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The Chicco NaturalFit warmer quickly earned our Best Value award with a reasonable price tag and simple design it is easy to use and consistently warms bottles to the same temperature. This unit is water bath type making it safer than steam, but it tends to take more time to reach a proper temperature for little ones with a shut-off tie of 5:30. This Chicco has a straightforward knob interface, and the water you need is the same every time no matter what kind of bottle or how many ounces it has in it. This warmer is compact, making it good for travel or smaller kitchens. Overall, we think it is a good buy for families on a budget who want to get the job done and don't need all the bells and whistles.
We confirmed with Chicco that the only difference in the updated product of Chicco NaturalFit is aesthetics, such as change of color on the product (i.e., the dial's color and Chicco logo), as well as packaging. In terms of functionality, it has not changed.
Difficult to use, tendency to overheat after shut-off, no glass bottles
Inefficient, difficult to understand instructions, no auto-shutoff
Too hot, hard to fill vial, gross build up
Bottom Line
Excellent value with a simple design that is easy to use
An innovative way for on-the-go families to heat baby's milk
Not the best choice based on overheating and no glass bottle choices
Affordable warmer with simple controls but below average performance
Inexpensive, fast heating warmer with serious health and safety issues
Rating Categories
Chicco NaturalFit
Tommee Tippee Trave...
Boon Orb
Grownsy Fast 5-in-1
Munchkin Speed
Warming Efficiency(25%)
6.0
6.0
8.0
5.0
9.0
Ease Of Use(30%)
9.0
6.0
4.0
4.0
4.0
Health/Safety(40%)
7.0
7.0
4.0
6.0
1
Ease of Cleaning(5%)
5.0
9.0
7.0
5.0
6.0
Specs
Chicco NaturalFit
Tommee Tippee Trave...
Boon Orb
Grownsy Fast 5-in-1
Munchkin Speed
Heat Technology
Water Bath
Water Bath
Steam
Steam/Water Bath
Steam
Temp or Timer Based
Temperature
N/A
Temperature
Have to manually turn off
Timer
Auto Shut Off
Yes
No
Yes
No
Yes
Audible Beep
Yes
No
No
No
No
Water Resevoir
Yes
No
No
No
No
Wide Bottle Capacity
Yes
Yes
No
yes
Yes
Compatible w/ Glass
Yes
Yes
No
Yes
Yes
Compatible w/ Breast Pump Bags
No
Yes
No
No
No
Time to Warm to 99F
9:15 min:sec
5:38 min:sec
3:30 min:sec
12:00 min:sec
3:05 min:sec
Wait Time Between Warmings
Allow bottle warmer to cool completely (approx 30 min)
None
10 minutes
Not Listed
5 Minutes
Dimensions
6"H x 5.5"L x 5.25"W
7.75"H x 3.5"L x 3.5"W
6.25"H (with lift out basket), 5"H (without) x 6.1"L x 6.1W
6"H x 4.75"L x 4.75"W
5.5"H x 5"L x 5.5"W
Temp. & Time at Auto Shut-Off w/ Warmer Chart Recommended Setting (4oz Refrig. Milk in Glass w/ Silicone Sleeve)
9:00 min:sec 94F
NA
3:00 min:sec 89F
NA
2:35 min:sec 93F
Max Temp if Left in Warmer 12 minutes
104F
111F
112F
90F
130F
Show full specification detailsHide full specification details
Our Analysis and Test Results
Pietro Catelli started the Chicco (kee-ko) company, which is now part of the larger Artsana Group that produces medical and baby supplies. Chicco is one of the most popular brand names in baby gear in the US and Europe, designing gear for newborns up to preschool-age children. Chicco makes a variety of gear types from warmers to strollers and lots of stuff in between. You can find Chicco in over 120 countries.
Performance Comparison
This Chicco uses a water bath and removable basket to help you avoid contact with the heated water and surfaces.
Credit: Abriah Wofford
Health and Safety
The Chicco NaturalFit has some features for health and safety, earning an above-average score for this metric.
