I've just had to stop breastfeeding DD2 at 8 months old, she had premade formula for a few days while I was in hospital and we've just started giving her powder formula, but it's taking so long to cool and shes really not happy about waiting for her night feed or morning feed. I've been cooling it by sitting it in a jug of cold water or running it under the tap, is there some trick I'm missing or is this just how it is with bottles?
You need to mix the formula powder with water 70 degrees plus to kill bacteria in the powder. So divide the quantity of water you add in total into two (not necessarily half, try different combinations). Add one part boiling (or over 70 degrees water) to the powder and mix it to kill any bacteria, making sure it is enough water to fully cover the powder. Then complete the water using prepared cooled boiled water. Make sure that your total quantity of water is the correct amount. Eg don't read the quantity off the side of the bottle you are mixing because you have the powder in there too.
Just wanted to add that it is possible to relactate and start breastfeeding again if this is something you are interested in. The Kellymom website has a good page on this.
I was about to say the same As hopelessly - I used to use about 1/3rd boiling water, the rest cooled boiled water, it was about right temp for my kids - good luck
I used to do same as above - every morning I would sterilise and fill the small tommee tippee bottles with boiling water (say 4oz) and leave to cool. Then put flat lids on and stick in fridge. Then when feed was due would make with say 3 oz of hot water, shake and then top up with the cooled water and they were ready to drink. Made going out etc a lot easier
Thanks! I think I'll give the part boiling water a try that sounds a lot easier
She is still breastfeeding a very small amount but my milks mostly dried up, I was in hospital dehydrated from hyperemesis and when I tried expressing it was a struggle to even get 10 ml and she had been gradually feeding more and more and getting fussy leading up to that so I don't think she was getting enough. She seems a lot more content on formula now other than being impatient!
Do bottles need steralising every time at this age too? With her water sippy cups and bowls and spoons etc we've just been washing them but are bottles different?
Are you pregnant? (As you said hyperemesis). That can affect the taste of your milk, or reduce your supply, and dehydration might affect your supply. However some mums can breastfeed through pregnancy. The amount you express doesn't correlate to how much baby is getting directly as baby is much more efficient than a pump. Feeding lots doesn't necessarily mean poor supply, it can mean they are seeking comfort, having a growth spurt etc. If you do want to try to continue breastfeeding I'd have lots of skin to skin and stay well hydrated. If you don't want to continue that is ok too. I breastfed through pregnancy and found it a mixed experience, a negative was that I got feeding aversion and my baby got quite fussy, maybe the altered taste? A huge positive was that starting breastfeeding my new baby was really easy as I already had a milk supply
Yes, sterilise everything that comes into contact with formula, basically until you no longer use formula (i.e. at one when they can have cow's milk). Formula grows lots of bacteria, more than would be on for bowls etc, that's the reason why. Or so I've been told - better safe than sorry in my opinion! I find the washing bottles the annoying bit and I need to do that anyway - the steriliser does the sterilising for me!
