I didn't say anything to this new Mum, and now I wonder if I should have done...

[lurcherlover]

In Starbucks, a couple came in with their baby (brand new - no more than a couple of weeks old). Dad goes to get coffees, Mum sits down opposite me and starts to make a bottle up. She got a bottle of water out, mixed formula powder in it then proceeded to feed it straight to baby. Obviously therefore the water had been boiled at home, but allowed to cool while they were out. I assumed she didn't realise the bacteria are in the formula, but believed the widely-held myth that it's the water that's dangerous. I nearly said something - I wasn't at all going to be rude, I was going to say something along the lines of "I hope you don't mind me saying, but you'd be better keeping a flask of water straight from the kettle with you, mixing the powder in a bit of that and then topping it up with cooled boiled water so baby can drink it" - but I held off and didn't say anything because I'm a wimp I thought it wasn't my business. But afterwards, I thought, if it had been me and I was doing something (however unwittingly) that might be putting my baby's health at risk, I would want another Mum to tell me so in as non-threatening a way as possible. So I wonder if I should have said something. What do you think?

(Disclaimer: this is in NO WAY intended to be an anti-FF thread - I just wanted to point out to her the safest possible way to formula-feed her baby, not in any way to judge, so please don't think that comes into it)

Ok, I'm confused. it's been years since I had babies what's wrong with using pre boiled water?

I did this with my DD after a nightmare month BFing. If we were out I always made her bottles like that. She's now a very sturdy toddler, has never had anything worse than a cold and even they are rare! it can't be all that bad.

Also she never ever had a warm bottle, unless id forgot to boil the kettle earlier. always liked them room temp.

Thinking about it is this like an equality thread so now we have a reason to stare at / make snippy comments to BF and FF feeding mothers in Starbucks I mean at least this way everyone gets an equal share of interference.

That's what I did daily with my son. He's 8. Have the 'rules' changed?

i didn't know you weren't meant to do this - I fed both mine like this if we were out and about (am pretty sure it said on the SMA tubs you were allowed to do this?? DD1 is five so not that long ago!) They are now 5 and 3 and NEVER been to the docs (other than for jabs) as they are super healthy! I say mind yer own business!! AS to the warm milk business, getting them tro drink it cold (or room temperature) is far better as means you don't haveto faff about with warming it up... (and yes, I did it in the microwave...shoot me!)

None. Of. Your. Business.
fucking hell some people want to interfere in every little thing, have you nothing to worry about yourself?

I'm very glad you didn't say anything, absolutely none of your business!

It was how I fed my ds 10 years ago and miraculously he survived. The rules must have changed.

I am so glad I am not a new mum these days, the pressure must be awful.

15 years ago I used to make all my bottles the night before and store them in the fridge - whilst I appreciate guidelines have now changed, I have 4 healthy children who were FFed in this way - YABU

(and yes, I did it in the microwave...shoot me!)

me too

You aren't meant to do it in the microwave? I have special microwave bottles ffs!

Me too maryz

How on earth are my children still alive?

no idea, MaryZ but mine seemed to have made it too!

Busybody!

YANBU to have kept opinions to yourself!

Yep, very much alive, he was 8 weeks perm too!

Think it's a good job u didn't say anything hon x it's lovely u care so much about people and children but with a new born it probably took her all morning just to get out house without worrying about flasks of water and stuff which are really not a safe thing to be carrying around with a baby x I'm sure she is aware of guidelines as it on the box. I'm sure all health professionals would love us all to be home with a kettle and a cot but it's just not possible in real life and some milks don't come in cartons for example-prescription milks and comfort formulas x

Can someone explain the current way of making bottles then please?

I am amazed that you thought this might have been an issue worth speaking to a new mum about.

When I switched to FF, I also made up all of bottles in advance and warmed them up (usually in a microwave) before giving them. Both my children are happy and healthy and I genuinely can't remember any vomiting/ gastro problems with either of them as babies. I also stopped sterilising their bottles once they got to 8 months (and were crawling and putting all kinds of other things in their mouths).

How do you know that she was a new mum? Maybe her other children were somewhere else? Maybe she is a seasoned parent, has read all of the guidelines, weighed up the 'risks' and decided that her method is a completely reasonable way to proceed.