The best way we’ve found to describe what the Baby Brezza Formula Pro does is that it’s like a cross between a Keurig machine and a high-end coffee maker. But for baby formula, of course. For this review, I spent 2 months (and counting) using the Formula Pro to make formula for my son Calvin.
Here’s a quick video of me walking through setting up and using the Baby Brezza Formula Pro Advanced, and sharing some thoughts on the experience:
Ok, let’s dive in further. Since Calvin’s adopted and formula-fed, the two months I spent reviewing the Formula Pro Advanced added up to a lot of bottle making and heavy use of the machine. After all of that use, I’ve distilled down my thoughts into this Baby Brezza Formula Pro Advanced review and included the awesome, the wish it were different, some tips on setup and use, and a verdict. For this review, we’ll cover (click a link to jump ahead to that section):
- What is the Baby Brezza Formula Pro Advanced?
- Initial setup
- Using the Formula Pro Advanced
- Maintenance
- Our review of the Baby Brezza Formula Pro Advanced – the awesome, wish it were different, and a verdict.
What is the Baby Brezza Formula Pro Advanced?
In short, the Baby Brezza Formula Pro makes bottles of formula. But that’s a simplification. The best way we’ve found to really capture what it does is a cross between a Keurig machine and a high-end coffee maker. You don’t use pods, but rather dump powdered formula (you can use nearly any brand you like) into the top of the Formula Pro Advanced, add water to the Brezza’s water tank, and push a button. When you do this, the Formula Pro Advanced will mix the formula with the warm water in the tank (it heats water to approximately98 degrees and holds it at that temperature until you’re ready to make a bottle) to create a perfectly mixed and heated bottle, all in less than 20 seconds.
The Formula Pro Advanced holds 700 grams of formula and 50 ounces of water – enough for 9 six-ounce bottles before you need to replace the water, and about 25 six-ounce bottles before you need to add more formula. The water tank in the Formula Pro Advanced holds water at a constant temperature at all times, meaning it’s ready to go at the push of the button and you won’t need to wait for the water to heat up, which is how the unit is able to achieve such a fast time to finished bottle.
Initial Setup
The original Formula Pro was a beast of a machine. It had a relatively large footprint and came with 13 removable parts in addition to the main unit. The Formula Pro Advanced is slightly smaller, and really cuts down on the removable parts that need cleaning. In the original Formula Pro, there were 7 removable parts in the formula container, in the Advanced version, this has been reduced to just 3. All of these parts come disassembled (Baby Brezza recommends you sterilize all parts before initial use), which can seem a bit intimidating at first, but in practice, we found it was relatively straightforward and quick to assemble – it took about 30 minutes including the initial washing and drying of parts to sterilize them. The instruction booklet was clear and included pictures as a visual guide.
Another big upgrade with the Formula Pro Advanced is that whereas with the original, you had to manually set the number that corresponds to your formula of choices, with the Advanced, you can set this on the digital display and change it anytime. You still have to figure out the right number for your brand, which involves going to a page on the company’s site that’s a bit hard to find (here’s a direct link to it), and then set the display to the number that corresponds to the formula you’re using.
In the end, especially after using the Formula Pro Advanced a few times and discovering just how fast and easy it was compared to other methods of making a bottle, the initial setup was well worth the half-hour time investment.
How to use the Formula Pro Advanced
Since the Formula Pro Advanced stores formula and water and holds the water at the temperature you want, using it is incredibly simple. Assuming you have enough water and formula (there are clearly marked lines on each holding tank that indicate the need to refill), you’ll just put a bottle under the spout, select the size bottle you want to make (options are anything from 2 to 10 ounces, in one ounce increments (another upgrade from the original, which only did 2, 4, 6, 8, or 10 oz), hit the start button, and you’re off to the races. The Formula Pro Advanced is designed to work with nearly any baby bottle and handled the big Dr. Brown’s bottle we used quite easily. It even has an adjustable bottle holder that moves up and down depending on bottle height to prevent splashing.
