First outing with a baby, how do I formula feed on the go?

[MummytoArthur]

I feel stupid asking this, but I've Googled it and can't seem to find a universal answer.

I formula feed my 6 week old and due to lockdown/shielding, we haven't been out for more than an hour at a time really and only for appointments. Wherever we go we make sure we are home in time for next feed.

We would like to attempt a country park in the next week, possibly out for 3-4 hours. My baby is on SMA Comfort so don't really want to buy ready made. Would prefer to keep him on his powder.

From what I've read, I can take with me a sterilised bottle, formula pot and a flask of hot water? But how do I know what flask to buy and how do I know water will be over 70 degrees after say, 3 hours of being in flask? I'm worried I'll mess something up and make him poorly

If somebody could tell me exactly what to do, that would be fantastic! And any recommendations for a flask? Or will any do?
I use a Perfect Prep at home so never had to contend with bottle making from scratch. And I can't take my Prep machine out unfortunately!

Any stainless steel vacuum flask will be fine. If you preheat it with some boiling water for ten minutes, then empty it and fill it with freshly boiled water it will stay at a safe temp for hours.
You can buy plastic tubs with sections that are designed for measuring out formula powder.
I don't know what size feeds your baby is on but if I was making up a 6oz feed, I would take a bottle with 4oz of cooled, boiled water and a separate empty bottle. When it's time to feed, you put 2oz of the flask water into the empty bottle, add your pre-measured 6 scoops of powder and shake well. Then add the 4oz of cool water and shake again.
The other option would be to make up your bottles at home as normal, chill them quickly (in iced water) then put them in a cooler bag with an ice pack. You can then warm them up when you need them, with a flask of hot water and a jug or by asking for hot water at a cafe.

Hot water in a flask and pre-boiled cold water to top up.

Powder, hot water, shake top up with the cold to cool it to a drinkable temp

What should I keep the pre-boiled cold water in?

You can just use any bottle with a cap. Sistema had a plastic bottle that had a screw cap that I liked to use.

I put the cold water in a spare feed bottle, with the lid rather than the teat.

I used the 2 flasks method.

Add about a 1/4 of the water with boiling hot water from a thermos. Add formula (you can get little pots so you can measure it out at home and take out with you. Then top up with cooled boiled water.

I used a tommee tippee thermos and a glass water bottle from Lakeland for the cooled boiled water.

I take a thermos full of fresh boiled water. My pre measured formula in one of the pots and a sterilised bottle.

I make the bottle an hour before it's due, all with the hot water, this gives it plenty of time to cool and saves carrying around a separate bottle of cooled boiled water.

I do this with my 14 week old DS and also did it with my DD who is 4, never had any issues.

Sorry for the ugly links, but I use this;

www.amazon.co.uk/Thermos-ThermoCafé-Stainless-Steel-Hammertone/dp/B074RBJXWN/ref=mp_s_a_1_6?dchild=1&keywords=thermos+flasks&qid=1598543778&sprefix=thermos+&sr=8-6

And these;

https://www.amazon.co.uk/NUK-Stackable-Formula-Powder-Dispensers/dp/B00E4T3PHS/ref=mpssa113?dchild=1&keywords=nuk+formula+dispenser&qid=1598543835&sprefix=nuk+for&sr=8-3

I bought a cheap meat thermometer from Wilko to check the temperature of the water in the flask at intervals, to see when it cooled to the point I should no longer use it. (Yes, PFB and very anxious.)

It lasted about six hours, so plenty of time for an outing.