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Original poster

How did you make your baby bottles?

28 replies

pink970 · 29/10/2023 20:26

I'm wondering if the Tommee Tippee prep machine is worth forking out for. Is it safe to make bottles up and then store them in the fridge and heat as needed instead?

It does seem like most parents these days have the TT machine or the Baby Brezza but I'm trying to save as much money as possible

OP posts:
Zoologydragon · 29/10/2023 20:32

I made them with powder and boiled water in the day and then used premix bottles at night which was an utter godsend. Whilst I understand that the premix is more expensive, it was worth it for me.

It helped that my DD was like clockwork for feeding and was only up once a night from a very early stage.....I realise I'm very lucky!

Mumoftwotoddlers · 29/10/2023 20:34

We premade a days worth so roughly 5/6 bottles, stored in the fridge and heated in hot water when needed, did this for both children, was advised by our midwife and health visitor that this method is safer than the prep machine as it is known to be difficult to fully clean and can trap bacteria. I also know people who've used the machine without problems. Best to do your own research and use whatever method is easiest for you

Youcancallmeirrelevant · 29/10/2023 20:34

Get a 2nd hand one off fb marketplace. Make each bottle as you need.

Or just make all the bottles and cool quickly and put in fridge

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Families
sakuramiyagi · 29/10/2023 20:35

We tried the perfect prep, it gave our son terrible wind.

In the end we bought a formula prep kettle that keeps the water at a set temp for 8 hours. We made his bottles fresh every time using the kettle water to shock the formula and boiled cooled water in a flask from the fridge.

wineosaurus4 · 29/10/2023 20:35

The prep machine was the one thing that was priceless for us. You can find on marketplace really reasonably priced nowadays.

You certainly could make all the bottles at once (using the kettle method), in the morning for example, then once cooled to room temp store them in the back of the fridge. When ready to use you can then warm up in the microwave to take the edge off the coldness and feed there and then. You must use all the pre-made bottles within 24 hours though. They say never to microwave a bottle due to 'hot spots' but I did quite often, and still do to warm my daughters cows milk and as long as you give it a good shake you'll be absolutely fine!

Itwasamemo3 · 29/10/2023 20:38

Made up bottles 5-6 every evening and stored in fridge.

Izzieloo · 29/10/2023 20:38

I am a nanny have used the prep machine loads of times . Was so impressed I got my daughter one when she had a baby ,

Woush · 29/10/2023 20:39

Make up 24h worth of bottles in one go, store in fridge.

I used to warm by 40 seconds in microwave and shake. That's not recommended due to heat spots, but it is very quick and easy.

2020newbie · 29/10/2023 20:40

Nuby rapid cool! Had the prep machine and far prefer this. I recommend it to everyone who tells me they’re planning formula feeding.

Mintearo7 · 29/10/2023 20:42

I kept a sterilised bottle of cooled boiled water in the fridge. Made each bottle up with boiling water and added a bit of cooled to get down to the right temp for baby. Quantities take a bit of trial and error at first but after that was super easy to manage.

Sunshineclouds11 · 29/10/2023 20:43

Couldn't have been without mine with my first.

Got it again for this one.

Mum5net · 29/10/2023 20:44

Do they still make thermal bottle holders?
DH used to make up four bottles before he went to bed and put two in fridge and two separately in keep warm zipped up carriers.
Our prolific milk drinking second DC woke for her first two bottles while they were still warm.

Gingerlygreen · 29/10/2023 20:46

I started off by doing the whole "boil the water and let it cool" each time method but soon stopped when dd was screaming the house down or it was the middle of the night and I was shattered.

I then did as others have said and made up a days worth each morning and put them in the fridge then microwaved them for 30 seconds, good shake and done.

Gooseysgirl · 29/10/2023 20:46

We used to make three bottles at night and three in the morning. We would cool them quickly in small sink of cold water with some ice blocks, then straight into the fridge. We got our DC used to taking bottles at room temperature as soon as possible when they were babies to save the hassle of trying to heat the bottles when we were out and about as they got older.

PNDshame · 29/10/2023 20:47

Another one who made all of my kids bottles up each night for the next day. Refused to buy a prep machine, and heard bad stories about the filters generating bacteria

6 bottles per 24 hours in the fridge by 11pm each night served us well. My youngest has just turned 2 and All 3 are healthy and strong

Gooseysgirl · 29/10/2023 20:49

Mum5net · 29/10/2023 20:44

Do they still make thermal bottle holders?
DH used to make up four bottles before he went to bed and put two in fridge and two separately in keep warm zipped up carriers.
Our prolific milk drinking second DC woke for her first two bottles while they were still warm.

Yes we used to do this...see it do much easier in the middle of the night! No faffing around trying to heat up again.

Elfie23 · 29/10/2023 20:50

I'm going to go against the grain here - I think they're a total waste of money!!

I'm not expecting everyone to agree with me but I would make up a days worth of bottles in advance - so I would boil the kettle, let it cool off a bit then put the water into 6 bottles. They would be left on the side to cool off and lids put on.
I had one of those powder dispenser things with 4 slots so I'd fill that with the correct amount of scoops for each feed.
Took that out with me with say 3/4 bottles depending on how long I was out for, tip the powder into the bottle, good shake and away we went.
DD would happily drink the milk at room temperature so never any faffing about trying to find somewhere to heat it up and always one ready to go there and then.
When I was back home I'd wash up/ make up some more - think I had 12 bottles so had 6 ready on rotation.
Would take up a couple of bottles of water at bedtime ready to tip in the powder for night feeds.

Nat6999 · 29/10/2023 20:51

I made enough up for during the day & put them in the fridge, then I washed & sterilised the bottles used overnight & then at teatime made the night bottles up to put in the minifridge in the bedroom, I used a jug of hot water to warm the bottle during the day & a bottle warmer at night.

IWasFunBeforeMum · 29/10/2023 20:53

It's a god send, get one.

LindorDoubleChoc · 29/10/2023 20:54

I honestly can't remember! It's amazing how you forget. My dc were ebf to 6 months then had some formula and breast feeds at either end of the day. I'm pretty sure I would have made up 2 bottles at a time with boiling water, cooled and stored in fridge. Daily. I definitely didn't make up bottles one at a time only to be used within an hour, or whatever current guidelines are.

OfMark87 · 29/10/2023 20:55

Made them fresh with my daughter 6 years ago and made the night ones at bed time & stored them in the fridge.

Got a prep for my son and it was the best thing I bought for him!

stockpilingallthecheese · 29/10/2023 20:55

I have a perfect prep and had no issues, it was bloody brilliant in the early days when you're doing night feeds. It lived in our bedroom and we took the bottles up with the powder in. Made life so much easier. Now it lives downstairs. You just need to make sure you look after it - regular clean cycles, descaling and filter replacements.

ButWhatIsIt · 29/10/2023 20:58

I used to make enough bottles for the day, using formula and boiling water and put them on the side.
The same with bottles for night feeds.
I gave mine their bottles at room temperature from birth.

PepsiMaxLime · 29/10/2023 20:59

We got a perfect prep for £10 from Facebook Market place, there’s no need to buy new for the majority of baby stuff as you only use it for such a short amount of time.

Of course the exceptions to this are mattress & car seat, we bought both of those new, but saved a fortune of everything else from Vinted etc

TheChosenTwo · 29/10/2023 21:00

Mine were all on bottles by 6 months, for the first 2 I would make up the days worth of bottles in one go, store in the fridge and then microwave. For the third one I bought premade. Game changer.