Prepping formula from powder in batches then fridge?

[callies895]

So we give DD (6 days old, our first) ebf and top up with aptamil ready made, it's building up to about 50/50 as dw's milk starts to come in. To avoid bankruptcy we're starting her on aptamil powder :).

Has anyone got any experience with preparing all the night feeds in one go and shoving them in the fridge to make the night feeds quicker? I can't see it being a problem as long as it's going in a sterile bottle. Our midwife actually said she did this (my mum did with me too) with her own kids but it seems like you're not meant to as this is out if fashion now? The instructions say no but I suspect that this is just some liability avoidance.

Has anyone done this?

[dementedpixie]

It's the powder that needs to be sterilised rather than the bottle itself. You can make up formula with water over 70 degrees and then store in the fridge for up to 24 hours

[babycatcher411]

As with many things the advice does change. 25 years ago we didn’t all wear seat belts, but that’s not something you’d do now because it was okay back then, even though most of us survived.

It’s not something you should do, milk grows bacteria quickly, and an hour from mixing up to usage is the guideline for opened pre-made bottles, or powder formula.

[dementedpixie]

Although giving formula will reduce Breast milk supply

[babycatcher411]

Ready made milk should say on it when to dispose of it and if it can be refrigerated.

[00100001]

You aren't ebf, if you're bottle feeding too ...

[dementedpixie]

Nhs info:

If made-up formula is stored:

in a fridge–use within 24 hours

in a cool bag with an ice pack–use withinfour hours

at room temperature–use withintwo hours

[babycatcher411]

Bottles should be sterile also.

[dementedpixie]

Sorry, yes bottles need to be sterilised too but most important is that the formula needs to be added to hot water to sterilise the powder

[babycatcher411]

The 24hours in the fridge is advised only if you can’t make up feeds each time. It shouldn’t be the regular practice.

[Mossyhill]

We’ve made up feeds for dd in advance ( boiling water onto formula in a sterile bottle and then flash cooled) for the last 8 months. It’s worked brilliantly and during the hot summer we had last year she loved them straight from the fridge.

[anotherwearytraveller]

Take some advice on the breast/formula thing too if breast feeding is important to your wife as her supply isn’t getting stimulated at all if you are giving all bottles overnight.

If moving quickly to all formula is ok with you both then cool but if she really wants to keep upbreats feeding then she needs advice pronto before it’s too late

And don’t make up in advance like that.
It’s a minor short cut that is considered risky and why would you risk anything for the sake of boiling the kettle.

[MrsBlondie]

For both mine we used to steralise bottles and add boiled water. Leave at room temp and add formula when hungry. Room temp milk then and no need to heat or cool. This is 13 years and 6 years ago though.

[mummabubs]

@00100001, ebf can sometimes stand for expressed breast feeding- as in my case DS couldn't/wouldn't latch so I exclusively expressed for a year and topped him up with formula as and when he needed it.

In the nicest of ways does your comment about ebf add anything to the thread other than to dig at the OP? Does it really matter if they said ebf but are also giving formula?

[mummabubs]

@00100001, meant to add that if we're going to be that pedantic then "bottle feeding" as you termed it isn't same as formula feeding! (This one used to bug me as people saw me with a bottle so (understandably I admit) assumed I was formula feeding).

[mummabubs]

OP when I had to do this I took sterilised bottles, made up formula with freshly boiled water that had been in the kettle for 20 mins or so (so not boiling) and then put them all in the fridge- they're good for 24 hours 😊

[naichick]

Hi OP. The bottles need to made fresh each feed with water that is at least 70c. The advice to make up numerous feeds is out of fashion because it is not safe to do so.

[RockyFlintstone]

The 24hours in the fridge is advised only if you can’t make up feeds each time. It shouldn’t be the regular practice.

The making a fresh feed each time is the ideal, but it is recognised that it isn't very practical, and in the UK where we have clean water, sterilising facilities and a fridge, making enough for 24h (using hot enough water in a sterile bottle) and storing them in the back of the fridge is absolutely fine.

[RockyFlintstone]

The advice to make up numerous feeds is out of fashion because it is not safe to do so.

This is from the WHO advice:

^It is safest to prepare a fresh feed each time one is needed, and to consume
immediately. This is because prepared feeds provide ideal conditions for
bacteria to grow - especially when kept at room temperature. If you need to
prepare feeds in advance for use later, they should be prepared in individual
bottles, cooled quickly and placed in the refrigerator (no higher than 5ºC).
Throw away any refrigerated feed that has not been used within 24 hours.^

It is safe to do so, and really, it's not practical to make a fresh feed each time with a newborn.

[Cocopops2010]

Do you want to do this to save time at night?
The milk you make in advance will be cold from the fridge and not nice for baby.
Buy a tommee tippee perfect prep machine. Worth every penny and makes up formula from powder in two minutes.

[callies895]

Wow! 20 replies, thanks so much everyone. I'd heard that MN was a great place for advice but I wasn't expecting this much! I'll definitely be coming back and contributing myself...

We'll try and avoid pre preparing the formula but not stress about it if we need to. Thanks again!

[RogueV]

If you carry on formula feeding have a look at the Tommee Tippee perfect prep machine it’s fab