This warmer uses water bath technology with temperature control instead of steam, which can potentially cause scalding injuries. In testing, milk temperatures did not exceed 112F even when the bottle was left in the warmer for up to 12 minutes. With only two settings, there is no "max-out," and the unit shuts off automatically at 5:30 minutes with an audible beep and green light. However, if the bottle is left inside the warmer after the beep, it will stay warm (for up to an hour in our testing). However, use caution as bottle contents can reach temperatures in excess of 112F (in our tests), which is too warm for little ones and above 104F where breastmilk starts to lose nutrients.
The NaturalFit user interface has two options that focus on container type, bottle or food jar.
Credit: Abriah Wofford
Ease of Use
The NaturalFit is one of the easiest options to use, earning a high-reaching score in our testing for ease of use. Setup is straightforward, and it comes with a simple manual.
The NaturalFit is a single reservoir unit that requires 1/2 cup water for each use with bottle contents over 6 ounces. It is easy to fill and somewhat forgiving if you are slightly off. The dial has two settings for bottles or food containers, and a red light indicates it is set and warming. When the cycle is over, it will beep, and the light will turn green. The warmer will stay on for up to an hour if you don't turn it off. This will keep the bottle warm if you get distracted, but you should always check the temperature of the bottle contents as it will increase as it sits in the bath.
The NaturalFit can hold wide style bottles as well as tall and storage pouches.
Taller bottles still work well in the Chicco NaturalFit.
The warming chamber is compatible with a variety of bottle shapes and materials, including popular options from our Best Baby Bottle Review and breastmilk storage bags.
The Chicco is a slow warmer on par with most water baths with an auto shut off of 5:30 minutes and a content temperature of 80F.
Credit: Abriah Wofford
Warming Efficiency
The slower heating time of a water bath warmer limited the NaturalFit in this metric, earning it an above-average score. A similar rating as half of the competition.
In our testing, the timer shuts-off around 9:15 minutes with a content temperature of 97F. However, because the warmer stays "on" for up to an hour, the contents can reach temperatures in excess of 112F (in our tests, this took 12 minutes). The temperature when the timer went off is close to body temperature, which is ideal and below 104F when breastmilk begins to lose nutrients.
Chicco NaturalFit's warming instructions specify that the device needs to be fully cooled before subsequent use (see bottom sentence); in our experience, this took between 15-30 minutes.
Credit: BabyGearLab Staff
A potential negative is the waiting in between bottle warmings for this unit. Chicco advises that the unit should be cooled completely before warming a second bottle. This cooling can take up to 30 minutes, making it a poor choice if you have more than one baby or want to use it in a nursery setting.
Check Temperature Before Feeding
You should always check the temperature of the bottle's contents before feeding your baby. Swirl the contents after you remove it from the warmer and place a few drops on the inside of your wrist. The milk should be warm but not hot.
The Chicco has a single chamber for regular cleaning.
Credit: Abriah Wofford
Ease of Cleaning
The Chicco is easy to clean, but the overnight descaling process caused a nosedive in its score for cleaning with a medium-low rating for this metric. However, it was not the lowest in the competition.
Daily maintenance of this unit is simple and includes drying and wiping. It is the monthly descaling that causes the problem. While filing it with a vinegar/water combo is simple, you need to soak it overnight, which is when you may need to use the unit. We think this is a design flaw given that overnight use is when many parents find a warmer the most useful. To avoid this issue, you can start your soak first thing in the morning, so it is over before bedtime. If you need to heat a bottle during the day, you can choose a simpler method of running it under hot tap water or swirling it in heated water in a bowl.
Warm it up! Make bottle feeding easier with a bottle...
Honest, objective reviews. Led by a Pediatrician.
BabyGearLab was founded by a Pediatrician Mom with a mission to provide a reliable, independent, source of information to new parents. Our experts have tested thousands of baby and kids products to share key performance, health, and safety findings. We spend tens of thousands of dollars crash testing car seats to inform our ratings. And, we combine our review work with gobs of expert parenting advice. To assure complete independence, we buy all the products we test ourselves. No sponsored content. No ads. Just real, honest, side-by-side testing by people who care.
