Help! Have I poisoned my nephew?

[thatmustbenigelwiththebrie]

I am lying here awake worrying.

I babysat my newphew tonight while my sister went out.

I don't have children and very little experience of them so when he woke up crying I felt quite stressed.

My sister had told me if that happened to give him some milk. She showed me where the sterilised bottles were and a bottle of this baby milk stuff.

So I gave him some of that but didn't seem very keen and cried more.

However now I am thinking I should have microwaved it first? In my stress I didn't even think and my sister never said I should but perhaps she would just assume I knew.

If it helps he is very nearly six months and my sister has started giving him some blended real food in the past couple of weeks.

Is he going to be ill? Should I tell her?

The ready made stuff if fine straight from the bottle. Don't worry. You haven't harmed your nephew.

Hi don't worry he's prob fine. Was it a carton of pre made baby milk you gave him? Maybe he didn't like it because it was cold but you shouldn't warm baby's milk up in a microwave anyway as you can get hot spots and it could burn them. Should be warmed by putting the bottle in a jug of hot water until the milk is luke warm. Hope that helps

Listen, a cold bottle is NOT going to do the baby harm. The reason why formula is warmed is to replicate a mother's body temperature, not to kill germs... it's already sterile if its in a clean container.

I think you should have a conversation with the mother in future to get all the facts before you look after your nephew, for your own reassurance and peace of mind

Thank you so much for your replies.
I feel so much better. Might get some sleep now!

The bottle was like a small bottle of milk (not powder).

It's really important to me to be a good aunt but I am not a baby person! I am much more confident with my niece who is five.

You're right - I should have had a better briefing! I guess you just don't know what you don't know and my sister assumes things might be obvious because they are to her.

But in future I will be asking for step by step instructions.

You're a fantastic auntie if you are this diligent about your nephew. Please get some sleep. You'll laugh about this one day

If it's any consolation one time I babysat my niece and she wouldn't stop crying (I'm talking 4 hours of non stop screaming) the only thing that would calm her was if I danced with her in my arms. I then panicked that this meant I'd shaken the baby, when her mum got home I confessed everything, she asked for a demonstration and just burst out laughing when I showed her.....

Oh OP, you sound lovely. I wish I had a sister like you!