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Infant feeding

Making up bottles in advance

12 replies

Sal1105 · 15/06/2007 16:13

Hello - I had a visit from my HV this morning and she said that formular feeds should be used within an hour after you prepair them, which is also what it says on the box. I just received a copy of the Mums on Babies book (based on mums from this website) and a few people have said, if I'm understanding correctly, (in the book) that they prepared feeds in advance (how in advance it doesn't say) and took them out with them or kept them int he fridge, or whatever. Does anyone know why they advise to use them within the hour? What harm can it do - it's only powdered milk, isn't it? Any advice appreciated. Thankj you.

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McDreamy · 15/06/2007 16:15

This all changed between my children so for DD is was acceptable to make them up 24 hours in advance and by the time DS came along the advice was as you say. I expect it's to cover themselves but I think it's highly impractical.

With DS I used to boil the kettle and fill his bottles with water - enough for 24 hours but not put the powder in until I was about to feed him.

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scorpio1 · 15/06/2007 16:16

its bacteria that can develop. they mean an hour of warm milk.

it is fine to keep bottles made up in the fridge for 24 hours. or in a cooler bag for bottles for a few hours.

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TheDevilWearsPrimark · 15/06/2007 16:16

You can keep them in the fridge for 24 hours.

I personally boiled all the water in the morning and filled the bottles, then added the powder as and when. You can buy containers to take the powder out with you too.

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yogimum · 15/06/2007 16:20

On another thread someone linked to the Food Standards agency which tells you how to prepare formula. Not very practical but its something to do with bacteria in the formula so therefore water has to be freshly boiled and cooled for approx 30mins.

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McDreamy · 15/06/2007 16:21

Yes they do now advise using fresh water each time - just not practical imo

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TheDevilWearsPrimark · 15/06/2007 16:25

We mostly used evian, especially when out. It saved a lot of hassle.

I also never warmed the bottles. So the DC's were only used to having room temperature water which also saves a lot of hassle.

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DaisyMOO · 15/06/2007 16:28

Formula milk powder is not sterile and bacteria found within it (Enterobacter sakazakii iirc) have caused a number of deaths in babies. The point of using freshly boiled water which has been standing for no longer than 30 minutes is that it is then hot enough to kill any bacteria in the milk powder which is added. You then cool it down until it is cool enough for the baby to drink. This is what I personally did with ds2 and I didn't find it a hassle particularly.

The next best option IMHO is to make feeds up like this to kill any bacteria present, cool them down rapidly in the fridge and then warm them up as needed.

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smallwhitecat · 15/06/2007 16:32

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McDreamy · 15/06/2007 16:34

Yep Daisy is right but teh DoH does say that where this is not practical either making up in advance or just storing water is acceptable but not ideal.