Can I prepare formula this way?

[Heatherbell1978]

DD is 8 weeks and bf but takes the occasional bottle. Seriously thinking about switching to ff for various reasons but trying to work out easiest way to manage this while on the go. Switched to bottles with DS when he was 5 months and was always a faff when out and about warming bottles. I used to take the instant milk and ask for hot water to warm or just use a microwave if available.
Can I take boiling water with me in a flask, add the powder to this then add cold water to cool? If so what's the ratio of hot to cold - 50/50? Does the cold water need to be boiled and cooled?

[SingingSands]

I used to pour boiling water into bottles, seal, then transport powder in ready measured tubs. When I was out I would just pour the powder into the (now cooled) bottle, shake to mix then serve. I didn't heat them up, I served at room temp.

That was a while ago now.

[Dementedswan]

Yrs

[60percentofthetime]

I do the same as Singing. At the start of the day I fill all the bottles with boiling water, seal immediately then pour the formula in when DS needs a bottle. He doesn't mind it cold so I don't bother warming it back up.

[cliffdiver]

The water needs to be the temperature as per the tin recommendations.

Formula contains potentially dangerous bacteria. Adding formula to cooled water does not kill the bacteria.

[KakunaRattata]

I did the same as singing for ds2, made my life a lot easier!

[CycleHire]

I used to use cooled boiled water too but you shouldn't really because the hot water kills any nasties in the formula powder itself (which is not sterile). An alternative when out and about is to use the pre-prepared liquid. We had a Tommee Tippee machine for use at home but I know not everyone thinks they are a good idea.

In my view the older your baby is the less likely it is to be a serious problem if they get ill. Obviously you don't want your baby to get ill at all but in reality I was more careful about this stuff when they were 2 weeks old than 5 months old.

[Deskboundsally]

The boiling water needs to be poured on the formula to kill the bugs. You aren't sterilising the water you're sterilising the formula. Adding it to cool boiled water does nothing.

[HumpHumpWhale]

The water needs to be hot when added to the milk powder to kill bacteria. Don't see why you couldn't then add cold water to bring the temperature down, though. For a small baby it should probably be pre-boiled, too, so it's also sterile. Once they reach the putting everything in their mouth stage, you could just use cold tap water but the water mixed with the powder would still need to be hot, I think.

[cliffdiver]

desk I thought you should not pour boiling water (only warm) onto formula as this kills the nutrients? I may be wrong.

[BrucesTooth]

The thing to remember is what is sterile and what has bacteria in. Bottle after sterling and sealing= sterile
Hot water over 70degrees= sterile
Milk power = not sterile
So the key is to use hot water to sterilise the milk powder. Cooled boiled water stored in a sterile bottle is also sterile but will not kill the bacteria in the milk powder.
So your idea of very hot water and then some cool water would be reasonable (cooled boiled would be best).

[phoenixtherabbit]

If you do 50/50 hot water make sure you measure the cold water because if you do hot, then powder, obviously the volume increases so you would end up putting less cool in and getting the wrong ratio iyswim.

I just took ready made with me as ds would drink it room temp, I have a prep machine at home which basically does the 50/50 method but without the faff. I would recommend it

[MaverickSnoopy]

As othets have said you need to use the water at the temperature as directed on the tin to kill the bugs.

The easiest thing is to take the pre prepared stuff in little bottles. However we also have a work around whereby if we are on our way out and a bottle is due in say an hour we boil kettle before leaving and pout into bottle and seal. Then after 20 mins we pour in powder (have tested with probe and temp was around 75oc) and then leave to cool and obviously you then have up to two hours to use it - although sooner is better. You could take a flask with you assuming your flask will keep the temperature above 70oc - test it out. Then when you make it up ask for cold water to cool the bottle, rather than the other way around.

[SandysMam]

Following with interest as am in the same situation and so confused! The midwife said not to make up feeds in advance and to do it the above way, but all other advice says powder has to be added to hot water to kill the bacteria.
The Hipp organic website even gives advice on how to make and store made up feeds which surely they couldn't do if it was so bad? It's so confusing and ready made is so expensive! (NB not able to breastfeed for serious health reasons so please no advice to breastfeed instead...I know how these threads can go!!).

