preparing formula

[Nicwaye]

Hi I've read up load on preparing formula and the more I read the more worried I get but I just don't think the guidelines are very achievable and wanted to see what most people do? At night my husband makes up a formula at 2am usher for when I feed our daughter at around 6 and if we go out fit the day we will make up a bottle but not necessarily use it for a few hours? Is this really bad as all the guidelines say you must make as you use but then you have a hungry baby waiting for formula to cool????? I get the whole use within 1 hour thing but the other stuff seems a bit excessive?

[mrschatty]

Bacteria grows rapidly in formal milk I would not recommend pre making it and using outwith a 2 hour time frame
The way I do it is easy- sterilise bottles and add fresh boiled water to all so I may have 6 bottles ready with water (no formula),in them.
When I need the bottle I put it in my bottle warmer machine which bubbles up hot water around the bottle to get it back ti correct temp and then add the formula.im sure someone will come along and say I'm doing it wrong but it's quick and works for me and my 14wo baby has had no stomach complaints/reflux/colic or anything simmilar...

[almostthirty]

We used to boil a kettle and put the water in a flask to make up the bottles as and when needed when out and about. It was easier to ask for ice/cold water when in restaurants/pubs to cool a hot bottle down rather than asking for hot water (many places aren't allowed to give you hot water).
You can get a spec pot for formula with 3 sections. You measure out the quantity you need into the pot which makes making up a feed easy when out.

[scandichick]

There is so much confusion about this - are HCPs really bad at informing parents? I've breastfed first so haven't got the official message, but there seems to be a lot if different ways of doing it.

That aside, the key thing to know is that it's not the water that's potentially harmful for your baby, it's the formula powder. It's not sterile, and may contain quite nasty bacteria that do occasionally make babies sick. Hot water (>70℃) will kill the bacteria.

The WHO guidelines say it's OK to prepare a batch of bottles with hot water, cool down quickly and store at the back of the fridge to consume within 24 hours (that's what we did when I went back to work).

This, or preparing every bottle with hit water as you go along, are to my knowledge the only safe ways to use formula powder.

For going out, I'd use the pre-made bottles - carrying around a cooler bag would work of it's efficient enough, I suppose, but it is riskier. Formula is excellent breeding ground for bacteria, so i wouldn't risk it.

[Nicwaye]

Thanks for the replies... I have read that people make up bottles with boiled water and put them in the fridge and then add formula when needed. But then would you have to re warm up the water in the microwave first before adding the formula to kill the bacteria?

[dementedpixie]

You could use premade cartons if out and about OR take either hot water plus formula powder OR take a premade bottle that has been in the fridge (keep it in a cool bag until ready to use)

[almostthirty]

With dc2 we used the cartons too as it was easy and he preferred cold milk where ds1 liked hot.

[dementedpixie]

Nhs says this about using a feed made up in advance:

If it isn't possible to follow the advice above, or if you need to transport a feed (for example, to a nursery), prepare the feed at home and cool it for at least one hour in the back of the fridge.

Take it out of the fridge just before you leave and carry it in a cool bag with an ice pack, and use it within four hours. If you do not have an ice pack, or access to a fridge, the made-up infant formula must be used within two hours.

• If made-up formula is stored in a fridge, use within 24 hours.
  
• If made-up formula is stored in a cool bag with an ice pack, use within four hours.
  
• If made-up formula is stored at room temperature, use within two hours.

[NickyEds]

What you need to remember op is that the formula must be mixed with very hot (over 70 degree's) water to be safe. Yes mrechatty, I'm going to come along and say the way you do it is wrong, because it is. It's obviously good that your baby hasn't been made ill but that is down to good luck rather than good practice.

If you need bottles quickly there are 2 choices;

1. Make up a bottle as it says on the tin then cool it very quickly and put it in the back of the fridge. Take out and reheat when needed.
   
2. Say you need 6 oz of milk, boil 2 oz of water and put it in a sterile bottle and put it in the fridge. When you need a bottle put 4 oz very hot water into another bottle, add the f, shake well then top up with the cold water.
   

I mainly bf but if you're ff I've heard good things about Perfect prep machines.

[ACatastrophicMisintepretation]

I have exclusively formula fed my 5 month old baby and can really recommend the perfect prep machine... Shop around a bit for the best price cos it really is worth its weight in gold.

In terms of being out and about, if I know my baby will need a bottle within 2 hours of going out then I make a fresh bottle and keep it in a insulated bag. Any more than that, I take sterilised bottles (again in insulated bags to help keep clean!) and use the ready made formula bottles. They're a bit more expensive than making up powder and I find them a different consistency to powder but are they are good for occasional use and baby eats them quite happily, I don't even warm them up for him!

