Giving Up BF, How to FF in middle of night?

[nougatness]

Our baby is 5 months old. I have to give up BF, and am just concerned about what to do for the times when she wakes in the night and I have previously breastfed her, even if it's just for a short time until she goes back to sleep.
She is frequently sleeping through, but I don't want to pre - prepare formula because of bacteria risk.
If I put boiling water in a thermos and leave in her room with a bottle and formula powder, would that be OK?
Also, clueless question, but if boiled water is supposed to cool for 30 minutes before mixing, do you put freshly boiled water in thermos or half hour old water? Thanks

[nickytwotimes]

cartons?

[going]

I would just offer her water in the night, she will probably stop waking for milk then.

[TheSugarPlumFairy]

you are fine to preprepare formula before you go to bed to use during the night. Just make it up with hot water (70 degrees) and then but it straight in a jug of cold water and then the back of the frigdge. ping it in the microwave and shake it when ready to use.

If you are really against the idea then either use readymade cartons served at room temperature or take a thermos of hot water up to bed with you and a bottle of cold water as well. add 2/3's hot water needed for the bottle and 1/3 cold water. THe bottle should be at a reasonable drinking temp pretty much straight away.

[nougatness]

All great ideas, thanks!
Didn't even think of cartons.
And she has baby tea now sometimes so that might do instead of water,
Thanks again.

[Changebagsandgladrags]

what is baby tea?

[PeanutButter99]

Interested to know what baby tea is aswell.

[Zimm]

Me too! Baby tea sounds awesome (joke!)

[theborrower]

Just a note - I was under the impression that you should never heat baby milk in the microwave as supposedly it can cause hotspots (it doesn't warm the milk evenly) that may scald the baby's mouth. Warming the milk in a bowl of hot water, or in a bottle warmer, is ideal and only takes a few minutes.

[geordieminx]

I wouldn't want to be messing about with scalding water in a flask by the bed in the middle of the night, sounds like an accident waiting to happen

[thisisyesterday]

i would use cartons, much easier and quicker.

may i be nosy and ask why you have to give up bf?

[FluffMacDuff]

What I did: sterilise bottles, fill with just boiled water to required level, replace lid. Then measure required formula into (sterilised) containers with lids. Then in the night you can just tip formula into water and shake. DD didn't seem to mind it not being warmed at night.

If you have the Tommee Tippee bottles then their little pots with lids are a really good idea. They fit inside the bottle until you need to make up a feed.

[MoonUnitAlpha]

FluffMacDuff - mixing the powder in cool water isn't safe, it has to be mixed with hot water (70c) to kill any bacteria. It's the powder that can make babies ill rather than the water.

I would just use the cartons - they're expensive to use for every feed but not that bad for once a day. I also heat the milk in the microwave and just make sure I swirl it round to remove hot spots.

[geordieminx]

Fluff, that method isn't classed as safe, and can cause serious illness.

[MumNWLondon]

If you made the bottle up and leave in the fridge you can always use it in the morning if she doesn't wake.

Otherwise carton and bottle warmer? Or try offering water?

[FluffMacDuff]

To start with at night I would use a bottle warmer or warm bottle in water from thermos. But only until DD was 6mo or so .

Was so pleased when we were able to leave sterilising and boiling water behind! For DC2 I imagine it will be cartons all the way.

[MoonUnitAlpha]

Even after 6 months you need to ensure the powder is made up with hot water - it's more important than sterilising bottles or boiling drinking water.

[geordieminx]

The water that you add to the powder must be 70 deg or more, which usually means boiled less than 30 minutes ago.

Adding cool/warm/cold water to formula is dangerous.

[porcamiseria]

probably really un environmentally friedly, but as we only did a few FF nights feeds we used ready made, then no drama just open, fill, and heat and a cup with boiling water. much easier!

[TheSugarPlumFairy]

theborrower that is why i said shake it. you even out any hotspots.

[nougatness]

Thanks everyone. I have gone with the cold water and hot water in flasks option, (and she hasn't woken up during the night yet!).
I am searching for pre made formula - that sounds fantastic, but it is turning into the holy grail - we are in the Middle East.
OMG - I just checked what baby tea has in it - besides fennel - sugar, sugar and a bit more sugar, probably not the best idea.....will be chucking ours out.
thisisyesterday - have to give up as my work is making it impossible to take time to express and it causing me more stress and anguish than I ever thought possible....
Thanks again for your input and help!