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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

to be really annoyed about the number of threads recently on how to prepare a bottle of formula milk

86 replies

piccalily · 22/03/2011 20:21

I mean seriously, it's not that hard. The instructions on the side of the tub tell you how to do!!!

It even says "Because powdered milks are not sterile, failure to follow instructions may make your baby ILL"!!!

OP posts:
RitaMorgan · 22/03/2011 20:24

Even HVs and midwifes sometimes give out incorrect advice though, so it's not all that surprising that some people are confused.

Plus you always get people saying "well I did it this way and my baby survived..."

Infant health is an important, so why shouldn't people ask questions?

bringinghomethebacon · 22/03/2011 20:25

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

Tee2072 · 22/03/2011 20:26

I'm about to say what I always say.

Instead of relying on misinformed people making up the formula correctly, why isn't the damn formula made in such a way to be able to kill our children?!?

NotShortImFunSized · 22/03/2011 20:27

Thing is they are always changing the way in which it can be made/stored so no wonder people get confused Confused

I'd rather ask for advice on something if I wasn't sure.

Why does it bother you so much?

scotsgirl23 · 22/03/2011 20:28

YABU.

There is A LOT of duff info out there about preparing formula, especially if you can't do each bottle fresh. Surely it's better that people ask and get the correct guidelines than following dodgy advice (and I've had this from sources including a neonatal nurse so there is plenty out there)

UrsulaBuffay · 22/03/2011 20:28

It's a pigging parenting forum, hide threads if they annoy you that much.

AgentZigzag · 22/03/2011 20:29

Whatever people need to ask, MN is there to answer.

It's not for anyone to say what should be posted unless it breaks the guidelines.

I haven't seen the threads you're talking about but presumably the OPs are asking things not covered on the sides of tins, and as there's scant official info elsewhere they ask on MN.

RancerDoo · 22/03/2011 20:30

Yes, YABU. The instructions assume you never want to leave the house, or are equipped with thermos flasks, or that your baby will sit patiently while you cool your bottle of boiling milk (not to mention the fact that I secretly suspect the whole "boiling water" thing to be a case of overkill, and that you're supposed to let it cool for 30 minutes to minimise risk of splashing yourself with hot water which is a bit... idiotic). In the old days you were taught how to make bottles before you left the hospital, how often to feed, how much etc, which was reassuring for women. It's fair enough for women to want to know how to fit formula feeding into a life which involves other activities than just making bottles.

Anyway, here's my TOP TIP for bottles when you don't want to stand for 20 mins holding a hot bottle under the cold tap....

Measure your boiled water, minus a couple of ounces and refrigerate for later use.

When you need to make the bottle (i.e. feeding time) get your bottle of cold water and an empty bottle. Put a couple of oz of boiling water into the empty bottle and add the scoops of powder, thus killing the germs in it when it mixes with hot water. Then add the cold water, thereby cooling the formula. Magic (and quick)!

Bogeyface · 22/03/2011 20:30

In Mother and Baby magazine a couple of months ago, they gave out incorrect advice, saying that it is ok to take boiled, cooled water and a tub of measured formula and make it up as needed.

This was ok to do when I had my youngest 5 years ago, and I didnt realise the advice had changed. As I know how to make up a bottle I probably wouldnt have checked the instructions when feeding the baby I am expecting, other than to confirm the water to scoops ratio, and would have done it the old way had I not heard on here that I shouldnt.

So if even the MW, HVs and "informative" magazines can get it wrong then its hardly surprising that a sleep deprived new mother can get it wrong too.

bibbitybobbityhat · 22/03/2011 20:31

Yanbu.

Ditto: ear piercing, smelly washing machines, how often do you change your sheets?, controlled crying, elcs.

The search function is there for a reason.

If people are not going to use search then why does MNHQ insist on keeping every thread (with the exception of chat) ever started?

celebmum · 22/03/2011 20:31

I haven't noticed any of these threads??

Original poster
piccalily · 22/03/2011 20:32

Some are about storage, but I've noticed the majority are about incorrect preparation.

It annoys me because people are putting their infants at serious risk of illness through failure to correctly follow instructions which are on the tub!!!

OP posts:
NinkyNonker · 22/03/2011 20:32

YABU. If you're bothered, don't read them. (Said as a 'breastfeeder' who has never seen the threads in question.)

Besides, the recommendations change almost daily from my understanding.

wannabesybil · 22/03/2011 20:33

Just want to say, I was desperate to breastfeed and couldn't. Not only was I upset, and not only was my son short of nutrition in the first few days, but there is little or no support if you have to ff.

I had to send my OH out to get stuff while I was in hospital, we didn't know what to get, we didn't know where to start. If I had known about Mumsnet then I would certainly have been on here asking questions. It was another layer to that awful first mum feeling of being completely adrift.

Voddy · 22/03/2011 20:33

It's because everyone around you tells you how they made up the day's supply every morning/took a bottle up at bedtime and used it when or if baby woke up. HV and MWs tell you the official advice but also let you know that it's only changed very recently and babies were fine prior to that Wink.

Plus I think (in my experience) there's a desperate, sleep deprived need to be given permission to not have to make a bottle and wait for it to cool at 3.30am every morning.

I was shocked a few days ago to read that some people make the bottle up with warm tap water though.

MadamDeathstare · 22/03/2011 20:34

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

foreverondiet · 22/03/2011 20:34

YABU.

Incorrectly prepared formula can be lethal yet I've seen so many people prepare it incorrectly.... also I don't think the cartons are clear - when discussing with my friend - she thought "leave to cool for 30 mins" meant "leave to cool for AT LEAST 30 mins" and that it was ok to mix formula with cold water.

RitaMorgan · 22/03/2011 20:35

People who ask questions don't want to put their babies at risk - that's why they're asking!!

SeriousWispaHabit · 22/03/2011 20:35

Sorry if my thread over in the breast and bottle feeding topic is one of the ones that has got your knickers in a twist.

If you don't want to read threads like this, maybe stay away from that topic. The clue is in the name.

HTH

Alouiseg · 22/03/2011 20:36

Better to ask a silly question than make a silly mistake!

RitaMorgan · 22/03/2011 20:37

Formula threads are kept to the Breast and Bottle feeding forum anyway, so it's easy enough to avoid them.

Meglet · 22/03/2011 20:38

yabu-ish.

The instructions don't really explain why the steps need to be followed precisely (or they didn't a couple of years ago when I was doing it). Add to that sleep deprivation and friends / family giving old advice it can get pretty confusing.

Original poster
piccalily · 22/03/2011 20:39

If people are able to navigate their way to a parenting forum and post a thread then surely they are able to search for official guidelines on this and READ THE TUB. It is already there in front of them!

OP posts:
Voddy · 22/03/2011 20:40

Oh RancerDo, your Top Tip just caused me to have a little bit of lady love for you. Is that definitely a super safe way of making it up? Marvellous if so! (smirks at OP's thread becoming a repository for formula tips)

AgentZigzag · 22/03/2011 20:46

What official guidelines are you talking about piccalily?

I've not seen them.

Unless you're saying the official guidelines are on the tub, in which case they don't cover every scenario.

Why does it wind you up so much?

If you don't like those types of threads, don't click on 'em.