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Original poster

Formula feeding on the go

36 replies

BrickPeer · 05/12/2025 20:04

Hoping for some help as a first time mum. My girl takes powder formula and I'd like to be able to give her a bottle if we're out for the day. At the moment the easiest option seems to be making up a fresh bottle and popping it in an insulated bag but im confused about how long it will last. I know the guidance is 2 hours at room temp but it takes about an hour for my bottles to reach that when left out, longer if insulated. Does keeping the bottle warm for longer extend the amount of time it will last before I need to worry about bacteria etc? Does the clock effectively start ticking once it's at room temp or do people just use these bags to keep a bottle warm and still stick to the 2 hour rule?

OP posts:
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ForMyNextTrickIWillMakeThisVodkaDisappear · 06/12/2025 16:20

Denim4ever · 06/12/2025 09:26

they didn't drink it cold, not they didn't drink it at all 🤣

Show quote history

My older 2 wouldn’t drink cold milk my littlest did/does (only likes her cows milk cold and not warmed up at all). Only discovered this in the summer when I was trying to keep her cool. Some babies are fussier than others, like the rest of us.

Randomlygeneratedname · 06/12/2025 13:06

Ready made for out and about is the only way imo. I tried with the hot shot from a cafe etc but it was a pain in the arse (the rapid cools were not a thing then mind you).

FeedMeSantiago · 06/12/2025 13:01

DS is 18 months now but we bought the nuby rapid cool and rapid sterilise. The lid can be placed on the flask to check your hot water is hot enough and if not, you can ask a cafe for boiling water. The powder pots which came with it weren't the best once DS needed bigger bottles but we bought some different pots for storing the powder.

We also always had a pre made bottle or two on us.

The rapid sterilise sterilises the rapid cool in 60 seconds so you could potentially wash and sterilise on the go (e.g. at someone else's house/on holiday).

Blondeshavemorefun · 06/12/2025 12:42

EvolvedAlready · 05/12/2025 23:37

Oh! You got there first! Sorry to repeat. It’s the best hack

Show quote history

Always good to see others do the same

it’s so simple yet quick and easy

Denim4ever · 06/12/2025 09:36

Saltvinegar · 06/12/2025 02:36

I’m sure formula has been around much longer than 20 years…

Show quote history

This thread is about milk temperature and my post was about milk temperature not the existence of formula

Denim4ever · 06/12/2025 09:36

Saltvinegar · 06/12/2025 02:36

I’m sure formula has been around much longer than 20 years…

Show quote history

This thread is about milk temperature and my post was about milk temperature not the existence of formula

Denim4ever · 06/12/2025 09:35

Saltvinegar · 06/12/2025 02:36

I’m sure formula has been around much longer than 20 years…

Show quote history

This thread is about milk temperature and my post was about milk temperature not the existence of formula

Denim4ever · 06/12/2025 09:33

HeyThereDelila · 06/12/2025 06:00

@Denim4ever formula has been around for decades. My parents were formula fed in the 1950s and DH and I were in the 1980s.

I'm talking about drinking it cold. Babies drinking cold formula is a relatively new thing. Started when they began selling the pre-made stuff

Denim4ever · 06/12/2025 09:29

Disturbia81 · 06/12/2025 06:18

I’m mid 40s and all of us had formula.

OP I just pre made with hot water and took them out with me and fed as they were, no ill effects.

Show quote history

Exactly, mine mixed fed. We waited for bottles to cool sufficiently, we didn't plunge them in cold water and babies did not drink cold milk

Denim4ever · 06/12/2025 09:26

ForMyNextTrickIWillMakeThisVodkaDisappear · 06/12/2025 06:25

Are you joking? My mum was on formula from birth and she’s in her 70s. My eldest is 18 so near enough 20 and she was easily formula fed on the go.

I’m getting the sense though that you’re not joking and instead you’re attempting to shame parents for using formula instead of breastfeeding 🙄

Show quote history

they didn't drink it cold, not they didn't drink it at all 🤣

ForMyNextTrickIWillMakeThisVodkaDisappear · 06/12/2025 06:25

Denim4ever · 05/12/2025 22:11

Gosh, so different from 20 years ago when babies didn't drink cold milk or formula.

Are you joking? My mum was on formula from birth and she’s in her 70s. My eldest is 18 so near enough 20 and she was easily formula fed on the go.

I’m getting the sense though that you’re not joking and instead you’re attempting to shame parents for using formula instead of breastfeeding 🙄

ForMyNextTrickIWillMakeThisVodkaDisappear · 06/12/2025 06:21

I always took a sterilised bottle and a readymade carton of formula out with me for mine as it’s so much easier. I don’t know what brand you’re using but SMA cow and gate and Aptimil all have readymade cartons available in lots of shops.