Pushing start on the Formula Pro causes it to start turning all those wheels you put together in the initial setup process and, by some mysterious means, mix the formula and the warm water together, and then funnel the completed formula into the bottle via the spout. Since you’ve set your size, the Formula Pro Advanced will automatically stop once it has produced the correct amount of formula. The length of this process depends on the size of bottle you’re making, but all are pretty darn fast – 14 seconds for 2oz, 30 seconds for 10oz.
You can actually make a bottle with water that isn’t fully heated, which was useful when a couple of times I realized the water tank was empty, and when I had a hungry baby in the middle of the night it was better to have a bottle of cooler water than wait for the water to heat up.
Design
The Formula Pro Advanced moves the water tank from the side, where it was located on the original, to the back, where it’s out of the way and creates a slimmer profile and sleeker look and feel. To allow for easy access to the tank for refills and cleaning, the Advanced has a small set of wheels on the bottom that allow for easy rotating.
Cleaning and Maintenance
The Formula Pro Advanced cleaning and maintenance does require a bit of work here and there, which falls into three categories – adding more formula and water as needed, cleaning you should do after several uses, and monthly sterilization.
Adding more formula and water
Every 20-50 or so bottles you make, depending on the current size of bottle you’re using, you’ll need to add more formula. This process was incredibly simple – just remove the lid and dump in a bag or scoop formula out of a container.
Slightly more frequently – every 6-25 bottles depending on size – you’ll need to add more water. The water tank is detachable so you can add water directly by placing it under the tap or your filtered water source, but Baby Brezza makes a huge deal about not getting any water underneath the tank, so I worried about using this process. Instead, I ended up using a big water bottle to pour water into the tank while it was attached to the unit.
More frequent maintenance
According to Baby Brezza, you’ll want to clean the funnel piece after every fourth use to remove any formula buildup. This piece is easily removable, so this is quick, and the Advanced has an indicator on the digital display to remind you when it’s time to do this.
(Note that the Formula Pro Advanced forces you to “clean” the funnel, but in practice, you can simply pull it out and put it back in again.)
One place I did notice gunky formula buildup more frequently than Baby Brezza suggested was on the bottom of the formula canister where the water mixes with the formula. I ended up cleaning this after every 5 or so uses. The times I forgot and waited longer than that resulted in some very crusty buildup that required some scraping to remove. I used a fork for this and found it weirdly satisfying to do.
Once per month sterilization
Once per month Baby Brezza recommends you fully disassemble the unit and sterilize the water tank, formula tank, and individual funnel and mixing components of the unit. This process took about 20 minutes to disassemble, wash, and reassemble, not including drying time (make sure all of the pieces are completely dry before you reassemble to prevent wet pieces from collecting formula powder.
Baby Brezza recommends cleaning the formula canister and mixing pieces and the funnel by hand using warm water and gentle soap, but the water tank is dishwasher-safe.
My Baby Brezza Formula Pro Advanced review
Overall, the Formula Pro is super easy to use. The convenience of just pressing a button and having a ready-to-go bottle was incredibly awesome, especially when compared to alternative methods of making formula bottles. Again, since Calvin is adopted and breastfeeding isn’t an option, we made a lot of bottles at our house. Having used the “hold it under the faucet” and bottle warmer methods with my older son, I know just how painful these can be, especially in the middle of the night. There’s not much worse than waiting and waiting for a bottle to be warm when you’ve got a hungry, crying kid. Beyond the time, the prospect of measuring formula and trying not to spill in the middle of the night and having to turn on bright lights to do so is worth noting too.
The awesome
- Speed. 30 seconds or less from start to finish is darn fast, especially when compared to alternatives.
- Convenience. Again, compared to alternative methods, the Formula Pro is easy and never makes a mess or wastes water.
