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AIBU?

Making Formula..

219 replies

CoffeeAndBiscuitsPlease · 03/06/2015 21:11

OK I will admit I make my formula the naughty way! I pre make a few bottles with kettle water as instructed, and then store them below 4 degrees c. Some people will accuse me of being a bad mum even for that, so I'm probably being a bit of hypocrite here....

But the way a couple of my friends make their formula is making me cringe....

they both have newborns, and they are putting the boiled water in the bottles, then putting the water in the fridge, then adding formula to the cold water as they go.

Now.... as far as I am aware, the whole point of the HOT water is to kill the germs in the formula as it isn't sterile...?

I haven't said anything to them, because having a 6mo myself I know how it feels to be told what to do with your baby.

But AIBU to think this is an arse about face way of making bottles... they might as well not be sterilising anything for all they are doing?

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idokidok13 · 03/06/2015 21:19

You're right it makes no sense to add formula to cold water, however my health visitor told me to do that!? So maybe they got similar stupid advice.
If i was feeling extra lazy (so most of the time) id mix the formula with and oz or two of boiling water and top up with cold water when ds was 6 months + i dunno if that's ok or not but i can't see why it wouldn't be

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BlinkAndMiss · 03/06/2015 21:20

YANBU, the point of boiling the water is to kill the germs in the powder. Tricky situation, but maybe you should try and bring it up with one of them. I'm not sure how I'd do that though! But I think they need to know.

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BirdInTheRoom · 03/06/2015 21:20

Yanbu - your way is the next best way to make bottles up if you can't make them fresh each time!

I don't understand the cold boiled water thing either. Makes no sense.

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Rainicorn · 03/06/2015 21:20

When I had DS1 in 2003 I was told to make 24 hours worth of bottles and store them in the fridge. I made the milk up in a huge hug and distributed it amongst the sterilised bottles before putting in the fridge.

In 2008 when I had DS3 the rules are as they are now, make a bottle up when your baby wants it (or whatever the new rule is)

I still made them up for the 24 hours.

I have a friend who does bottles as you've said your friends do, as well as my SIL. Did I mention anything? No, because that would make me an arse.

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hibbledibble · 03/06/2015 21:20

As you admit you are not making bottles up correctly you really aren't in any position to judge.

Everyone I know who formula feeds does not stick to the guidelines, I don't know whether it is ignorance or laziness. I find it easier to just breastfeed.

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idokidok13 · 03/06/2015 21:25

Easier to breastfeed isn't really the point. Ita really really unlikely that making bottles on advance is going to harm anyone so long as you do it all properly, cool them down as quick as possible etc, whereas putting powder into cold milk is seems quite likely to give baby atleast a not of an upset belly

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idokidok13 · 03/06/2015 21:25

Easier to breastfeed isn't really the point. Ita really really unlikely that making bottles on advance is going to harm anyone so long as you do it all properly, cool them down as quick as possible etc, whereas putting powder into cold milk is seems quite likely to give baby atleast a not of an upset belly

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Waggamamma · 03/06/2015 21:25

That's not the 'correct' way to male formula but it's how lots of people do it, they provably aren't aware of the risks.

Formula is a right pain when out and about unless you use ready made. It's just not practical to male every feed with a freshly boiled kettle and they're probably doing what they believe to be the best way. When my first son was born it was recommended to use cooled boiled water.

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PrincessOfChina · 03/06/2015 21:26

Could you recommend a Perfect Prep machine? I did as you do with DD four years ago (as a note, there is clear WHO advice which says bottles can be made up, flash cooled and stored appropriately here). The Perfect Prep machine means I don't need to pre make bottles as it only take two minutes to make a fresh one.

Not entirely helpful to note that breastfeeding is an easier option. It certainly wasn't for me.

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CoffeeAndBiscuitsPlease · 03/06/2015 21:27

Like I said, I feel I am being slightly hypocritical, and that's why I haven't mentioned anything to them.

BUT

The way I do it the formula germs are definitely being killed off, they are then being sealed and stored away in sterilised tubs with sterilised lids (I don't put teats on the bottles until feeding, so no air flow).

My point was that doing it with cold water, is basically wasting the whole sterilising process, because without the hot water, the milk is never sterile, and a pretty big risk to babies tummy.

I know guidlines change regularly, especially when it comes to storing bottles. (they tell you to make them one at a time, then sell bottle cooler bags...etc)

My baby literally cries until she is sick when she wants a feed and is left more than 5/20 mins, no warning, and never any routine to it, hence why I end up always making two bottles and popping them in the fridge, they are probably kept 6 hours max.

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CoffeeAndBiscuitsPlease · 03/06/2015 21:28

hibbledibble It's easier to breastfeed? I did not know... and there's me paying for formula and making bottles like a fucking idiot....

ahem....

