Most of us use it every day, if only to heat up our coffee, but the microwave has been a boon to new moms whose babies are crying for their bottle. No more waiting while the water heats up. No more waiting while you heat the cereal for a hungry baby. The microwave has changed parenthood as surely as Sesame Street, car seats and disposable diapers have.

But as with those other innovations in childcare, there are downsides. Too much Sesame Street may turn your toddler into a couch potato, car seats can be confusing and cumbersome and disposable diapers fill our landfills. And the microwave, renowned for its ease of use, can cause serious burns for babies if used improperly.

According to the American Academy of Pediatrics, hot microwaved liquids pose a significant burn threat to children as young as 18 months old. In the study, "Preventing Unintentional Scald Burns: Moving Beyond Tap Water," researchers reviewed medical records of children ages 4 and younger who were admitted to the University of Chicago Burn Center between January 1, 2002, and December 31, 2004. Of the 118 unintentional burn injuries, 14 were tap water scalds and 94 were due to hot cooking or drinking liquids, including 26 related to microwave use.

Dr. Jim Keany, an emergency physician at the Children's Hospital Orange County in Orange, Calif., says that while burns to the mouth aren't extremely common, they can be excruciatingly painful and cause scarring and physical limitations. "We have a certain level of natural protection since the lips can detect the hot temperature before it goes too far," Dr. Kearny says. "But the rare case is very serious. Burns to the mouth can affect the child's ability to breathe due to swelling of the upper airway and especially the vocal cords. A hoarse voice after drinking a very hot liquid is a sign to seek medical attention."

There are safety issues with microwaving bottles of which parents should be aware. Because not all microwaves heat evenly, there can be hot spots within the liquid. All bottles should be shaken thoroughly after heating. Avoid heating disposable-insert-type bottles in the microwave – these can only be safely heated in warm water.

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