Perfect Prep Machine

[Chocoholicmonster]

Sorry if I've posted this in the wrong thread - wasn't sure where else to put it.

I've brought a Tommee Tippee Prefect Prep Machine. Thought it would be ideal for night feeds if nothing else. Mentioned it to my midwife & she said she cannot recommend them as tests have been done to show that it makes unsafe bottles as it doesn't heat the water up hot enough. I've read some of the information given to me & it seems very hit & miss & I'm now probably more confused then ever if I should use it or not. Its brand new & not been opened yet so I could hopefully return it.

Surely if they were that unsafe all the big name shops wouldn't be selling them? Id just like to get other peoples opinions on these - wether you decided to use one or not. Thank you.

[Loulou2kent]

Hi Choco, just wanted to say that I got mine without much research into it & so didn't realise that they are being looked into. I hope they're OK because I've been using it 10 months now .

I'm pretty good at making sure it's kept clean & empty the water that's not used & refill with fresh. Are they saying the boiling dash of water may not be killing all the bacteria in the powder? That would be annoying. Luckily we haven't seemed to have any problems here....

So far so good for us & it's been a complete life changer! I have a few different friends that have all used them too and haven't heard them mention any concerns so far.

I'm probably in the wrong for going against midwifes advice!

[Chocoholicmonster]

That's exactly what she said, Loulou That the water isn't hot enough to kill all the bugs in the powdered milk. But after researching, the water kills 95% of bugs found in the formula. She also mentioned briefly about it being linked to meningitis but so far I've found nothing at all to back that up. Id love to speak to my midwife & ask her, away from all nhs guidelines & away from everything she's supposed to say, as a parent what's her honest opinion but I know she probably cant because of said guidelines.

[Puppymouse]

Used one with DD when I stopped BF. It was amazing.

[ListenToYourHeart]

I've been wondering this.

Was all for the perfect prep now I'm pregnant with DD2 and was thinking of buying it as everywhere seems to have it at a discount price.

But then came across similar to what you have heard and now I'm not sure, as read they are not NHS recommended, but then I have heard people say they've had midwifes recommend them.

[FreedomMummy]

I used one with my DS and never had any problems but that doesn't mean there haven't been. I didn't realise there were supposed issues with it until DS was nearly a year old.
IMO as they still sell them they can't be that dangerous else they would have been pulled off the market and recalled.
It was a life saver and I wish I had had it with my first as it made life sooo simple. I personally would use mine again and wouldn't have any concerns about it.

[SpeakNoWords]

As far as I understand it, there's no guarantee (or indeed any evidence) that the hot shot of water stays hot enough when mixing with the powder to effectively kill all the potential bugs.

You can do a manual method that's similar, by measuring hot water and cold water to make the total amount.

[bakingdiva]

I've used one since my now 9 month old DD was 4 months, and I can't recommend it enough. It takes all of the hassle out of making up bottles, and means rather than having a screaming baby for 20 mins waiting for a bottle to cool down, you only have to wait for 2.

The only research I can find is inconclusive about the safety, and TT haven't released their research, but TBH (and this is only anecdotal) I know quite a few people who have used them and no-one seems to have had any issues. Just makes sure you put the powder in straight away after the 'hot shot' rather than leaving it.....although i'm not sure why you would leave it for the 'up to 2 mins' you can when you have a baby desperate for its dinner!

[crayfish]

My DS is 14 months and we are still using it! To be honest I bought it in desperation and didn't do any research but we haven't had any problems and I would use it again. I'd be interested to hear how it could cause meningitis to be honest, I'm not sure that's possible. My HV did say that in her anecdotal experience babies poos tend to be a bit runnier with the PP but we never had a problem, in fact we had more of that trouble with the little ready made bottles.

[WhatWouldCoachBombayDo]

DS is 2 we used one from birth, we've had no issues, you must make the bottles as per the instructions each time. The hot shot comes out at 70 degrees the same as if you were to let a Ltd of boiled water cool for 30mins, you must ensure all the powder is mixed with the hot shot, so non stuck dry on the edge of the bottle.

DS was never unwell but we followed the directions very closely.

[WhatWouldCoachBombayDo]

Also call me cynical, but I fully believe the NHS will discourage anything that makes formula feeding "easier"

[spacefrog35]

The fact that they are still being sold is no guarantee of safety. You can easily buy cot bumpers and they are demonstrably unsafe!

