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AIBU?

About prep time for powdered formula?

188 replies

MissMalteser · 28/04/2016 13:49

Ds is 6 weeks and I am just starting to introduce the odd bottle of formula so we can combination feed, at the minute I am using the pre made bottles but i have been looking into powder and because of the gap between dc's I'm not sure if ive just forgot it was always this complicated?
So each bottle has to be made fresh as required, this includes boiling kettle, making bottle and letting cool, but each bottle also has to be sterilised, once I open my steriliser to get a bottle out the rest are contaminated and need resterilised, so by the time ds starts grunting for a feed and I actually go through the faff of sterilising bottle, boiling water, making bottle and letting it cool enough to drink it could surely take at least 45 minutes each time? Am i missing something? Confused and aibu to think surely there is a more time effective way to do it?

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Aussiemum78 · 28/04/2016 13:52

I used to do it in batches. I'd make up a measuring jug with boiling water then pop it in 3-4 bottles in the fridge. Used within 18 hours.

Or you can boil and cool the water in sterilised bottles and keep it in the fridge and add powder as required.

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Aussiemum78 · 28/04/2016 13:55

Keep in mind that your boobs aren't "sterile". I was mindful of being very clean, washing hands, bottles put through dishwasher after a soapy hand wash, keeping things refrigerated etc but I never did the sterilising solution. I don't see the need to go overboard, I suspect it's an outdated thing.

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Skivvywoman · 28/04/2016 13:55

I'm about to be a 1st time gran and it's totally different from having my youngest 10 years ago,

I thought you could sterilise the bottles then add the cooled boiled water then add powder as needed?? May be wrong it's not like when I had my kids you made all the bottles up at night with formula then put in fridge for during night and the next day!

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mysonhasaspergers · 28/04/2016 13:56

You can make the bottle up half with water over 70 degrees and then mix and then top up the rest with cooled boiled water. This means the formula has been sterilised and you're getting it to drinking temperature quicker with the cooled boiled water.

Also, I don't know anything about once you've opened the steriliser it means all the bottles are no longer sterile?

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Icecappedpinetrees · 28/04/2016 13:57

Perfect Prep machine Grin

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CountessOfStrathearn · 28/04/2016 13:57

"you can boil and cool the water in sterilised bottles and keep it in the fridge and add powder as required."

Boiling water is to sterilise the powder, not the water, so don't do that.

There's a useful UNICEF leaflet about preparing formula, which talks about storing formula. It says:

"If you have no choice and need to store a feed, it should always be stored at the back of the fridge and for no longer than 24 hours."

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MissMalteser · 28/04/2016 13:58

It's all just so confusing isn't it? Surely nobody expects a baby to be able to wait that long from hunger to being fed?
Yes Aussiemum that's what I thought about boobs not being sterile but I think the danger is in the powder itself and it needing to be mixed in boiling water to kill bacteria?

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TheTartOfAsgard · 28/04/2016 13:59

Every night I used to sterilise all bottles that I'll use for then next day's feeds, fill with hot water/powder, cool down in a sink of water then put in the fridge to use as needed within 24 hours. This was 12 years ago though so don't know if it's different timescale now.

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MaisieDotes · 28/04/2016 14:00

Another vote for tommee tippee perfect prep Smile

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AnythingGoesWithMe · 28/04/2016 14:00

You have to mix the powder with boiled water to kill any potential germs. However that only has to be enough water to mix with the powder so you can top it up with previously boiled and cooled water to make it the correct drinking temperature.
Technically once you open a steriliser, nothing is left sterile in there. However if you then put the bottles together, i.e. caps on then really they remain hygienically safe.
A lot of the advice on making formula up is based on those with lower hygiene practices. For example in countries which are more likely to have bugs etc in the water, the boiling water advice is very essential.

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AnythingGoesWithMe · 28/04/2016 14:01

Forgot to add, if you really struggle with the sterilising, buy a cold water steriliser. You can leave bottles in there for up to 24 hours and they remain sterile. You remove them as needed.

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CountessOfStrathearn · 28/04/2016 14:01

Should have linked to the actual leaflet:

www.unicef.org.uk/Documents/Baby_Friendly/Leaflets/guide_to_bottle_feeding.pdf

Breasts are clearly not sterile, but the concern is bacteria from the powder not being killed when the formula is made or multiplying as the formula is stored.

There are similar 'rules' to storing and using breast milk (in sterilised bottles) as formula and breast milk are both excellent culture media, given the sugars in them.

www.nhs.uk/conditions/pregnancy-and-baby/pages/expressing-storing-breast-milk.aspx

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VagueIdeas · 28/04/2016 14:01

There's a difference between "not sterile" and "not safe to use".

Once you've opened the steriliser, although it's true that they are no longer sterile, they are nevertheless clean and safe to use.

Just empty the steriliser, assemble all bottles, put lid over teat, and use throughout the day.

And yes it's true that you need to add powder to water at 70 degrees (not boiling!) to kill any bacteria in the powder. I couldn't be faffed with that and used ready made. An expensive option though, I know.