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lornathewizzard · 03/06/2015 21:28

I know it might be seen as interfering but I think I would be saying something to them. Formula is not sterile, putting it into cold water is not changing that, so there is a health risk. Maybe they don't realise?

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sycamore54321 · 03/06/2015 21:29

The advice changed in recent years to what you are doing - water at 70 degrees added to formula powder, then rapidly cooled. The advice does say best is to make each bottle fresh and discard within two hours. It also says second best but acceptable isto flash-cool very rapidly and then store in back of fridge for no more than 24 hours. Indeed, most recent advice is that ready-made milk rather than powdered formula is better and safer for vulnerable babies.

Your friends are quite simply wrong. They may be following old advice, they may not know the reasons the advice changed. You are exactly right that it is because formula powder can contain ecoli and other potentially dangerous bacteria. It woukd be an awkward conversation but I think you should raise it - it's not like a debatable parenting choice like sleep training or dummy use or whatever, where it really is for each family to make its own choices, this is a safety issue and the guidelines are crystal clear.

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SaulGood · 03/06/2015 21:29

I disagree that you're in no position to judge. Or worry I suppose. You don't sound particularly judgemental to me. The way you do it has guidelines on how to do it safely. It's not the 100% optimum, if life was straightforward way to do it but it's the way many, many people do it and in acknowledgement of this there is advice on how to do it safely.

There are no guidelines on how to safely make up bottles using cold water. It is expressly warned against.

I don't know if there is a subtle way of dropping it into conversation without sounding like an arse. Unless you say you had considered doing it and the hv had told you it was dangerous. Make it about you? I'm in two minds because I have sort of a similar experience. My SIL conspiratorially whispered to me that she'd started weaning her 11 week old even though the HV had told her it wasn't a good idea. I said nothing. My niece ended up very poorly. I couldn't have predicted it and years ago many 11 week old babies were weaned without the same issues arising but seeing what the baby then went through, maybe I should have spoken up.

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lornathewizzard · 03/06/2015 21:30

And yes, buy a perfect prep machine if you can, much much easier.

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Purplepoodle · 03/06/2015 21:31

I boil water and keep it in fridge. Make bottle up with bit freshly boiled hot water and top with cooled boiled water

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CoffeeAndBiscuitsPlease · 03/06/2015 21:31

PrincessOfChina Oh how I dreamed of a perfect prep machine, I'm so lazy! lol :) I don't have the cash for one or I would be right on that.

I'm pretty precise with my bottle storing, everything is freshy sterilised in time with the kettle and not left getting stagnant, very tightly sealed, fast cooled in cold water, then popped at the back of the fridge.

But the cold water thing just baffled me... I mean, how could they miss one of the main reasons for boiling the water.

I wouldn't know how to bring it up with them. Because I know how many people try and stick their two penneth in when you have a baby, but then, I don't want their baby getting a bad tummy, or worse.

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SummerHouse · 03/06/2015 21:32

You are right. They are wrong.

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bippityboppitypoo · 03/06/2015 21:33

Adding it to cold water and then warming it? Or giving cold milk? Shock

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Discopanda · 03/06/2015 21:34

Some supermarkets and Boots do big bottles of premixed formula too.

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CoffeeAndBiscuitsPlease · 03/06/2015 21:37

I buy the pre made formula in the little cartons for "emergencies" I.E my 6oz drinking daughter decides she wants 8oz out of no where at the end of the feed haha. But I cant afford to buy the pre made stuff to feed all day every day I'm afraid. (maybe if boots let you have clubcard points for first infant milk (or if the government would let them, but that's another thing altogether!)

I'm pretty happy with the way I prepare my formula, I mean, everyone has their ways of doing things. I just thought the way my friends were doing it is downright dangerous.

They are very close, so I think one may have given the other this wonderful time saving tip and they haven't really thought it through!

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Lonelylass1218 · 03/06/2015 21:42

I boil kettle and fill thermos flask which keeps water very hot. I fill bottle when needed let water cool slightly add powder and cool doesn't take and more time to cool than time to change a nappy and faster than it takes to heat a bottle from fridge. Pre made bottles or using the cold water is no excuse when this way is so easy

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Lonelylass1218 · 03/06/2015 21:44

I had a prep machine which after a day o sent back because I thought about it and having water sitting in a machine is not the best and it only does a small blast of hot water which surely is not enough to sterilise the milk and doesn't boil the water !!

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MrsHathaway · 03/06/2015 21:46

Lonely is the water above seventy degrees when you do it? OP's sounds safer.

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CoffeeAndBiscuitsPlease · 03/06/2015 21:46

Lonelylass1218

Your way is no more precise than the way I am doing it unless you are somehow certain the water you have boiled, then stored, then poured, then left are the 70 degrees needed to kill the germs. If it's too hot you are ruining the nutrition of the milk, too low and you are risking not killing off the germs.

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