That notwithstanding the reason your midwife can't recommend them is not that they are unsafe but rather they haven't been proven to be safe. Personally I didn't use one as after reviewing the WHO guidelines I saw you could make up formula in advance & store it in the fridge 'if necessary' so that is what I did.

[ElspethFlashman]

I can't imagine it's any less safe than just gauging the temperature of water from the kettle. It's not as if people use thermometers with every bottle!

At least the PP is the same temp every time. You just have to swirl the powder in the boiling water before you add the cool.

I still have one and it's one of the best purchases I ever made. And I feel a lot more confident with fresh bottles from the PP than with ones made up "properly" from the kettle and then stashed in the back of the fridge, which everyone else does.

[MrsZumbaDancer]

There has been reports of gastro problems with some children. It wasn't recommended by midwifes until very recently and my midwife said they receive a new directive saying they were safe to use. However my HV is very anti them.

I didn't buy one due to reported issues, didn't want to take the risk

[WhatWouldCoachBombayDo]

Storing bottles isn't recommended now I thought either, every feed should be made fresh.

[ElspethFlashman]

At night you can't make each one fresh though. Well you can, but it would be lunacy.

I know people who have the PP up in the bedroom, with a bit of gaffer tape over the speaker to muffle the annoying BEEEEP!

[29redshoes]

I have one and only realised very recently that some people were told not to use them by midwives/HVs. We've had no problems so far and I'm going to carry on using it, as long as youmix the powder and hot water immediately and thoroughly I don't see how it's much different to using the kettle.

I suppose I can see the logic on the gastro problems, particularly if some aren't using it correctly, but I'm very about the supposed link to meningitis.

Call me cynical too, but I tend to agree with whatwouldcoachbombaydo...

[29redshoes]

...about the NHS stance on formula feeding and how easy/not easy it should be, that is.

[WhatWouldCoachBombayDo]

Elspeth indeed that's why people use a PP, I'd use a freshh PP bottle over a stored one, but that's just me.

Guidelines change so often and sometimes revert back, it can get rather tiresome. As long as your sensible and cautious, follow instructions directly I'm sure storing, PP and making up fresh are all as safe as they can be.

[pitterpatterrain]

My DSis has one and it has been a lifesaver with their twins.

You can't prove things are safe, that is an impossibility for anything. You can gather evidence of risks.

Seems like as anything if you use it properly any risks are minimal.

[MyBreadIsEggy]

I had one when I stopped bf Dd but didn't know about the safety concerns.
But after seeing the effects of gastroenteritis on a newborn (a friend was preparing formula incorrectly and made her baby ill) I stopped using it, wouldn't run the very small risk again.
You can make up a bottle just as fast, in pretty much the same was as the machine does, but using the kettle instead - even at night.
For example, to make a 6oz feed:

• Boil water in the kettle, add 8oz to an empty, sterilised bottle and leave to cool completely (I used to do this before I went to bed and store it in the fridge).
  
• Baby wakes for a feed. Take an your empty, sterilised bottle, add 2oz of boiling water from kettle. Add required amount of powder and shake it up until dissolved.
  
• Add 4oz of the water you boiled and cooled earlier, and shake again.
  

Hey presto! Bottle made safely, at drinking temperature, just as fast a Perfect Prep Machine.

[crayfish]

MyBread - your way would be my alternative and is what I did when we were out and about. I kept boiling water in a flask and a seperate sterilised bottle of cold boiled water for the 'topping up' bit (the lidded bottles designed for expressed milk are perfect for that to save using an actual bottle). If the PP was deemed unsafe i would go back to that method, it's just as quick and probably safer, I'm alsways surprised more people don't do it.

[Chocoholicmonster]

Thank you all. I really do appreciate everyone's responses 😊

[divadee]

I have bought one for this baby but obviously haven't used it yet.

I haven't a clue how it could cause meningitis?!?!? What is that about?

I would say it's as safe a way as any to make up a bottle feed. When I had my first daughter (18 years ago) I used to make up 8 bottles in one go and store them in the fridge for the next day. No tummy upsets at all from her. Maybe I was lucky. But to be honest if I hadn't read on here or bought the perfect prep I probably would of made them up like that this time as I wouldn't of known.

[Chocoholicmonster]

My partner thinks sometimes with all the guidelines & 'health & safety' we can be too cautious & I think he's right.

I have no idea how it could cause meningitis but she definitely mentioned 'a link' & that was the main reason I was put off using it. But I gave found zero evidence proving this or even stating a link & after reading everyone's responses to the meningitis link, I feel much more happier & confident to use my PP.

[Chocoholicmonster]

Have found* not gave.