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BananaPie · 28/04/2016 14:02

Bottles are still sterile once you've opened the steriliser. You're sterilising them to get rid of any remnants of milk which could harbour bacteria - if you've not used them, they'll not be contaminated.

You need to use 70 degree C water to kill any bacteria in the powder. But you could always use a small amount of hot water to do this, then top up with cold (this is what the perfect prep machine does).

But YANBU. It is a faff. Boobs are much more straightforward!

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CountessOfStrathearn · 28/04/2016 14:02

"For example in countries which are more likely to have bugs etc in the water, the boiling water advice is very essential."

No, boiling water is to kill bugs in the powder, not in the water.

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HelenF35 · 28/04/2016 14:03

I use a cold water steriliser and just pull the bottles out as I need them. Just change the water every 24 hours. I didn't start bottle feeding till about 7 months so it's not as much of a hassle as he only takes 3 bottles a day. He won't wait for the morning one as he tends to wake up 'hangry' so we just use ready made first thing.

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RDWRER · 28/04/2016 14:03

Regarding bottles, every night we used to sterilise and make up as many as we'd need for the next 24 hours. We'd make up the formula as said on the box but it always took about ten minutes to cool down which is a lifetime with a crying baby - in the end we bought a Perfect Prep machine, best baby-related thing we've ever bought! Although DD was almost completely formula-fed so it got a lot of use.

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MissMalteser · 28/04/2016 14:06

"Our sterilisers are quick, easy and ensure all products stay sterile for 24 hours as long as the lid remains closed"
from the tommee tippee website myson, so as soon as you open it to take a bottle out it doesn't say how long the rest keep for?
I think I will look into the perfect prep icedcapped! But what do you do if you are say out for the day? I am planning on bringing my boobs with me on days outbut obviously that's not an option for everyone Grin

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MissMalteser · 28/04/2016 14:10

Ah ok, I feel like a right numpty for resterilising already sterilised bottles Blush

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NickyEds · 28/04/2016 14:10

Once a steriliser is opened you can just assemble the bottles and they'll be fine for 24 hours. You must use recently boiled water but you can flash cool a bottle and store it in the back of the fridge to reheat as needed or add a measure of hot water first, then the powder followed by cold water (as long as the total volume of water used is correct for the amount of powder). I mix fed dd but gave her the same feed a day as a bottle so we did make it fresh as we always knew when it was needed.

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ThereIsIron · 28/04/2016 14:11

We always made all the bottles we'd need for the next 24 hours each evening and store in the fridge. So boil kettle, sterilise bottles, make bottles, cool quickly in cold water, put in fridge. Takes about 15 mins. Then heat them in microwave as required.

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Baconyum · 28/04/2016 14:12

I'm afraid on this I'm a bit 'we didn't have to do all that in my day' and dd is only 15! When I had to bottle feed (milk dried overnight nightmare!) I prepped each evening bottles for the next day in full, put at top of fridge, never had a problem. But I know they'll have brought in new rules for good reason.

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HelenF35 · 28/04/2016 14:13

If you do look at the perfect prep do some research first. The food standards agency don't recommend them and neither do midwives. They were rested by a university and didn't kill all the bacteria, tommee tipee won't release their own safety research which I find a bit odd. I decided not to take the chance in the end.

http://www.firststepsnutrition.org/pdfs/Statementonnmakinguppformula%20safelyMarr2015final.pdf]

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Middleclassmumnetter · 28/04/2016 14:14

Yep in theory that's what you're meant to do, make them up fresh every day leave to cool etc.
I real life this isn't practical. To make it quicker whilst still being as sterile as possible I do the following. (In advance) Boil kettle, fill flask or other container with boiled water. This is your supply of 'sterile' water. When baby wants feeding to make up an eg 6oz bottle, boil kettle again minimum amount. Add 2oz boiling water, add The 6 scoops of formula, lid or teat on bottle shake to dissolve. Then top up with 4oz of your cool 'sterile' water. You'll then have a warm 6oz bottle ready to drink. As long as you e got your cooled boiled water it takes no longer than making a cup of tea.
The perfect prep essentially automated this process and I now have one, would highly recommend if your going to be using formula for any length of time.

Re sterilising bottles, look in to cold water sterilisation. Many microwave sterilisers ar also cold water sterilisers. Each batch of water in steriliser (made up using Milton tablets or similar) is good for 24hrs. You just throw your clean bottles in, and take one out as needed and use. The others remain sterile.

Sorry that's a bit long! I'm on my 2nd and this is quickest way one found to give freshly made bottles in a short amount of time.

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Dontneedausername · 28/04/2016 14:15

I used to sterilise all bottles.
Add the boiled (still hot water) to all.
All formula to all.
Rapid cool by sitting in sink of cold water. Put in fridge once cool.

Remove as need and heat in jug of water (DD1) or microwave (DS2 and clearly not as precious! Just shake throughly to avoid hot spots!!)

Always did it at night so I had them all ready for night feeds and didn't have to faff in the morning!

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