Disturbia81 · 06/12/2025 06:18

Denim4ever · 05/12/2025 22:11

Gosh, so different from 20 years ago when babies didn't drink cold milk or formula.

I’m mid 40s and all of us had formula.

OP I just pre made with hot water and took them out with me and fed as they were, no ill effects.

HeyThereDelila · 06/12/2025 06:00

@Denim4ever formula has been around for decades. My parents were formula fed in the 1950s and DH and I were in the 1980s.

OldGothsFadeToGrey · 06/12/2025 05:19

I always took 2 flasks. Hot water in one, boiled and cooled water in the other. Even on flights.

FrogsWormsandButterflies · 06/12/2025 05:15

I gave birth 4 days ago and have done the same as all my others.
Make 6 bottles every morning, flash cool and store in the fridge. Take out as many as you need for the day out. Store in an insulated bag and ask for a jug of hot water as and when you need to warm one, or offer cold as some people do.

Saltvinegar · 06/12/2025 02:36

Denim4ever · 05/12/2025 22:11

Gosh, so different from 20 years ago when babies didn't drink cold milk or formula.

I’m sure formula has been around much longer than 20 years…

EvolvedAlready · 05/12/2025 23:37

Blondeshavemorefun · 05/12/2025 20:59

Bottle of ready made or have two flasks

One with hot boiled water

One with cold previously boiled water

And make up feeds that way so own perfect prep

That how I often make feeds up and I'm a maternity nurse

It's roughly 1/3

So for a 4oz bottle 1 oz hot. Add 4 scoops - swirl and then add 3 oz of the cool boiled water

Or 6oz - 2 oz hot. 6 scoops. Swirl and add 4oz prev boiled cold water

Oh! You got there first! Sorry to repeat. It’s the best hack

EvolvedAlready · 05/12/2025 23:35

2 flasks.
1 with boiling water, the other with cooled boiled water.
mix the formula with the boiling water then add the cold water to make it “perfect prep”
it was a game changer and wish I knew about it when I had my first! Same for night feeds so I didn’t need to go faffing about with kettles at night.

Shouldbedoing · 05/12/2025 23:32

I have a 19 y o and someums fed cold formula
My PFB got hers warm.
By child 2 there was a lot of safety advice about scalding the powder with proper boiling water,shaking, then topping up to.the level with cold

Denim4ever · 05/12/2025 22:11

Gosh, so different from 20 years ago when babies didn't drink cold milk or formula.

jbm16 · 05/12/2025 22:11

BrickPeer · 05/12/2025 20:04

Hoping for some help as a first time mum. My girl takes powder formula and I'd like to be able to give her a bottle if we're out for the day. At the moment the easiest option seems to be making up a fresh bottle and popping it in an insulated bag but im confused about how long it will last. I know the guidance is 2 hours at room temp but it takes about an hour for my bottles to reach that when left out, longer if insulated. Does keeping the bottle warm for longer extend the amount of time it will last before I need to worry about bacteria etc? Does the clock effectively start ticking once it's at room temp or do people just use these bags to keep a bottle warm and still stick to the 2 hour rule?

I think the ready made cartons are great now, years ago we would boil the water and fill the bottles and then just add the powder when ready to feed, but not sure if that is still recommended.

HollyIvy89 · 05/12/2025 22:07

I used to take pre boiled water in the bottle. Kept in an insulated bag and just tip in the pre measured formula and shake. Seemed to get to a room temp by time needed or take a made up one in insulated bag If knew she would need it within a hour or so.

i did that for evening feeds also. She’s now 12. She survived!

my elder I did by the book and made each fresh and I stressed myself out madly.

Original poster
BrickPeer · 05/12/2025 22:03

Thanks everyone! I thought it seemed too straightforward to be true given the amount of gadgets for heating/cooling bottles there are! We've used the premixed stuff for days out and night feeds but our girl now needs Colief and it needs to be in warm milk/sit for 30 minutes which sort of defeated the point. Sounds like it might still be the most convenient method for on the go though! Ideally want to avoid multiple flasks etc. My concern about bringing hot water instead of forumla was that the instructions seem really specific about leaving the boiled water to cool for 25-30 minutes before mixing, so i worried a flask wouldn't keep it just right! Lots of food for thought anyway!

OP posts:
Blondeshavemorefun · 05/12/2025 20:59

Bottle of ready made or have two flasks

One with hot boiled water

One with cold previously boiled water

And make up feeds that way so own perfect prep

That how I often make feeds up and I'm a maternity nurse

It's roughly 1/3

So for a 4oz bottle 1 oz hot. Add 4 scoops - swirl and then add 3 oz of the cool boiled water

Or 6oz - 2 oz hot. 6 scoops. Swirl and add 4oz prev boiled cold water