Dept of Health step by step guidance to making up formula

[StealthPolarBear]

This is something that seems to come up fairly regularly, and hopefully this will be issued to all HCPs so they can all provide a clear, unambiguous message.

www.dh.gov.uk/en/Publicationsandstatistics/Publications/PublicationsPolicyAndGuidance/DH_129344

(apologies if there is already a thread on this - couldn't see one)

[Kendodd]

Are there not instructions on the back of the box? Are all formulas made up exactly the same so that one leaflet covers them all?

[RitaMorgan]

The box instructions aren't very clear on the importance of making them up with hot water, and how to make in advance if necessary.

[freybean]

but not all formula can be made up with hot water

[RitaMorgan]

Some specialist ones can't, but then it's a risk/benefit decision.

[MoonFaceMamaaaaargh]

Great idea stelth. Maybe we can keep this bumped.

Freya yes some must be made with cold. But the vast majority use ones that should be made up hot, yet there is very poor information around this. For the sake of that majority and their babies it is surely worth making this known? Or maybe it's an issue to take up with the dept of health?

[Kendodd]

Really I think this is the job of formula manufactures, they should just provide better information if it's at all unclear, I can't understand why they don't.

[worldgonecrazy]

Kendodd the manufacturers don't want to be clear on this because they think parents will cotton on to the fact that formula is not sterile and that's why very hot water has to be used. I'm constantly surprised by how many people think that you need to use just-boiled water because it's the water that's risky.

[Kendodd]

Oh well, I don't know anything about formula, I never used it.

[Danthe4th]

That advice is all very well if making up fresh bottles at home but it doesn't give mums any advice for when out for the day and no access to a kettle.

[RitaMorgan]

There is guidance on how to make formula in advance - maybe it's in the "Guide to Bottlefeeding" mentioned. Basically it is the same though, but you need to cool the bottle quickly and store in the back of the fridge or a cold cool bag.

It would be nice if formula manufacturers would take responsibilty for this, but they don't.

[SurreyDad]

May be the Government is finally realising that refusing to give advice on formula feeding to parents and making HCP into 'breastfeeding Nazis' is just bringing the NHS into disrepute.

[RitaMorgan]

The government has never refused to give advice on formula feeding