Feel like an idiot, but can someone explain FF when out and about?

[NovemberAli]

DS is 9.5 mo and I'm going back to work in 4 weeks. I'm BF and want to change his afternoon BF to a FF.

I want to do this now so my supply adjust before I go back to work (have tendency to oversupply so don't want engorgement issues at work)

DS is allergic to cow's milk so I don't want to drop the feed altogether as I want to ensure he's getting enough calcium.

So I feel I should know this but what do people do re making up bottles when you're out? Do you take flask of hot water and sterilised bottle, then wait for the milk to cool? Or do you make bottle beforehand and keep in cool bag with ice packs? DS isn't keen on cold milk tho. I've never really noticed what everyone does before and feel silly asking in RL.

Thank you!

[Shallishanti]

I don't think you should feel like an idiot, it's all very complicated!
could you express?

[ilovepowerhoop]

Do they have cartons for the formula milk you are going to use as that is the easiest method for when out and about? If not, then hot water and pre-measured powder is another option or thirdly make the bottle up, chill it and then transport in a coolbag.

[ThinkIveBeenHacked]

If you are only going to change one or two feeds a day, just get the ready cartons - take a presterilised bottle and a carton out and snip and serve when needed. Or make up a feed and cool, then I used to just carry ot around with me and serve as needed. we used to go out straight after a feed, take one, then be home for the third feed so only ever needed one bottle on me.

DD always had room temo milk or cold (made hot as per instructions but served cooled down)

[ilovepowerhoop]

They may not do cartons for non-dairy formula so that may not be possible

[feesh]

Make it up in advance, chill it in the fridge and pack it with a nice pack to keep it chilled. There is a brilliant hot water flask made by Tommee Tippee you can also take with you, then when the time comes to warm the bottle, you just pour the hot water into the flask's lid and stand the bottle up inside it.

The alternative is to take a flask of hot water out with you and make the feed up fresh, but I always found that really stressful, as baby was NOT happy waiting for it to cool down. Heating a cold bottle is much quicker and easier.

[MrsHathaway]

I agree - make up in advance, then warm up in flask or jug of hot water.

Ff from powder must be made up with water above 70 degrees c to kill any bugs (once a tin is open it is not sterile).

Option C is to carry two bottles - one empty, one with half the volume in cooled boiled water. At cafe, use half volume hot water in empty bottle with powder, shake well. Then add cold water to make up to volume, and shake well.

Have you found a good dairy-free ff? Some have weird instructions, I think. Cartons really are your friend if you can get them. Nurseries/CMs like them too, for speed.

[eatscakefornoreasonwhatsoever]

Just with my bf peer supporter hat on, it may not be necessary to switch to a ff feed, however you haven't asked advice on that, so let me know if you'd like to hear about alternatives and I'll pop back.

Otherwise I'd agree that a readymade carton, if you can get dairy-free ones, is probably the best bet for your situation.

[feesh]

You can't get ready made Neocate in cartons, much to my eternal despair.

[NovemberAli]

Thank you for all the responses, much appreciated I would use ready made cartons but he needs to have a hydrolysed prescription formula (aptamil Pepti 2). Total pain!

[NovemberAli]

I built up an expressed milk bank before I went back to work with DD but haven't had chance this time round - 3 year old wanting to play not conducive to successful expressing . Also don't want to express at work this time either.

[Longtalljosie]

I've never FF so clearly know nothing but... The powder needs to hit the water at 70 - so could it not be two thirds filled with hot water from the flask and then topped up with cold boiled water to bring it to an acceptable temperature?

In practice, if what I see out and about is anything to go by, people routinely ignore the guidelines, but I wouldn't have and don't think you should...

[HavanaSlife]

You can buy baby flasks that you fill with hot water, poor into bottle, add formula then they have a big lid that you can put cold water into to cool the bottle down like this one

[HavanaSlife]

Or carry around cooled boiled water like others have said

[FelixFelix]

I just make up feeds in advance, store in the fridge and use an insulated bottle bag when out and about. Luckily my dd will drink it cold but you can either take a flask of hot water to warm up, or get hot water from a cafe etc. if there's one near by.

My sister used to carry a pot of powder, flask of hot water and flask of cold water to make up feeds out of the house and it was such a faff!