[malin100]

Yes, I do this. At home, I have a flask of boiled water and a sterilised bottle of cooled boiled water. I do roughly 50/50. Obviously boiled water first, formula, then cooled boiled water. Just be careful with measuring the water as obviously the powder adds volume to the bottle too, so for example, if you make a 210ml/7 ounce bottle, I'd do 105/3.5 hot, 7 scoops, then a further 105/3.5 cooled which would add up to roughly 240ml/8 ounces because of the powder adding to the volume. Now that my baby is weaning and on tap water for drinks, I do occasionally put tap water in. I'm just so in the habit of having the cooled boiled water there though that I often still do that.

For going out, if I'll use the bottle in under 2 hours then I make it before I go. Sometimes I'll take a ready made bottle. I only take the whole shebang with flask and cool water if I really have to.

[dingit]

This new advice always makes me laugh. I made bottles up in advance for the day, and took boiled cooled water and formula out with me to mix ( dd went to Florida with bottles made this way) my dc are still alive and well at 16 and 18 😄

[Anditstartsagain]

I make a bottle in the tommee tippee and take it in the thermal part of my nappy bag. Serve at room temp. The best thing is pre mixed but expensive, the second best is making as per instructions with 70° (i think) water then letting cool getting perfect temp water isnt always easy, then my way, then taking cooled boiled water and adding according to my hv. Only the first two ways are the advised way.

[confusedat23]

Watching as I also though it was ok to put boiled water into the bottles and then add Formula when you wanted to use them!!!

What ar eyou meant to do instead add the formula and then use when cold?

[Changedjustforthisonly]

dingit - it's not new advice, and potentially life-threating bacteria is no laughing matter. Yes the likelihood of your batch of powder containing these harmful bacteria is low, but really those who thinking that using cooled boiled water is fine are choosing to be ignorant to the facts that you must use water over 70 degrees to kill the bacteria that COULD be present in the formula. Your anecdote of "my dc are still alive and well ..." does not constitute data.

I would rather make a feed up in advance (flash cool and store in back of fridge and take out in cool bag) that make one up with coooled water. Just not worth the risk imo

[Finola1step]

It's been a few years for me but the advice was to make bottles as and when needed using boiling water to kill any bacteria in the formula powder.

When out and about, I just used the ready made in a small carton. With a sterilised bottle. Expensive but so, so much easier.

[kel1493]

I know it's not recommended, but I've always found it so much easier to make bottles in advance and store them in the fridge.
Simply boil the kettle, allow the water to cool for 30 minutes so it is the correct temperature, pour the water into the bottle, then add the powder. Shake to mix, then allow to cool naturally at room temperature. Then store in the fridge, where they can be kept for up to 24 hours.
To warm up at home I just use a hug and boiling water. For going out I had a travel bottle warmer, where you filled it with boiling water, and the kid acted like a jug.
So much easier than taking water and powder our separately. Or using the cartons which I've always found thinner than the powder.
And I don't see the need to have a machine make bottles for you. No need at all

[SecretNortherner]

Op. I do that with my babies bottles, use about 1oz hot and then top up with cold. My sons takes 6-8oz now so I do 2 oz hot and then the rest cold. Just test it on your wrist before giving baby it.

[2ducks2ducklings]

Dingit I agree! When my now 12 year old daughter was born, I was 'allowed' to make up all her bottles for a 24 hour period and store them in the fridge to warm up as and when. If we were going out, the cold bottle would be stored in a insulated bottle carrier. Three years later that was no longer allowed so I would fill the bottles for a 24 hour period with boiling water and store them in the fridge and and pre measured powder as and when needed and would heat it up. Both children are fine.

[Jamhandprints]

You can do it the way you suggested as long as the powder is added to hot water and cold added after. But I'd say it's more 25% hot 75% cold, otherwise it's too hot. Wont your DC drink the cartons cold if you're out and about? Then you don't have to worry. X

[Jamhandprints]

Yes, cold needs to be boiled and cooled.

[Heatherbell1978]

Thanks everyone. At home I just prepare with boiling water then use when cooled but like I say, I found it a faff with DS when out so just looking for more ideas! It would be great if DD took room temp milk but I fear she'll be the same as DS. He didn't take a bottle unless it was warm and so far she's been the same!