[ACatastrophicMisintepretation]

www.amazon.co.uk/Tommee-Tippee-Closer-Nature-Perfect/dp/B00BG6304A?tag=mumsnet&ascsubtag=mnforum-21

Mothercare will price match if you prefer to buy in person, just take in your phone and show them website.

[unimagimative13]

Buy a Perfect Prep machine it will save your life.

For 5 months we used this. When I was out I took one bottle made from the PP machine to use within 2 hours and used ready made cartons.

When DS was more predictable I could do kettle method if I was at someone's house (he fed every 3 hours so boiled the kettle an hour before feed and stood it in cold water)

Now I have to use specialist milk so I mimic the PP machine which you could do in the meantime. So for example on 8oz bottles-

Boil kettle and add 5oz to sterile bottle, cool and place in fridge.

When you need it ie at night, boil kettle, pour 3oz into another bottle, add 8 scoops powder, shake, then top us with your 5oz from the fridge.

[unimagimative13]

What bugs me about the 'my daughter is fine' brigade it that stuff changes!

My mum could say I never went in a car seat, I slept on my front, I was weaned at 3 months and she made bottles up at night. I'm fine. Doesn't mean I'll do the same.

[dementedpixie]

I am not sure the perfect prep machines are recommended as the hot shot isn't shown to stay at a high enough temperature for long enough when it hits the formula:
There is a link to click on on this page that leads to more info www.firststepsnutrition.org/pdfs/Statement_on_formula_preparation_machines_Feb%202016.pdf

[Nicwaye]

Great! Think I'll have a go at the hot cold water thing myself!

[sunshinemeg]

Scandichick is right OP, it's the powder that is the non sterile element. Hot water in a bottle without formula will do sod all, PLEASE don't do that.

It's simple as you have two options:

1.sterilise bottles and put to one side ready for use.

1. Using BOILING water make the formula as per instructions and put made bottles info the fridge. These will keep 24 hours.
2. When about to feed take a bottle and remove teat, warm in microwave just long enough to make it Luke warm. Make sure to shake bottle to distribute any hot spots and test temp.

This works at home and over time you can reduce the temp baby will accept the milk. Just prior to weaning my oldest DD happily drank it from the fridge.

Option 2 use pre made formula. It is more expensive but means you can take a sterile bottle out with you for the day. As long as the seal isn't broken it can be kept for months. Once open you have two hours to use unless put in the fridge in which case it lasts 48 hours.
With this option you can buy the large bottles and store in the fridge and warm as per option 1.

[unimagimative13]

Sunshine, the guidelines are to make bottles fresh. The PP hot shot does not hit the powder it's the other way. You put the hot in then add the formula. No different from a kettle!

[dementedpixie]

But the PP uses a tiny amount of hot water and tests show it doesn't stay hot enough for long enough to kill the toxins. Better to use a larger amount of hot water from the kettle and then top up with cold water. Also a lot cheaper to use a kettle

[scandichick]

The more I read threads like this, the more pissed off I become with Tommy Tippee. How can you market a product for babies and obscure the fact that it could make them ill, by refusing to engage with researchers questioning your claims?

I know why they're doing it, obviously - but why couldn't they tweak the PP so it works properly instead?

[unimagimative13]

I just don't understand how a hot shot from the machine would be any different from a hot shot from a kettle.

I test the water temp.


Anti reflux milk is mixed with 40 degree water so figure that one out

[dementedpixie]

It's because they only use 1 oz of water in the hot shot whereas you could use a larger amount if using a kettle so can make sure the water stays hot enough for long enough to kill all bacteria

[unimagimative13]

You clearly don't have the machine. It doesn't always dispense 1oz only for a 4oz bottle. My bottles are 3oz hot water.

[dementedpixie]

Nope I don't and I wouldn't pay that money for a glorified kettle either. TT seem very cagey about giving out information about it so I wouldn't trust that it is safe either.

Plus it doesn't use boiled water for the cold shot whereas nhs advises boiled and cooled water for babies under 6 months (I know it has a filter but that creates another expense as no doubt they need replacing too)

[unimagimative13]

Yes it does use boiled water.

Best money I ever spent - my kettle has a filter too so no different really.

The PP machine is just like having a coffee maker (you can make coffee with a kettle too)

[dementedpixie]

The cold shot is not boiled as it is just added as tap water and then filtered

[unimagimative13]

Not unless you top it up with boiled water like I do!