Making up bottles in advance?

[crazypenguinlady]

Okay I know this has been done to death but I'm a FTM so bear with me, plus internet searches give me results from about 2007 so looking for more updated advice.

My son is 11 weeks old and is now exclusively formula fed. All good, loves his food etc. Generally, he takes about 5oz about 2.5-3 hours give or take, but just feed him as and when he wants. However, he gives zero indication hes hungry (we aim for around hours but he'll suddenly decide within 2 hours he's hungry) He will go from contended and smiling to screaming in about 3 seconds flat or wakes from a sleep suddenly crying for food. I'm trying to make life easier all around and making a bottle fresh each time can be stressful as by the time it's done, he is red in the face screaming, holding his breathe, warm, etc.

What's the safest way to prep a bottle in advance?
-- Keeping a beaker of cool boiled water then when he's due a feed, boiling the kettle again, adding say 3oz of that then 2oz of cooled water then formula
--Make up bottles with boiled water with 3oz, leave to cool, when he's due a feed add 2oz of boiling water then formula
-- Making up complete bottles in advance, cooling straight away then keeping in fridge, heating when required
-- Another way altogether??

I hope this makes sense, it's been a loooong day

[Figgygal]

I've always made bottles and stored in back of fridge, I do 2 or 3 at a time never intended to be saved for more than 12 hours or so.

Did it with ds 5 and ds2 7mo never had a problem

[MissJC]

As long as the water that you add the formula to is 70 degrees or higher you should be fine. Formula isn't sterile so you need the hot water to kill the bacteria in the formula. They say that making bottles up fresh reduces the risk of gastroenteritis by 7% and it's up to you to use that figure to weigh up the odds and what you think is best.

If you want a truly easy life then mothercare are selling the perfect prep for £60.
There has been a lot of worry lately over the prep and mould in the back pipes but when I checked mine it is fine. I regularly descale with white vinegar as per instructions but I couldn't be without the PP now. Its a freaking godsend! Especially for the pesky night feed.

[Civilsoot]

Have you thought about purchasing a Tommee tippee perfect prep machine? Don't read about the unfounded scare stories on Facebook, tommee tippee have said time and time again that they are safe. It's been a godsend to us.

[sundaysunday]

I've done the same as tiggy. Made a couple of bottles up twice a day, cooled them quickly in cold water and then stored in the fridge, warmed in a jug of hot water when needed. Not the method recommended by the NHS but I believe it's the second best method according to WHO.

[crazypenguinlady]

Should have added that, don't know why but I'm not sold on the idea of the prep machine. Probably because of the stories. I know it can be argued about making bottles up in advance isn't great either but I suppose for me, people have been doing it this way for a few generations now and people survived (my mum did it with me and my brothers)

[kshaw]

I have formula put in the bottles, keep the bottle on a set of electric scales. I pour 30-35g of boiled water from the kettle onto the formula to kill any bacteria then top it up with cooled boiled water to 150g (1ml water weighs 1g) - perfect temp for her. A perfect prep machine works in basically the same way - shot of hot water to kill bacteria then cooled water. Takes a couple minutes for kettle to boil that's it xx

[Missmac84]

My DS is 9 weeks old and is my second child. I have been pre making his bottles since he was 2 weeks old.

Making them, cooling them and storing them in the fridge.

I did exactly the same with my DD who is now 2 1/2.

NHS and HV have to advise you with the information they are given. You do what's best for you and your child xx

[toffeeboffin]

I do option C, it's easiest.

[missanony]

www.who.int/foodsafety/publications/micro/PIF_Bottle_en.pdf

[PuckeredAhole]

Perfect prep! Just ignore the instructions and put the formula in after the hot shot to kill bacteria, shake well and put back for the top up. Also make sure you used cool boiled water in the machine as extra protection as the filter won't get of everything.

[PuckeredAhole]

To clarify, formula -> hotshot -> top up. Boil and cool any water you put in machine. This is safe.