This is really funny because I used to do the exact same thing. I used to store breastmilk in sealed plastic bags so they are pretty easy to heat up in hot water. Now that we are using formula, I just put warm water into the thermos and mix in the formula when baby is ready to eat. The Japanese thermos are the best. By the way, I have found the First Years Pop Apart Travel Formula Containers - http://www.amazon.com/First-Years-Pop-Apart-Formula-Containers/dp/B00131UW9O/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&s=baby-products&qid=1228489861&sr=8-2- to be the best. Its much easier than the other formula containers to dispense the powdered formula without spilling or leaving/wasting any formula that might get stuck in crevices in the formula container.

Q: My son won't drink breastmilk or formula unless it’s quite warm. So I can only go places with him if there’s a microwave. He won't drink the powder formula so he gets the ready-to-drink liquid kind which I can’t mix with hot water to heat up. I tried one of those gel packs that activate when you snap a button but after couple uses that broke. I bought a bottle warmer that plugs into the car but it takes forever. I bought the brand Dex. Is there a better one out there? Any other suggestions?

A: My baby is the same way! And I’m a huge fan of my “method”. It’s really simple--I bought a really good hot water thermos by Zojirushi which is a great Japanese brand of kitchen stuff. I've found their web page on the particular thermos I bought: http://www.zojirushi.com/ourproducts/ssvbs/svgee.html.

So I pour boiling water into this thermos before I go out with my baby and pack a mug that’s big enough to hold the milk bottle for when I heat it up in the hot water.

I bought the thermos for $25.95 from a really well-stocked store in Chinatown in San Francisco that sells all sorts of handy kitchenware among other merchandise. The store is called Lucky Star Discount and its address is 622 Broadway (between Columbus and Stockton); phone number: (415) 772-9183.

Hope this helps!
Bobo Mom