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?

You don't have to be tactful with me no, but nor do you have to be quite so judgey when you yourself don't do it right either! People in glass houses spring to mind. However, they're your friends, feel free to tell them what they're doing is dangerous/deadly to their newborn babies.

I'm breastfeeding my DD, but do remember what a nightmare it was to do formula from 10 years ago to my DS. It was saying on the box to use water of 70 degrees. I always had an arguments with my sister about it. So glad I don't have to do it again.

YANBU to tell them. Just ask them "aren't you worried about germs in formula powder?" And then explain.

coffee this was years ago, ds is 8 now. I'm one of those cruel mummies who had a routine so the kettle went on 30 minutes before a bottle.

You don't have to be tactful with me no, but nor do you have to be quite so judgey when you yourself don't do it right either!

after people informing me there were world health organisation guidelines on doing it the way I do it, I looked, and it turned out there is.

The way you are doing it is dangerous, and you are doing it completely wrong, not even adapting the method like most people, The formula has a risk of contamination before use and the amount of bugs that build up on the formula spoon everytime you touch, it use it and put it back over and over again, making it with just cold water, and nothing else, is idiotic.

Monkendrunky, Coffee is "doing it right", she's following the alternative method that the WHO recommend. Making up from cold water is definitely not recommended by any one (or shouldn't be - surprised some HV are still suggesting it).

meglet

Haha cruel mummy? more like lucky mummy.Honestly if a bottle is 5 mins late there is crying to the point of puking! My baby is my boss :( lol

Another option, which nobody ever seems to mention but seems like it might work is to make a feed immediately after you give a feed. That way you always have one ready but it's never left in advance for too long, a maximum of a few hours.

As said earlier, I don't have personal experience so this might not be practical for some reason I've overlooked, but it never seems to be mentioned and it could be a useful "halfway house" for someone.

I've seen four mums make bottles up this way in the past few days. I breastfeed so I didn't know it was wrong but did wonder why one mum didn't do that but used a carton. It's such a shame they won't educate on the use of formula in order to push breastfeeding, it's great for breastfeeding but so sad if so many babies are at risk.

NO, NO, NO the formula does not have 'germs' in it. It really doesn't. The reason for making it in boiling water is to minimise risk from bottles that aren't sterile and which have bacteria in them (from DCs mouth for example). So if you sterilise bottles, it is fine.
I used to make up bottles of formula with cold water but in a sterilized bottle, then put them in the fridge and heat them as required.

The most important thing is for the milk to not be contaminated at the point of preparation, which means a clean bottle, a clean spoon to measure it out, not leaving the top off for enviromental bacteria to get it, and no fingers dipping into it.

So this information from the NHS about there being the possibility of bacteria in the formula powder is wrong then?

www.nhs.uk/conditions/pregnancy-and-baby/pages/making-up-infant-formula.aspx#close

NO, NO, NO the formula does not have 'germs' in it

Of course it bloody well does, you open it, you use the scooper, the scooper goes back in, and you open and use it over and over again. Of course it's not germ free!

From the NHS Website:

"Even when tins and packets of powdered infant formula are sealed, they can sometimes contain bacteria such as Cronobacter sakazakii and, more rarely, salmonella. Although these bacteria are very rare, the infections they cause can be life-threatening.

Bacteria multiply very fast at room temperature. Even when the feed is kept in a fridge, bacteria can still survive and multiply, although they do this more slowly.
To reduce the risk of infection, it's best to make up feeds one at a time, as your baby needs them.
Use freshly boiled drinking water from the tap to make up a feed. Don't use artificially softened water or water that has been boiled before.
Leave the water to cool in the kettle for no more than 30 minutes. This will ensure it stays at a temperature of at least 70C. Water at this temperature will kill any harmful bacteria. Remember to let the feed cool a little more before you give it to your baby."

I'm leaving this thread before my brain explodes.

Thank you all you helpful people, will tactfully have a word with my friends :)

Powdered formula is impossible to sterilise. We assume that it is sterile, but it's not. It's not sterile even before it's opened, and when it is opened, then it's not sterile because it's an open container.

It's unlikely that it is contaminated, this is true, but it's untrue to say that it is sterile, because there is no way of sterilising this kind of product.

Even the formula manufacturers are clear that powdered formula is not sterile, and making up a bottle incorrectly can (not will) make your baby ill.

www.cowandgate.co.uk/article/first-infant-milk#preparation-&-storage

Don't be shy now, Disappointed. Please feel free to share your tips,

Well, for most of us there are 2 tips somewhere between our chins and our belly buttons.

There is finally a measured view... Then the op leaves the thread

There are no germs as grumpy squash says. There is a minute risk of a bacteria contaminating the milk powder, but if this did happen the formula powder would be recalled urgently so highly unlikely to reach your individual baby.

Can understand why most people don't want to take this risk but important to understand what the risk is. Not the mad scaremongering that insinuates all milk powder is full of germs...

Blimey. "Not sterile" doesn't equal "all formula is wriggling with germs". It means there is a very small chance that there could be some fairly nasty bacteria in the powder. Using 70 degree plus water will remove this small risk. Why would you not want to do that?

I've always done bottles the way the OP does. no formula is not sterile, therefore there is a small risk of baby becoming ill if you don't follow guidelines and make the formula with cold water. it has to be made with hot water, then cooled.

I've always made batches as well but I've never heard of letting it cool because too warm water kills nutrients. My tin has never said to let it cool for that reason, just for the sake of not scalding yourself.

Ah, right, Disappointed, and what if people can't use those 'alternatives'?

I believe the number that can't is quite low. The number that won't, on t'other hand.......

I won't breastfeed as it makes me feel uncomfortable. what's your point? you're no better or worse because you chose to feed your children differently.

Whether it's low or not doesn't make a difference, some women can't and that's that. So what exactly are you implying about women that won't?

I didn't breastfeed. I expressed for 8 months because getting breastmilk into DD was my priority and for many reasons we couldn't do it the conventional way.

I always used to pre make the bottles with boiled water, and take 2 up with me in a cooler bag along with a bottle of water nappies wipe ect
At least by pre making them as appose to making them on demand they're ready for when the baby wants feeding. My goodness my dd was a hungry Horace. There's no way she'd have waited God knows how long for me to make a bottle on demand and then wait for it to cool down.
It's not about being a bad mum. It's about doing what works for you.

so you made a choice to feed your child breastmilk I made a choice to feed my children formula. no different than say, you chose to give your child spaghetti Bolognese for tea one night and instead I chose to give mine meatballs and pasta.