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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

making up a bottle debate.

76 replies

leftcheeksqueek · 31/05/2012 08:40

Hi,
am i being unreasonable to put the formula milk into the bottle before the water?
My partner tells me that i must put the water in first to ensure the exact consistancy. to look at the bottle once it has been made up there is a difference of maybe 5 - 10 ml.
is it detramental to do it my way?

OP posts:
doormat · 31/05/2012 09:17

water first...

RachelWalsh · 31/05/2012 09:17

Why would you not just follow the instructions on the tin?

hazeyjane · 31/05/2012 09:19

There is no debate

There is the right way (water - >70 degrees,first. Powder added. Shake. Cool)

And the wrong way (powder first, or water too cool) which is dangerous.

ScrambledSmegs · 31/05/2012 09:21

There are articles on the Internet about the risks of making up bottles in 'your' way. They include dehydration, constipation, and more serious problems like kidney dysfunction. I can't link on my phone but a quick google on a subject like 'incorrect formula risks' will give you results from the BMJ etc, reputable sources.

thefurryone · 31/05/2012 09:22

We do powder first. There are two reasons that I decided this was ok. Firstly, it is impossible to get all powder off the scoop doing it the other way. Secondly, the instructions say either x ounces or y ml. These do not equate to the same amount of water but use the same amount of powder, so there it clearly doesn't need to be that accurate. I always measure the water in ml.

I will caveat that DS was also BF and only had one bottle a day if it had been his main drink I may have worried more.

ENormaSnob · 31/05/2012 09:26

Why not just measure the water seperately if the scoop is getting clogged up?

Rubirosa · 31/05/2012 09:28

One of the reasons that breastfeeding is better for babies' health is due to the risks that come with poor bottle preparation. You can greatly reduce the risks of bottle feeding by just making up the formula correctly, so why not do it?

You see people doing so many lazy/stupid things - mixing with cold water, adding extra scoops/water etc. Why do you think hospital admissions for formula fed babies are so much higher?

Herrena · 31/05/2012 09:29

enormasnob ah, right. Sorry I didn't see the original thread. We did originally just bung all the water in (so, measured in the bottle IYSWIM) and then add powder, but ended up slopping water and lumps of formula everywhere.

desperately seeking pombears following on from above: we'd already noticed that the final fluid level was around 260ml when bottles were made according to the tin, so we knew what a perfectly prepared one looked like. The adjustment of adding water, then formula, then water was only made so that we wouldn't end up slipping the mix everywhere! It actually works very well for us and I find it less of a faff because I don't have to mop up spills afterwards.

Although I'm getting the impression that we may be clumsy formula-makers Blush

ComradeJing · 31/05/2012 09:29

The scoop IME only gets clogged if you use boiling water. The steam hits it and it goes claggy. You aren't supposed to use boiling water anyway so this shouldn't be an issue.

thefurryone · 31/05/2012 09:30

Measure the water into what separately?

storminabuttercup · 31/05/2012 09:31

To stop clumping we used a sterile tub to decant the correct number of scoops. You can get ones for travel and I used to measure out enough of the little tubs for the feeds for the day so I didn't lose count through lack of sleep. Your way is dangerous.

StealthPolarBear · 31/05/2012 09:31

Lol

ENormaSnob · 31/05/2012 09:32

Another clean bottle would be the easiest option.

ICanTuckMyBoobsInMyPockets · 31/05/2012 09:34

It's not a debate is it, as you've said in your title.

Just follow the instructions and all will be well. They're there for a reason. Why would you risk your baby's health to save you mopping up spills?

thefurryone · 31/05/2012 09:36

The water doesn't have to still be boiling for scoop to clog, even if we left kettle for full half an hour this still happens, and surely decanting formula into lots of containers just adds to the risk of contamination and stomach bugs.

storminabuttercup · 31/05/2012 09:39

Not if the containers are sterile. They are sold for when out and about.

storminabuttercup · 31/05/2012 09:41

these

ENormaSnob · 31/05/2012 09:43

Should be sterile as buttercup said.

Even so, not as risky as dehydration from incorrect preparation.

Moominsarescary · 31/05/2012 09:44

Buy a formula dispenser from tesco it has 3 compartments, just put the right amount of formula in each and tip it in when needed

Rubirosa · 31/05/2012 09:44

thefurryone - so long as the powder goes into 70 degree water stomach bugs shouldn't be a problem. It doesn't matter if the water has been in one bottle or two.

Moominsarescary · 31/05/2012 09:46

No risk of contamination with a container, the formula isn't sterile anyway, that's why you add it to the boiling water.

Moominsarescary · 31/05/2012 09:47

The scoops arnt sterile either

roundtable · 31/05/2012 09:53

Thefurryone - the mls and ozs are the same but it's us ozs, not uk which it really should say in the packaging.

Uk ozs is slightly less which can make a big difference. But since we are now metric, we should follow the mls instruction as that is how it has to be sold now by law.

storminabuttercup · 31/05/2012 09:55

I just can't understand why you wouldn't follow the instructions. Confused

If you were cooking a ready meal and it said microwave for 20 mins, you would do just that (bad example but you know what I mean) so why wouldn't you follow instructions for milk?

thefurryone · 31/05/2012 10:00

So everyone making their bottles using ounces is doing wrong?