- Design & aesthetics. The Formula Pro Advanced is a good looking machine and one we didn’t mind having on our kitchen counter. But, more importantly, I felt the design was well thought out to make it easy to use, keep it clean, decrease the likelihood of spills, and work well with bottles we already had.
The ‘wish it were different’
- Water tank size. At 50oz, the water tank needed refilling after just 9 six-ounce or 6 eight-ounce bottles. This added some time to that ’30 seconds or less’ number and resulted in a few times when I forgot to fill it up and had to do so in the middle of the night. Obviously, the company was thinking about the size of the unit here, and a bigger tank would have meant more counter space.
- Not a lot of detail on inner-workings. I realize this won’t apply to everybody, but I felt like the ‘how it works’ behind the Formula Pro was a bit lacking. I wanted to understand more about how the thing actually created the bottles, where the mixing happened, etc., but this was lacking from the documentation that came with it, and perhaps caused the issue where I didn’t realize I needed to clean the underside of the formula compartment more frequently.
A verdict
I’d struggle to say the Formula Pro Advanced is a ‘must have’ – you can certainly make bottles of formula without it. But, especially if you’re a formula family and are going to be making a lot of bottles over a long time period, it’s just awesome and about as close as I’ve found to a must-have baby product. And, at around $199, it’s reasonably priced for what it does and if you’re going to be using it for a long time, or perhaps across multiple kids, you can amortize that cost over a ton of bottles made.
The Formula Pro Advanced also ended up saving me an incredible amount of time, which as any parent knows is something that is in short supply and worth a whole lot. For these reasons (and all of the middle-of-the-night heartache the thing saved me, I strongly recommend it. Based on our review, we’ve added the Formula Pro Advanced to our highly-selective baby must-haves list, which details items we think are at the top of the heap, and can make life with your newborn a whole lot easier.
Formula Pro Advanced FAQs
Cleaning the Formula Pro Advanced
To Clean the Formula Pro Advanced, you remove the funnel every 4 cleanings and gently wash it by hand with warm, soapy water. Less frequently, clean the formula canister and 3 mixing parts by hand, and monthly, clean the water tank, which is dishwasher-safe.
Formula Pro Advanced Powder Settings
The Baby Brezza Formula Pro Advanced uses powder settings to ensure formulas that have different-sized powder grains to mix properly with heated water. Formula Pro Advanced works with around 20 major formula brands in the U.S., you can find a full list here.
Baby Brezza Formula Pro vs Advanced
With the Formula Pro Advanced, Baby Brezza made a number of upgrades vs the original Formula Pro: the number of pieces that needs cleaning is reduced, the unit is smaller, there’s now a digital display to choose settings and make bottles, and you can now make bottles in one ounce size increments instead of only even-numbered sizes vs the original.
How long does it take for the Baby Brezza to heat up?
The Baby Brezza Formula Pro Advanced actually stores water heated in order to allow you to heat bottles more quickly. So, the total time to make a bottle is less than 30 seconds (it varies based on bottle size). If your Formula Pro Advanced tank is empty and you need to add cold water, you’ll need to allow a few more minutes to allow water to heat up.
Do you need to boil water for Baby Brezza?
Baby Brezza does recommend you use filtered water for the Formula Pro Advanced—in addition to possible health reasons for this, filtered water can prevent buildup in the parts of your Formula Pro. Boiling isn’t likely to help with either of these if you’re living in a place that has safe drinking water as it’s not going to remove the elements that make up ‘hard’ water or other things your city may have added like fluoride.
Where to buy
The Formula Pro is available at Buy Buy Baby, Babies ‘r Us, big box stores like Target & Walmart, and for all you Prime members out there, available through Amazon with free, fast shipping.
The Formula Pro Advanced also comes in Silver and (because what doesn’t these days) Rose Gold
Editor’s Notes:
- We are a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for us to earn fees by linking to Amazon.com and affiliated sites.You can learn more about our policies regarding affiliate links here.
