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help with formula!

24 replies

claremoss · 23/04/2014 19:15

With formula feeds can I:
boil water, put 150mls into a sterilised bottle and cool, and put in fridge.
when I need a bottle, boil the kettle, add 30mls boiling water and powder and give straight away?
sorry, new to this, my 9 MO was BF untill 3 days ago when she began to refuse :o(

OP posts:
3DcAndMe · 23/04/2014 19:15

No. Add powder to boiling water then top up with cooled I think

ExBrightonBell · 23/04/2014 19:40

The hot water (higher than 70 degrees) needs to hit the formula powder to kill any potential nasties lurking in it. The powder is not sterile.

I have seen people on here suggest mixing the powder with a smaller quantity of hot water, and mixing thoroughly, then topping up with pre-boiled and cooled water to the required amount.

ExBrightonBell · 23/04/2014 19:44

Also, your dd is probably just having a nursing strike - have a look on the Kellymom site about these. You can probably get back to bfeeding if you prefer.

crazykat · 23/04/2014 20:07

I always made up formula using a small amount of freshly boiled water and topped up with cooled boiled water.

You need to measure the cooled water though as the powder changes how much is in the bottle IYSWIM.

To make up a 5oz bottle, I'd have bottles of 4oz cooled boiled water in the fridge. When making up the bottle I'd pour 1oz freshly boiled water into an empty sterile bottle and add 5 scoops powder and mix thoroughly, then pour in the 4oz cooled water from the fridge and mix again.

You have to pre measure the cooled water to ensure you have the correct amount of water. It's a faff but much better than having a screaming baby for 10-15 mins while the milk cools enough.

MaryWestmacott · 23/04/2014 20:25

For a 5oz bottle, I'd also have 3oz cooled in a 2nd sterlised bottle, start with 2oz with boiling water, add the formula to that, then top up with the cooled water. Make sure you measure out the 3oz for the cooled water as that avoids you having to try and work out where the water has gone up to with the powder added. I didn't bother putting the cooled water in the fridge, as long as it's in a sealed sterlised bottle it's fine.

For night, you need to get a thermos flask for the boiling water, take that up with a measured out powder (you can get little tubs for that), a sterlised bottle sealed up empty and another one with cooling water in for half the feed amount.

Once your baby is a little older, they will get in a routine and you can start making up the bottles one by one wihtout having to faff with second lots of cooled water - remember once made up the bottle is good for 2 hours, so I'd make up one aimed to be ready 30 minutes before i'd expect DC to want it and it'll be fine for 1.5 hours after that (this way when they decide they want the milk early, it's not a problem).

But others have said, 3 days is a little early, if you want to keep bfing, there's a lot of good advice on here.

claremoss · 23/04/2014 21:34

Thanks guys, I will keep trying to bf for a few more days but thanks in the meantime :0)

OP posts:
wheresthelight · 23/04/2014 22:15

If it helps I fill the bottle with boiled water and let it cool and then either microwave (yes I know but I shake thoroughly and it's never hot) or use the bottle warmer to bring up to temp and then add the powder. I also add it to room temp water and give it to dd, she has never had any issues!

PrincessBabyCat · 24/04/2014 05:15

I just use warm tap water to make the bottles, and if she only drinks half I warm it up later in the bottle warmer. If you put them in the fridge they should last up to 24 hours before going bad. But make sure when you feed your baby, the bottle isn't out for more than an hour or it will go bad.

3DcAndMe · 24/04/2014 05:48

You can't just using warm tap water to make up formula!

Please do read and follow the instructions on the formula carton!

TheSkiingGardener · 24/04/2014 06:29

The risk from the non-sterile powder is small but real. It's so easy to add the powder to hot water, then add cold and the bottle is the right temperature and safe.

Saying that you've never had issues with adding it to cold water is like me saying I ran across the road yesterday without looking and didn't get run over, therefore everyone should do this.

Thegreatunslept · 24/04/2014 06:51

The milk powder should always go into 70 degree water but can be topped up with previously boiled and cooled water to get it the correct temp for baby.

MrsPatrickDempsey · 24/04/2014 07:08

Shock and Hmm at baby cat. Sorry - you are really running the (small) risk of your baby becoming ill.

PrincessBabyCat · 24/04/2014 07:14

My formula only says add water, no further instructions. I'm not from the UK, so there might be different food regulations or water cleaning treatments that require your formula to need boiled water. The only thing I've heard on boiling water is to do it if you're instructed by your doctor because your baby has health concerns due to the water itself, not the formula. Even then, it's recommended to use bottled water made specifically for formula. Tap water could have hard minerals or too much fluoride in it, but boiling won't necessarily cure that (and cold unboiled water defeats the whole purpose).

Of course formula isn't sterile, why do you think you have to use it before 2 hours? Adding boiling water to it doesn't sterilize it anymore than boiling milk will sterilize milk.

Artandco · 24/04/2014 07:19

The boiling water kills anything that may have grown in the powder.

Def dont use tap water..

MiaowTheCat · 24/04/2014 07:25

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

MrsPatrickDempsey · 24/04/2014 07:26

And rewarming a used bottle is unlikely to kill any bacteria that may have colonized in the time the bottle has been left out.

MrsPatrickDempsey · 24/04/2014 07:28

Agree with miaow

yellowsnownoteatwillyou · 24/04/2014 07:38

You will get loads of different answers to this and recommendations.
I boil water, add to ml amount in bottle add scoops, flash cool, put in fridge. Take out when required warm up slightly as ds likes cool milk.
This works for me and baby is fine and well.
But could just be a nursing strike for you, I would keep offering and see how it goes.
How many feeds are you trying to give her?
My ds is nearly 9months and has bottles at 7,11,3,7.
On a different note I self weaned at this age according to my mum and I know a few other babies that did the same, 1 mum was pregnant thou so it changes your milk apparently.

claremoss · 24/04/2014 09:02

after all that she fed this morning at 5am!!!!!

OP posts:
MaryWestmacott · 24/04/2014 17:59

yay! They do it deliberately to mess with your head, I'm certain! Wink

claremoss · 24/04/2014 18:08

And fed again at 3! Sooooo happy!

OP posts:
lola88 · 24/04/2014 20:34

I done it the old way added powder to boiled water and stored in the fridge. If doing it this way you must keep for a max of 24 hours and store in the coldest part of the fridge. I found the new guidelines to much faffing about told HV I planned to do it the old way and she said was fine as long as they are stored correctly.

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rallytog1 · 25/04/2014 13:31

You can pre-make and store in the fridge, as the pp said. As long as you keep them at the back and discard if you haven't used within 24 hours, that's fine and I believe is also what the WHO says is the most acceptable thing to do if you can't always make fresh.

Stom91 · 25/04/2014 15:22

I boile kettle leave 10-15 mins
Add water to bottle then add powder then put bottle in ice water then once cooled. Put in fridge then warm up when needed.
I don't leave a bottle in the fridge for longer than 24 hours. I make 5 bottles as dd has 5 a day. Then make before I go to bed

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