Making Formula..

[CoffeeAndBiscuitsPlease]

OK I will admit I make my formula the naughty way! I pre make a few bottles with kettle water as instructed, and then store them below 4 degrees c. Some people will accuse me of being a bad mum even for that, so I'm probably being a bit of hypocrite here....

But the way a couple of my friends make their formula is making me cringe....

they both have newborns, and they are putting the boiled water in the bottles, then putting the water in the fridge, then adding formula to the cold water as they go.

Now.... as far as I am aware, the whole point of the HOT water is to kill the germs in the formula as it isn't sterile...?

I haven't said anything to them, because having a 6mo myself I know how it feels to be told what to do with your baby.

But AIBU to think this is an arse about face way of making bottles... they might as well not be sterilising anything for all they are doing?

[MeltchettsLovelyMoustache]

I'm an idiot and got a bad burn when making formula with just boiled water in a rush (it exploded on me!) So got a Perfect Prep machine and I love it.

[CoffeeAndBiscuitsPlease]

MeltchettsLovelyMoustache from what I was aware you need to leave the water 30 mins, as just boiled water is not only dangerous, like your accident, but also ruins the formula.

[ChickenLaVidaLoca]

Nobody cares whether you find breastfeeding easier hibble. And you should probably research WHO guidance on making up bottles in advance, which it sounds like OP is following. Whereas her friends are just plain doing it wrong.

[Needmorechocolate]

Yanbu. I completely agree their way isn't going to kill any bacteria in the milk but just be aware that it may be the way they've been told to do it. Lots of my friends prepared feeds this way because that's what they were told to do by the local health visitor!

[CultureSucksDownWords]

I thought it was no longer than 30 minutes, rather than 30 minutes exactly?

[CoffeeAndBiscuitsPlease]

Needmorechocolate

If HV are telling people this it is shocking, all that pushing safe sleeping while giving out very unsafe ways of feeding a baby.

[CoffeeAndBiscuitsPlease]

CultureSucksDownWords

Nice Manics name :)

Aye some tubs of formula say no longer than 30 mins, others say a full kettle and leave for 30 mins. The ideal temp is 70 degrees which kills the bacteria but doesn't spoil the formula. 70s degrees is generally a full kettle left for 30 mins. (which is also a pain in the arse if you are making one feed at a time)

[Notso]

I've never heard of anyone except me who makes bottles up fresh for each feed. I always have the kettle on and they don't take very long to cool in iced water.

Most people I know fill half a bottle with freshly boiled water then leave it to go cold, then add formula and boiling water when the baby needs the feed. The others make them up and store in the fridge.

[SummerHouse]

I used to add about 20 mls of cooled boiled water to 100mls of just boiled water. Add formula then add about 80mls more cooled boiled water. Faff on a stick.

[Notso]

The half an hour thing is a bit of a red herring though because you can fill the bottle and just cool the amount needed to 70 degrees in cold water which is much quicker than 30 mins.

[CoffeeAndBiscuitsPlease]

Notso

My electric bill has siginificantly changed with the steriliser and kettle on, I couldn't imagine always having the kettle on ready.

It'd be great if my LO would eat regularly, but she never has.

Yesterday she had.

4oz - 8am
8oz - 10am
6 oz - 2pm
4 oz - 5pm
2oz - 6pm
6oz - 10pm

Today she had

7oz - 9am
6oz 12:00
6oz - 3pm
4oz - 5pm
6oz - 7pm
And she's currently asleep on the sofa lol

So predicting feeds Is a no no, and once she's hungry, she's hungry, and she won't wait for anyone little monkey.

[CoffeeAndBiscuitsPlease]

Notso - how would you know you are cooling it to 70degrees? If I filled the bottle with boiled water then dunked in cold water, I wouldn't have the foggiest how long to wait :/

[eurochick]

Why don't you bring it up obliquely? Next time you are getting a bottle ready say the HV told you or you were reading an article that the reason you are supposed to put 70degree water on to the formula is to kill botulism. Botulism in infant formula - who'd a thunk it, etc. You can get the message across without lecturing.

