Baby wipe warmers
Kerri Stalton

If a baby is crying his heart out when he is being diapered, cold baby wipes only make matters worse. Baby wipes are moist, therefore they are naturally cold. How'd you feel if you were to plunge into a bucket of ice - bottom first? Your baby feels something similar when you apply cold wipes to his tender tushie.
A wipe warmer is an electrical appliance that warms baby wipes, so that wipes are comfortable and warm when you use them on the baby. Warm wipes can be a boon if your baby is into high volume vocals during changing time. Wipe warmers have different kinds of features. While some allow you to peel the wipes away as and when you need them, some provide wipes in a 'pop-up' style. You even have wipe warmers that combine as bottle warmers too.
While additional features may seem attractive, they also mean additional complications, or one of the features shutting down after some time. Before you buy the wipe warmer, check for popular features available in the market. Some warmers heat the wipes from top down (thus preventing browning of cloth), while some have a re-enforced top to keep the wipes moist. In the latter case, you have to add some water just before adding the wipes. 'Freshening pillows' used earlier in wipe warmers and were expensive have been discarded by some newer models.
Wipe warmers are very useful when you are having a particularly hard winter. Babies may get cranky and furious if you disturb them with a cold blast while changing. So, this is one of the ways to keep your baby happy while changing.
However, electric warmers are not all very safe. Many wipe warmers have been found to be defective after a period of use and have been recalled because they were unsafe. Check to see if your product comes under this category. Some warmers may overheat causing their insides to melt. Others may develop cracks after a period of use. When wetness seeps into these cracks, an electric shock is unavoidable. In such a case, switch off the machine, and check the inside of the warmer for cracks. Never reuse a machine that has problems. Call the manufacturer; you may even get a refund. Read the manufacturer's instructions carefully before buying the product. Keep the warmer safely away from the reach of children. Check your electric warmer for any faulty wiring. If you are using a blow dryer kind of warmer, do not dry wipes or overheat them.
"Baby wipe warmers are a big waste. They are just another ploy to get anxious parents to buy more stuff," says Terry Collins, a father of two. Many parents feel that if wipes are at room temperature, most babies do not fuss, or at least do not fuss enough to warrant buying expensive equipment.
While the decision to buy the warmer is solely yours, here are some safety features you can look for:
Look for a warmer that heats wipes to a comfortable temperature. You may not realize it if they are too hot, but your baby's sensitive skin may get scalded.
Machines that allow temperature regulation are the best.
Machines should shut off when they are overheated.
Machines should be 100% non-inflammable
Added safety features like an alarm that goes off when the machine is done, or built-in low voltage transformers are nice.