"Safest" way to prepare FF bottles

[excitedforbaba]

Hi
I am due first baby in just a few weeks and intend to FF from the beginning.
Midwives etc not very forthcoming with information on FF as they don't want to be seen to encourage it..

What I'd like opinions on is what is the safest way to prepare bottles? I know there is a huge emphasis on making as you go but I just cant imagine leaving baby crying for possibly half an hour at 3am to the kettle cools down enough

Also aware that the water needs to be over 70 degrees to kill of bacteria in formula
Any thoughts or advice very welcome

[stargirl1701]

Use the ready made cartons overnight. We took sterile bottles upstairs with cartons and opened one as we needed it.

During the day, after DD1 had finished one bottle, I made up the next one as per guidelines but then flash cooled it and put it at the back of the fridge. The next feed was then always ready.

[JiltedJohnsJulie]

The latest guidelines are here

[TakingTheStairs]

Get a Tommee tippee perfect prep machine. We have one and it's amazing. You can prepare as you go and even at 3am a fresh bottle only takes minutes to prepare.
You can use any brand bottles with it too.
I FF from day one too and this machine was far the best piece of any baby equipment we bought.

[TakingTheStairs]

Oh and yes to the ready made cartons for night too (as stargirl said) They're essential for when you're out and about too. If your baby will take them at room temp you'll be saving yourself stress when out!

[tortoisesarefab]

I second the tommee tippee perfect prep, well worth the money if you are ff. saves trying to guess when a newborn will want feeding!

[NoMontagues]

Third vote for the Tommee Tippee perfect prep. Love it.

[Balderdabble]

I would use the ready made cartons for the first few weeks at least. Probably in the day too at first, when he/she is only having small amounts, so a bit more affordable. So much easier and also sterile which the powder is not so a little safer for the under developed immunity. Once you switch to powder,I personally follow the guidelines from a few years ago and make a few up at a time, rapidly cool and store at back of fridge, making sure to use within 12 hours. Having said that, if I was certain I was FFing from the start, I might consider the tommee tippee prep machine. Looks great!

[JiltedJohnsJulie]

Have a look at this kettle to. You can set the temperature so its kills the bacteria and it has two plus points over the perfect prep. One, its cheaper and two you can use it as a normal kettle long after Lo has stopped the bottles

[excitedforbaba]

Thank you all so much!
yes definitely think cartons will be handy for the first while to I get used to it all!
Will have a look at the PP machine and that kettle :)
ooh its all so exciting! Now to decide which formula brand to try first! so many things to think about! Xx

[JiltedJohnsJulie]

When choosing your formula brand, I'd try to choose one that is readily available in your local shops. The last thing you will need is 10ft of snow, a crying newborn and the nearest shop that sells your brand is 5 miles away.

Which? sum up the differences between formula brands in the uk better than I ever could

[ChippingInLatteLover]

You can measure out the water and use part hot (to mix the formula and kill the bacteria) and part cold to cool it down. You don't need any fancy gadgets, just two bottles :)

Aptamil would be my formula of choice (it also has ready made cartons for keeping spares in the nappy bag).

Your excitement is contagious- good luck

[stargirl1701]

We went for Aptamil. What a bloody con! It's made in the same factory as Cow & Gate but marketed and sold as a 'middle class' brand. Hence the higher cost!

[excitedforbaba]

chipping am I right in saying I could measure half the water into one bottle cool and refrigerate it to it is needed then boil kettle add the hot water to a second bottle pop in formula shake and then add the measured cool water to top up to what it needs to be?

Cow & gate and aptimel are both readily available in local shops and both have the ready made cartons in stock also!

jilted I'll take a wee look at your link now thank you!

Love how my excitement is contagious, I just can't wait for baby to be here

[donkir]

When I ff I made up all bottles with boiled water and left them on the side. I then had a milk pot with 3 seperate compartments that I stored the correct measure of formula in. When it came to feed time I just took a bottle off the side and added powder. As pp said so much easier if you can get lo to take room temp milk.

[Lalalax3]

I fill sterilised bottles with hot water and leave on side to cool. I then warm and add formula as needed. I know it's not the way you're supposed to do it, and that 70c water is supposed to kill the germs, but my DS was on reflux formula which recommended adding 45c water - so what happened to the 70c to kill germs thing there?!

[HappyNap]

Have you thought of buying the tommi tippee prep machine?

[DrSeuss]

I found that mixing the powder with vodka worked well. The alcohol killed the germs, negating the need for sterilising. Baby slept well too! ;)

[ChippingInLatteLover]

donkir & mrsgembles that's not the way to make it up, you need the water at 70 deg to mix with the formula to kill the bacteria in the formula.

or do it DrSeuss's way

[Lalalax3]

As you can see here www.aptaclub.co.uk/article/aptamil-anti-reflux-safe-preparation
some formulas mix best in 'hand hot water' so the whole germ killing thing becomes a bit redundant if you have a baby with reflux.

[excitedforbaba]

Dr seuss haha thank you for brightening up a feeling crappy kind of day

It is actually crazy that there are so many different variations on how to make up a bottle! My DM is horrified that it's frowned upon to make up a days worth and store in fridge! she says I survived it ok!

[JiltedJohnsJulie]

Moresnow I think that's why the kettle I linked is so useful.

Happy I take it you've not read the whole thread

Mrsgembles it doesn't matter what the carton says, the recommendations in the uk are to mix the powder with water of 70c to kill any potential bacteria in the formula. I would question with the company why their packaging does not comply with uk guidelines.

[Lalalax3]

JiltedJohnsJulie - presumably they DO comply, as this formula is widely available in major retailers across the country.

[JiltedJohnsJulie]

Oh almost forgot. It is actually crazy that there are so many different variations on how to make up a bottle! My DM is horrified that it's frowned upon to make up a days worth and store in fridge! she says I survived it ok!

There is only really one way, and that's to mix it with water of 70 degrees c. This has been the guidelines here since some babies died from the bacteria in some cartons of formula milk. Although this is rare, it is a risk.

Unfortunately, you are going to have to learn to smile and nod at older relatives, then do things your own way. Since you were born, there has been so much research into babies and how to keep them safe that the guidelines have changed out of all recognition since she had babies.

Perhaps you could print out the nhs guidelines on making up bottles and pass it to her?

[JiltedJohnsJulie]

Gembles I think we are going to have to agree to disagree on that one. Lots of foods and milks do not comply with our guidelines, such as weaning foods that say suitable from 4 months, but are still widely available.

My view is that the formula companies and producers of foods aimed at weaning babies are far more interested in your money than they are in the safety of your baby.