If formula has to be made up with water at >70 degrees, then why

[IdaClair]

does the packet I just bought say 40-50 degrees and to mix, then feed immediately?

And can you also explain those powder dispenser things that people add to cold/room temp water?

I'm starting to mix feed 8mo DD and it's really confusing.

[Longdistance]

I think it maybe stage 1 ff tht has to be 70'c to kill off the bacteria.

Maybe different for stage 2 (6 months+) as they're already weaning on food.

Just throwing ideas about.

[breatheslowly]

What brand/type is it and where was it purchased?

[IdaClair]

It's Hipp Organic Combiotic, bought at Morrisons. It's the first time I've bought the powder, I tried the cartons first to make sure she liked it.

[tiktok]

Call the consumer info no. on the pack. They will prob say that the organic ingredients in the powder are destroyed at a higher temp, and you can ask them how this squares with the guidance to make up powder with 70 deg at least, in order to kill bacteria.

Nothing to do with stage 1 or stage anything - the bacteria in formula powder is risky at any age.

[5318008]

Hipp are contemptuous of guidance for parents by the Dept of health and WHO

Water hot enough to kill pathogens will destroy the probiotic bacteria in this brand of formula, which is why Hipp want you to use the lower temps. However the inclusion of probiotics is unproven as a benefit to babies, so doesn't matter anyway, if you see what I mean.

[IdaClair]

Great, I feel crap enough already, now I have to feed her dangerous formula.

[5318008]

no no, don't feel crap my bab

follow the guidelines for 70 degrees

sniff your baby's head for me, please, go on. Mine are Big Boys now, sigh.

[tiktok]

No need to feel crap - you're a grown up, you asked a sensible question, you got some sensible answers! Preparing formula with water above 70 deg C ensures you are making it as safe as you can - if you don't want to go against the manufacturer's advice, choose a different brand, or use cartons.

Up to you :)

[reluctantlyCatholic]

I use cartons for mix feeding. Ds2 is now ten months and has been mix-fed since about 20 weeks (when he was falling off bottom of the charts after being born at 95th centile). I have never had the faff of preparing. It isn't much more expensive if you are only planning on one or two feeds a day. Ds2 has 2 max a day, usually only one. Saves all this hassle in my mind.

[Startail]

By 8 months does it make any difference what so ever given most 8 month olds will be having the food they refused to eat for lunch being reheated for dinner and breakfast the next say

[MortifiedAdams]

OP I hope your last comment was said in jest.

[Startail]

Next Day!

At least DD1 was, she's 15 so all this 70° stuff is new.

Wearing my Biologist's hat it seems like a fudge, I'm not certain 70° is way cooler than you'd normally rely on.

[Startail]

Only slightly in jest, DD1 was an appalling eater and I got pissed off wasting stuff. She probably didn't get it for breakfast Here are all all were all, but lunch and dinner certainly happened.

[Startail]

Sorry that turned into rubbish, DD2 is demanding a hug.

[IdaClair]

In an eyerolling way. Not aimed at anyone. Just feel it's all going wrong. Have just bought a big box of it, don't want to choose between killing the nurtrients and making it safe. Head sniffed.

[peeriebear]

Isn't the higher temp for babies under six months? If you don't sterilise the bottles do you still need to sterilise the formula?

[catlady1]

Any bacteria in the powder can't breed anyway until you add water, so as long as you use it straight away it should be fine using cooler water. That's why it says to use immediately. Anyhow, if your DD is 8 months she's surely eating some solids now? And forever shoving fingers/toys/god-knows-what in her mouth. Hygiene isn't such a massive issue at that age, just employ common sense and you'll be fine.

[Figgygal]

Ffs formula is not dangerous if made correctly

Just make sure u know what u doing or get another brand as that one seems unnecessarily complex if there is no proven benefits to its added extras

[midori1999]

OP, you won't be killing nutrients in the formula, it will arguably be as good whether the probiotics were there in the first place. There's no evidence to say they're beneficial, HIPP use them as a selling point.

Shoving fingers in mouths/eating things off the floor is irrelevant unless you're expecting them to be handling raw chicken or something?! The risks from incorrectly made up formula include salmonella, among others, nasty at any age. Making it up correctly (with water over 70 degrees) will kill the bacteria.

My oldest is 17 and since he was a baby (and before, i made up formula for my younger brothers) advice was to boil the kettle and cool for 30 minutes before using to make up the formula.

[tiktok]

Startail, read the guidance on preparing formula - it really has nothing to do with whether the baby has a meal heated through the next day or not.

[HorryIsUpduffed]

Unless you have only just opened the tin, the milk powder is as sterile as any other food stuff in your kitchen, and exposed to the same germs.

Killing any bugs lurking in or near the powder is more important than sterilising the bottle itself - which ought not to harbour any germs if it has been recently and thoroughly washed in hot soapy water.

The potential germs in formula are very serious. Germs on your floor are a different set (unless your housekeeping is even more slovenly than mine in a bad week ).

Above 70 degrees, always.

[tiktok]

Not sure what you mean, Horry.

The bacteria in formula powder is an unavoidable part of the production, processing, packing and storing process. See research into this. The bacteria in formula powder is indeed as you say not the same as the stuff on the kitchen floor.

[HorryIsUpduffed]

Until you open the tin the kitchen germs can't get in. I was trying to preempt nitpicking but I realise I wasn't very clear.

Some ff companies' call centres claim that their powder is sterile once packed but it obviously can't be once opened.

Which is part of the reason I used cartons (sterile because of heat treatment) when mix feeding.

[stargirl1701]

Powder is not sterile - opened or unopened. The only sterile formula is in cartons. It is liquid and can be heat treated to kill the bacteria.

You should sterilise bottles that contain formula regardless of the age of the child.

There is a big difference between a baby putting something in it's mouth that was lying on the floor and the risks of improperly made up formula. It can contain salmonella and other nasty food poison type bacteria.

Just follow the NHS guidelines.

[tiktok]

Horry they cannot claim the powder is sterile in the pack - I think you are mistaken there. It is not sterile, hence the guidelines. We're not talking about kitchen germs here.