[CultureSucksDownWords]

Isn't the half hot half cold water approach the quickest, once you've worked out the ratios you need? The powder gets mixed with hot water so kills any bugs, and then self cools when the cold is added. Is there a reason why this isn't suggested?

[PippaPug]

So what's the correct step by step instructions for making bottles then? I think I'm doing it correctly...

[CoffeeAndBiscuitsPlease]

eurochick - true! They will know I am trying to be tactful, as I'm a pretty in your face kinda person! lol, but at least I will have tried to be tactful and not finger point :)

[MeltchettsLovelyMoustache]

changes name to ItemiseLoathing

I know :( It was 4am! Rude awakening.

[crazykat]

I always made formula up by putting 2oz freshly boiled water in a bottle and cooled it in a jug of iced water for a couple of minutes, added the powder and mixed and topped up with pre measured water to the right amount. All of my dcs had cold milk, none of them liked warm milk and it was much easier when out as I just used a ready made carton without having to warm it. None of them were ever ill from it.

[CoffeeAndBiscuitsPlease]

CultureSucksDownWords

I'm guessing the half hot half cold isn't suggested because it's hard to know if you got the temperature right, wheras the kettle thing has been tested by experts (I would assume) who have worked out how long it takes to get it to the ideal temp.

The easyprep machine does the half hot half cold method, I would assume for the same reasons; tested and they know the precise temp.

Throwing in half hot half cold and guessing may not do what it's supposed to.

[CoffeeAndBiscuitsPlease]

Crazycat- My DC doesn't drink warm milk. I just make it with hot water from the kettle per instructions.

[Lonelylass1218]

The water from the kettle goes into the flask straight after boiling I let some steam out for 1/2 mins. I have tested the temp and up to 10 hours after the lowest it has been is 76 degrees so when I make a bottle I pure the water in and let it cool for a minute the add powder o decrease cooking time throughout the day according to this. I was more precise when baby. Was younger and check the water temp but now lo isn8 months I go with instinct as low chews everything in site so more able to cope with germs. I worked in a nicu and scbu and this is how it was done on the ward with one large flask. According to the doctors and peads it's the safest vs easiest way to make a bottle and better than pre made or making up bottles as the water is hot enough to kill germs and the powder has not been laying in the water long enough to grow germs.

[Triliteral]

I think I would approach it as eurochick said. Or you could say you found it on the NHS website (as I just did). It never crossed my mind there might be bacterial contamination of milk powder and the technique they use ensures water and bottle are uncontaminated, which I would have assumed to be good enough. If I was the parent, I'd prefer you to tell me than to learn the hard way.

[CoffeeAndBiscuitsPlease]

PippaPug

The correct way is whatever the formula tub says, which is usually

boil kettle
wait up to half an hour
pour water into sterilised bottle
add scoops
shake (with a lid, if it's a teat it'll squirt everywhere)
let cool
feed as soon as.

Only I let it cool, put it in the back of the fridge, and feed when DC is ready. I'm not technically doing it right.

[CoffeeAndBiscuitsPlease]

Thanks Triliteral I guess I'm not doing it perfect either but all I can do is mention it in passing.

Or bring it up next time they are here and I'll make sure I'm making some milk for little one. Should from kitchen "eee bloody ell did you know...etc"

[zoeedge]

I made my bottles up in advance for my lb with cold bottled water and he's a year now and never had an upset tummy - he would only ever have his milk cold or at room temperature so I had to do it in advance otherwise he would scream until he was sick waiting for the boiling water to cool!! Plus using cold boiled water is to kill bugs such as legionnaires etc that can be in tap water supplies so is necessary!! All in all bottles and sterilising is a pain but only option I had I wouldn't judge others or point it out as surely they are equally able read the instructions x