Bottle prep

[user1482079332]

I'm sure this has been done many of time. I'm currently ebf but want to combi feed and I'm clueless as to how to prep a bottle and the pre made stuff. From what I gather I can boil water, add to bottles then leave in fridge until needed when I add the formula?

[Flipthebirdy]

No, the water must be at least 70 degrees to sterilise the powder (according to the instructions).

[AssassinatedBeauty]

Yeah, the PP is correct, the powder isn't sterile so you need to mix it with water >70degrees to kill any possible bugs in the powder.

[kel1234]

The water has to be 70 degrees to kill bacteria as pp's said.
The way I've always done it is this:
Emptied and refilled kettle so it's fresh water, and boiled. Leave the water to cool for no more than 30 minutes, to allow it to reach the correct temperature. Then pour the water into the bottles, and add the powder. Put lids on and shake. Then leave to cool naturally at room temperature. Once cold, I store them in the fridge, where they can be kept for up to 24 hours.
To warm them I simply use a jug and boiling water.
It's so much easier than having to add the powder when the bottle is needed, especially when the baby is young and needs more bottles per day.
I found the ready made formula wasn't as thick, and my lo preferred the powder (we occasionally used cartons when travelling as didn't have a fridge on the train or in our hotel). Also the powder works out cheaper as well.
Some people swear by the perfect prep machine. But personally I don't like the idea of a machine making bottles for me. I prefer to make them myself.

[fruityb]

I love my prep machine. I've found incredibly conflicting info about bottle making. I didn't know you could leave them in the fridge and warm them the day after.

[BearGryllsHasaBigRope]

I do exactly the same as kel but I put them in the fridge straight away rather than leaving them to cool on the side. Then reheat in the microwave because I'm a bit of a rebel.

[Flipthebirdy]

I have gotten used to making as I go...but I might start trying the rebel way now DS is a little older.

I put the powder into the bottle, pour in a little boiled water to sterilise, give it a shake to mix, then top up with cool boiled water (that I keep in a bottle in the fridge) to bring the temperature down ready to serve. I used to keep a flask of boiled water to avoid needing to boil the kettle every feed but now the feeds are too far apart so the water in the flask gets too cool.

[FATEdestiny]

☆ microwave sterilizer for bottles (4 mins in microwave)
☆ Boil kettle
☆ Make and drink a cuppa
☆ Add water to bottles.
☆ Add same number of scoops of formula powder as oz of water in each bottle
☆ Gentle swirl
☆ Lids on
☆ Straight into back of fridge

You can safely store milk in the fridge for 24 hours. The ideal way to make up feeds is to make up one bottle and use immediately. I'm In the real world this is highly impractical. The above method of making up 24h worth of feeds and storing in the fridge is acceptable and safe according to the NHS and WHO.

☆ Remove cold bottle from fridge
☆ Big shake
☆ Microwave for 40-50 seconds*
☆ Big shake
☆ Feed

• microwaving a feed is not recommended by NHS because of hotspots. If you are capable of shaking before feeding it shouldn't be a problem. But otherwise you can warm by standing bottle in a bowl of hot water.