- This review was originally published in 2018 as a review of the Formula Pro Original, but was extensively updated to focus on the Advanced and republished in January 2020.
FAQs
How accurate is the Baby Brezza Formula Pro Advanced? ›
Since I had to measure out the formula in grams, not ounces, I would say the 0.05oz difference is a human error, and to me, that is pretty darn accurate. Conclusion: the Baby Brezza Formula Advanced Pro is accurate in measuring the formula to water ratio.
Why is my Baby Brezza not dispensing enough formula? ›If your Baby Brezza is not dispensing enough water, consult the global settings and adjust the powder and formula settings. This should reset the dispenser and fix the issue.
Do pediatricians recommend Baby Brezza? ›“It's fine if it's your coffee machine and you get more caffeine,” said Dr. Ari Brown, a pediatrician in Austin, Texas. But when it comes to infant formula, she has warned parents against using automated devices like the Baby Brezza, saying it “could potentially be harmful.”
Which Baby Brezza was recalled? ›Was Baby Brezza recalled? No machines have been recalled, but there was a class action that claims that Baby Brezza Formula Pro and Formula Pro Advanced baby formula mixers are defective.
Does Baby Brezza dispense correct amount of formula? ›Does Baby Brezza Dispense The Correct Amount of Formula? Baby Brezza's formula makers are more accurate than measuring formula by hand, which relies upon volume measurement and approximation.
What is the difference between Baby Brezza Pro and Advanced? ›With the Formula Pro Advanced, Baby Brezza made a number of upgrades vs the original Formula Pro: the number of pieces that needs cleaning is reduced, the unit is smaller, there's now a digital display to choose settings and make bottles, and you can now make bottles in one ounce size increments instead of only even- ...
What is the baby brezza formula lawsuit? ›Specifically, Plaintiff contends that his child lost weight while being fed with formula mixed by the Baby Brezza machines and required medical visits, resulting in medical expenses, physical pain, and emotional distress. Plaintiff filed the Complaint in this putative class action on February 12, 2020.
What happens if you don t use distilled water in Baby Brezza? ›Since tap and bottled water contain minerals, when this water is heated in the appliance, it leaves behind mineral scale -- a thin discoloration on the heating plate caused by mineral deposits.
Does Baby Brezza reduce gas? ›Invented by a mom to calm her fussy baby, The Baby Brezza Baby soothe Massager soothes your baby and provides fast relief for gas, fussiness and discomfort.
How long can formula sit in the Baby Brezza? ›Leaving prepared infant formula out at room temperature can cause it to spoil. If you cannot use it within that time period, refrigerate the bottle and use it within 24 hours. Any formula left in the bottle after feeding your baby should be thrown away.
What are the black specks in Baby Brezza? ›
It is likely that the specks that you're seeing are overcooked or caramelized specks of formula. Scorched particles can appear as light beige, black, orange or red in colour. Scorched particles are caused when the powder becomes overheated during the manufacturing process while being dried from a liquid to a powder.
What is error 2 on Baby Brezza? ›=2 Indicates an operation error of the motor that turns the powder container parts. Contact local Customer Service. Indicates an operation error of the motor sensor that detects the rotation of the measuring wheel. Contact local Customer Service.
What is the E3 error code on the Baby Brezza? ›The E3 error code is the machine's way of indicating that the thermal cutout occurred. We would recommend turning the machine off for 45 minutes to allow the motor to reset.
How long is the warranty on a Baby Brezza? ›Exclusive to products purchased at BabyBrezza.com, we offer the extended warranty period of 18 months from the original date of purchase. If a Baby Brezza product was purchased at any other retailer, the warranty period is one year from the original date of purchase.
