in the butt if you ask me. I used the Avent bottles with both my children and I loved them. With the Drop-In system you have to used hot tap water in a bowl and let it sit in the water to warm it up or as you said, you'd have to warm it them put it into the bottle. Either way it takes forever and with a crying baby it can reek havoc on your nerves.
Good luck!!

1 mom found this helpful
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A.O.

answers from Detroit on

The draw back to the drop-ins, besides not being able to heat them unless you use a bottle warmer or just run them under hot water, is that it's hard to tell exactly how much they have eaten. Once the bag starts to collapse, you can't accurately read how many ounces they've had.

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E.M.

answers from Detroit on

Hi V.,

My name is E. and I am a mother of a 6 year old as well as the Director of a KinderCare Learning Center.
We heat all of our bottles using a crock pot. I'm not sure of your situation, or if this will be helpful. You could plug in the crock pot and leave it on all day. We unplug it every night before we go home. I hope this is somewhat helpful.

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K.R.

answers from Detroit on

My son would -only- use the platex nursers (with drop ins) for the first 6 months. We used powdered formula, so we just made it to order, and used warm water to mix it. Took less time than making it up ahead of time, and the having to warm it.

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S.P.

answers from Detroit on

just an FYI did you know that Avent has come out with the drop in system!

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E.S.

answers from Detroit on

I don't usually "pre-make" the bottles. I use the powder formula so i fill the bottle with warm water then add the formula. When I have had to warm a refridgerated bottle I normally put it in a coffee mug in the sink and let the hot water run until it warms, this does take a few minutes. We found it easier to just make the bottles as we need them. I have also found that the Target brand drop-ins are just as good as the playtex. Other off brands(esp. the bag styles) seem to leak.

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T.D.

answers from Lansing on

The drop-ins system is the best!!! When I warm up my daughters bottle I just put a cap on the bottle, stand it on its cap in the sink and run hot tap water into the bottom. Check it every couple minutes or so until ready to drink. It usually takes about 5 minutes or so depending on how hot your water gets. My daughter has had no problem with these bottles. Let me know how it goes!!

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R.A.

answers from Grand Rapids on

I used the drop ins with 2 of my kids and I loved them. To warm up the bottles, I turned the tap water onto hot, tipped the bottle upside down in the sink,(with the top on of course) and let the hot water run onto the bottle for about 3-5 minutes. I hope this helps.

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A.G.

answers from Detroit on

Ditto the rest. I would use a bowl of hot water and sit the bottle in it. That or room temp water when I used formula. I have a ton of the drop ins if you want them. My 2nd and 3rd were breastfed only so I never used them. Send me a message if you want them :)

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D.H.

answers from Saginaw on

I used the drop-ins and I used to put the bottle in a glass of hot water to warm the formula. My mother-in-law microwaved them and that worked out ok too.

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D.W.

answers from Detroit on

I used these starting at 10 months once my son was done nursing. They were great, and all I did to heat up the bottle was use warm water to mix the formula, or if you make a larger batch of formula ahead of time, I would prepare the bottle for your baby and then set the bottle in a bowl of hot, (not boiling) water.

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S.S.

answers from Lansing on

all u have to do is use luke warm water i do this with my 2 month old daughter.

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A.W.

answers from Grand Rapids on

The only real issue with microwaving is the "hot spot" you just have to shake REALLY well. Also, a tip for expressed milk: you can buy these really great breast milk bags at places like Target or Babies R Us, I can't remember the brand name, but they stand up for you to pour the milk in, they lay flat for storage (Great in the freezer), have a write on label for dates and such, and also have a double zipper (like some Ziploc freezer bags. These warm perfectly in a bowl of warm water, even straight from the freezer. I HIGHLY recommend them!

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L.P.

answers from Saginaw on

I used the Playtex System and the formula without a problem. What I did was -- never warm a bottle. If I was using the powdered formula I would fill all of my bottles with water and leave them in the cupboard. The room temputerature was always just right. Now, I am using the concentrate formula and I just fill the bottle halfway with hot water and use the liquid formula out of the fridge to even out the temperature. I came up with the method after traveling with a friend and her infant and he screamed for nearly 2 hours because his bottle was not the right temp.! I also like this because when using the powdered formula you never have to chill a bottle, since it is just water!!!! And they sell these neat little containers that have 3 seperate compartments that you can have premeasured formula in, making a day out, a lot easier!! Good luck!

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C.S.

answers from Detroit on

Hi, I also used the Playtex drop-ins with my kids. I only used them with powder formula and didn't warm then. I used bottled water, usually in a gallon jug, that I left on the counter. It was room temp so there was no need to heat it. My doctor said that was just fine and I never had to worry about it getting to warm. There were a few times while traveling in the winter when my bottled water got chilly in the car and I did what others have suggested, ran it upside down under hot water. It worked just fine. Good luck with the new baby!

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C.B.

answers from Detroit on

I used these for my daughter and I would place the bottle in a large cup of warm water. Not too hot, because it doesn't take long for the milk to warm.

Hope this helps.

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M.K.

answers from Detroit on

Hi V. -

I have used the Playtex Drop-Ins with my sone since he was about 4 weeks old. I express milk, the put it into the bottle and into the fridge for use that day. When I am ready to use it, I simply put it in a cup with hot tap water until it is warm.

I really like these bottles. The nipples are great, especially if you are nursing too, because they are larger and more "like Mom". My son has done well with them and he is a fussy little one!

Congratulations on your 2 sons!!!

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K.W.

answers from Detroit on

I'm with Teri C,

Since the hospital didn't warm the bottles my son was used to room temp formula, I by a 2 gallon water keep in on the counter, and just prep my bottles and line them up, it's really great and convenient, I just add the formula at night and no need to spend time warming them up, which is a plus when traveling, you don't have to worry about how and where to heat a bottle, though if you do want to warm the bottle, my sister used a big sports cup, and ran the bottle under hot tap water, she would tilt the bottle and roll it/swish it, so it warmed quicker, this worked well for her, good luck

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L.C.

answers from Jackson on

I loved this type of bottle! What style of formula will you be using? Most mothers seem to use the powder now. If you use hot water when you make a bottle, your problem is solved! I think that it is OK to heat the water alone in the microwave if you are using bottled water and there are containers that hold just the right amount of formula for your baby readily available in many stores.

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G.B.

answers from Detroit on

Hi Vicky, you can put the bottle with the milk in it in hot water, warm up the hot water in the microwave, or from the
tap, in a cup, then put the bottle with the milk in it in the cup of hot water. If the milk is not too cold, you could just warm it under hot water in the sink in the bottle.

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