What happens if you dont put the right amount of formula in a bottle? ›If it happens many times, problems can occur. Repeatedly over-mixing formula2 over time can have serious side effects like: Dehydration. Signs of dehydration can be excessive sleepiness, fewer wet diapers, dark urine, dry mouth, lack of tears (after the first few weeks of life) and/or a sunken spot on the head.
How often do you have to clean Baby Brezza? ›You must clean and thoroughly dry the funnel every 4 bottles with soap and water. It takes about a minute to wash. Not complex. Once a day, clean the water reservoir with soap and water.
How often do you have to descale Baby Brezza? ›Baby Brezza recommends descaling your appliances regularly or at least once a month. And to make this process as fast/easy as possible, we created the Baby Brezza Descaler to remove all traces of mineral residue from the heating plate. Our Descaler is easy to use, and will not leave any flavor or residue behind.
What kind of water to use for baby brezza formula pro advanced? ›PSA : Not all water is created equal! Are you wondering what water is best to use with your Baby Brezza appliances - we've got your covered! We recommend distilled water since babies have comparably weak immune systems, the chemicals in tap & bottled water could potentially put them at risk.
How much power does a Baby Brezza Formula Pro Advanced use? ›TECHNICAL DATA Model: FRP0046 Supply Voltage: 120V ~ 60Hz Current: 2.5A Heater Power: 200W Motor Power: 20W Thank you for purchasing a Baby Brezza Formula Pro® Advanced.
Why is my Baby Brezza dispensing too much water? ›The primary reason for “watery” bottles is that the wrong setting was chosen, the formula is below the “Min” line in the powder container or the funnel and the underside of the powder container wasn't cleaned properly after every 4th bottle.
Is the baby formula lawsuit real? ›
Is there a toxic baby formula lawsuit? Yes, there are thousands of product liability lawsuits over baby formula. Parents of premature babies claim their children developed NEC as a result of being fed toxic baby formula produced by Simlac and Enfamil.
Why was baby formula destroyed? ›Amid a national shortage of baby formula, family care centers in at least two states discarded thousands of cans of unopened, unexpired baby formula—because state and federal officials said so.
Is there a class action lawsuit on baby formula? ›As of August 2022, there are less than 100 lawsuits filed in the Enfamil and Similac class action lawsuit in federal court in Illinois.
Can you use breast milk in Baby Brezza Formula Pro Advanced? ›The Baby Brezza Safe + Smart Baby Bottle Warmer is your go-to solution for warming breast milk (and formula too) properly. It is the only bottle warmer that safely and evenly warms breast milk and formula because it has two settings - Steady Warm and Quick Warm.
Why does my baby brezza formula pro advanced keep beeping? ›Your Baby Brezza Food Maker is beeping because there isn't enough water in the water tank to steam the food. It's very easy to resolve by filling up the water tank.
At what age do babies not need distilled water? ›You should always boil water to make powdered formula milk, whatever age your baby is. Once your baby is over 6 months old you can give them tap water to drink, but be sure to use distilled cooled water for formula.
Why can't babies have distilled water? ›Yes. Distilled water is safe for babies to drink. Because the fluoride has been removed from distilled water, your doctor might recommend giving fluoride supplements to your baby once they are 6 months old as exposure to fluoride during infancy will help to prevent tooth decay.
Do you really need distilled water for Baby Brezza? ›Does the Baby Brezza Formula Pro sterilize the water? No, the Baby Brezza Formula Pro doesn't sterilize water. However, we recommend using distilled water which is 100% free of any bacteria, viruses, mold, minerals and other toxins.
What happens if formula is too watery? ›Adding too much water to formula reduces its nutrient levels and could slow a child's development. It could also cause an electrolyte imbalance that can lead to severe health problems, including seizures.
Can you put cereal in baby brezza? ›It starts with breast milk and/or formula. Then, as soon as your baby turns six months old (some might even say as young as four) you might add a single spoonful of cereal a day. Then slowly, you start to introduce new foods like pureed fruits and vegetables, or bottled baby food.
Why do you have to wait 30 minutes before making formula? ›
Leave the water to cool in the kettle for no more than 30 minutes. Then it will stay at a temperature of at least 70C. Water at this temperature will kill any harmful bacteria. Remember to let the feed cool before you give it to your baby.
Do you have to wait for the Baby Brezza to warm up? ›It's the only bottle warmer that dispenses warm water 24/7 so you never have to wait for a bottle to warm up again. Just add formula, mix and feed in seconds.
How do you disinfect a Baby Brezza? ›Add Baby Brezza Descaler Liquid, or a cup of distilled white vinegar inside the water tank with 12oz of water and run another 10oz cycle. 5. Discard remaining descaler liquid or vinegar/water solution, and wash tank with mild soap and water, and refill with 20oz distilled water.
Does the Baby Brezza clean bottles? ›A bottle sterilizer can eliminate up to 99.99% of bacteria using no chemicals, soaps, or any other substances – just steam. This natural cleaning method is safe and efficient. In fact, the Baby Brezza One-Step Sterilizer & Dryer, one of the best baby bottle sterilizers, will sanitize up to 6 bottles in only 8 minutes.
What is E5 error on Baby Brezza? ›“E5” error displays on machine or “Error” message displays on app. Little or no water has been added to the machine. Add cold water to the machine and let it sit and cool for 5 min. Empty out cold water and restart the bottle warmer.
How do I fix the error code on my baby brezza formula pro advanced E3? ›Error codes (E1, E2, E3, E4, E5, E6, E7 & E8) can be resolved by holding down the power button (Stop button for wifi customers) for 10 seconds. If the error code returns, please contact our Customer Care team as we will have to open a warranty claim for you.
Why is my Baby Brezza flashing green and yellow? ›Flashing green & yellow lights mean the water poured into in the Water Tank is too hot or too cold. The machine will not work while the green & yellow lights flash. If you don't want to wait long for the water to heat, do not fill with water stored in the refrigerator. Never fill Water Tank with hot water.
What is error code F6 E3? ›The F6 E3 alert indicates there is issue with the appliance control unit, user interface or associated wiring. Unplug the washer, wait five minutes, then plug back in.
What is error code F5 E3? ›The F5 E3 alert indicates there is issue with the lid lock. Do not force the lid open, as permanent damage could occur. Remove any objects from the lid and clear any obstructions. Touch POWER to exit cycle, then touch POWER again to release lid.
What does error code f8 E3 mean? ›Internal Water Overflow
The F8E3 Error Code indicates that there may be an internal overflow from the water inlet valve. Verify that the drain hose and drain pump filter are not plugged. See Cleaning and Maintenance section above for more information.
What to do with Baby Brezza after formula? ›
According to Baby Brezza, you'll want to clean the funnel piece after every fourth use to remove any formula buildup. This piece is easily removable, so this is quick, and the Advanced has an indicator on the digital display to remind you when it's time to do this.
What does 6 months warranty mean? ›Implied 6-month warranty
The car buyer has the right to ensure that the seller stands claim to the reasonable durability of the car for a period of 6-months – an implied warranty on defects. It is the car buyer's responsibility to understand the difference between 'wear-and-tear' (tires, exhausts, clutch, brakes, etc.)
| Product Dimensions | 11 x 7 x 14 inches |
|---|---|
| Style | Advanced, White |
| Batteries required | No |
| Item Weight | 9 pounds |
| Country/Region of origin | China |
Our machine measures powdered formula by weight, which is specified on the formula can label and is more accurate than measuring formula by hand, which relies upon volume measurement and approximation.
What is error code 2 on Baby Brezza Formula Pro Advanced? ›=2 Indicates an operation error of the motor that turns the powder container parts. Contact local Customer Service. Indicates an operation error of the motor sensor that detects the rotation of the measuring wheel. Contact local Customer Service.