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?

[Royalsighness]

good for you silvercatowner well done

[SaulGood]

I think the one thing that is clear from this thread is that there is NOT enough information available about safe preparation or about why bottles are prepared that way. Even with clear, concise links on here from the NHS, WHO etc and the clear guidelines on the tubs, people still seem confused. It's always couched in the same terms too. Well guidelines change all the time (they don't tbh), my hv said it was safe, my baby wasn't ill and so on. If we could start from the simple point of every parent being offered clear, concise information on how to make up a bottle and why we do it that way with some options for prep in advance, then the decision rests with the parents. They still might choose to do it incorrectly but at least the education is there in the first place. It needs to be acknowledged that this isn't formula promotion but health promotion.

Disappointed, it's lovely that you're so pro-breast milk. Do you channel that in any positive and relevant ways at all?

[yougotafastcar]

When I had DS three years ago, I gave him ready made milk at night and when out. Then when out I tried taking a boiling flask out but had no where to cool the bottle for my screaming baby. The pre made eventually became too expensive when they changed the packaging and I asked the health visitor what to do - she said put boiling water into sterilised bottles and add the powder when I needed a bottle (so into cooled boiled water). I've just had DD and asked the midwife what to do, she also told me to do the same. I do a mix of methods depending on what is to hand.

Can I ask what others do when out and about when the baby needs a bottle? I can't afford pre made everyday and really don't want to resort to cooling a bottle in a bathroom sink (had to do with DS before!) when out and about while the baby screams. I have taken cooled bottles with ice packs before but what if you're out longer then 4 hours? Or at night when you have no idea if the baby will wake for a bottle or not?! Just wondered of anyone had any simpler ideas that I am missing!

[lornathewizzard]

yougotafastcar if bottle is going to be needed within 2 hrs then I make it St home and take with. Failing that we use ready made, sorry. If we're going to family etc for the day then we take the perfect prep. I realise that's not very helpful! I guess there was an element of trying to time going out around bottles too, where poss. Much easier now DD is 10months!

What's dangerous about baby walkers btu tanith ?

[lornathewizzard]

At home, not St home!

[RoyalMaybe]

I have the Perfect Prep. Along with the Isofix, I can honestly say it's the most worthwhile baby gadget we bought.

My uncertainties are more about bottle sterilisation. I have a Dr Brown microwave steriliser, which has served us well. The instructions state that it will remain sterile for 24 hours if unopened. However, the company does not issue any guidelines as to how long the bottles are useable once you have opened the steriliser to remove one bottle (it does 4 at once). Because of this uncertainty I end up running the steriliser before each feed anyway, even if it has three other previously sterilised bottles in it. Is this necessary? Any ideas??

And while we're on the subject, I use wee cartons of premade formula when we are out and about. My daughter likes her milk to be warm and most places will happily give me a wee pot of hot water into which I can stick her bottle to heat it up a bit. My biggest bugbear, therefore, are the places that don't trust you with a pot of hot water (Dobbies cafe, I'm looking at you...). "Oh we can't give out hot water, just give it to me and I'll heat it up for you" - but you've just given me a pot of tea!! It is essentially the same thing!!!

[OhEmGeee]

I make up 24 hours of bottles in advance, cool them quickly and store them in the back of the fridge.

[DisappointedOne]

Royalmaybe sterilise the 4 bottles and assemble them all at once. The insides of the bottles will stay sterile until you open them.

[DisappointedOne]

What's dangerous about baby walkers

Can cause hip dyplacia. As can jumperoos and baby bjorn style carriers.

[OhEmGeee]

Baby walkers have caused a lot of accidents as babies are left to their own devices in them. And yes there is the issue of it being an unnatural position for them to sit in, and they're on their tip toes. But the key is to not put them in for long, same with jumperoos and door bouncers 20 minutes or so is fine.

[Tanith]

Lorna: babywalkers allow access to things and areas that couldn't otherwise be reached so they need close supervision. There are also a number of accidents that have been caused by the baby falling downstairs in one. Babies can also hurt themselves if they are able to climb out of them - and I've known a baby to manage this at 7 months old.

[Iliveinalighthousewiththeghost]

Exactly coup. All very well these HV barking out orders, all be it well intentioned o don't doubt but living in the RW it's 2am in the morning and baby is screaming for their bottle. Then it's just not practical to make them on demand.

[lornathewizzard]

I didn't realise that disappointed

royalmaybe we have a Philips steriliser and I think the instructions say bottles stay sterile in the machine for up to 6 hrs and assembled for 24hrs. Not sure if all machines different?

[lornathewizzard]

Sorry, cross post ohemgeee and tanith, thanks for all answers, I didn't realise there was a risk

[ChickenLaVidaLoca]

Is there any actual evidence that jumparoos can cause hip dysplasia? I've heard lots of people claim this, and seen various anecdotes from medical prrofessionals saying they either are or aren't fine, but nothing actually concrete. We never had one with DC1, though she enjoyed some goes in her friend's, but had been considering the idea with DC2.

[DisappointedOne]

The odd 20 mins here and there isn't likely to do any harm (unless child has a hip issue anyway). Using it multiple times a day with babies that are too young for it or leaving them in for longer than that at a time is a greater risk.

[DisappointedOne]

We had one, but only used it once DD was big enough and for short bursts of time. She wasn't bothered with it for long - once she walked (9 months) she had no interest in staying in one place for more than 3 seconds.

[meddie]

I used to make 24 hours worth of feeds.
boiling water into sterilised bottles, add correct amount of powder, seal and in the fridge once cooled enough.

I work in a childrens hospital, we make feeds for 24 hours for our patients in exactly the same way.

Take from that what you will.

I honestly wondered whether the advice to make fresh each feed was to reduce the incidences of milk from one feed being 'kept' for the next feed and posing a risk to the baby, whereas if you tell people you have to do it fresh each time it reduces bad practises around storing and reusing formula.

[ChickenLaVidaLoca]

But where is the evidence for this disappointed? I assume you're basing your view on something, I would like to know what it is so I can read it too.

[Writerwannabe83]

My little one loved his walker. We used it as a methods of keeping him out of trouble whilst we were busy in the kitchen - he could just wheel himself around and we didn't have to leave him unattended anywhere. He was probably in it about three times a day for 10-20 minutes at a time. We stopped using it at 12 months because he was too big for it then.

[ScorpioMermaid]

13 years ago you got told to make the days worth and fridge them to warm as you need. then it changed to something else and had changed a couple of times again probably. as I've been told multiple ways over the years I just do what I find easiest. which is what you do. I'm due in 5 weeks and will just make them as I did when the youngest was a baby.

my youngest is 21 months now and I have a tin of formula for bedtime if he's not eaten much during the day as he can be fussy and we do 2oz of boiling water to dissolve the milk and top it with tap water to the correct level for the milk.

[BertieBotts]

They (walkers, bjorns and jumpers) don't CAUSE hip dysplacia, that's something babies are born with or not. If a baby has hip problems they can exacerbate them, and they can be uncomfortable if used for long periods of time, that's it.

Baby walkers are dangerous themselves because they give a previously immobile baby an unnatural level of mobility ie speed which they are not equipped to cope with. So risk of falling down stairs (if you're stupid enough to use one by unguarded stairs, and modern ones have safety features to lock the wheels if one goes over an uneven surface), tipping into a fireplace or radiator (prob depends on your set up, but fireguards, anyone?), slamming into furniture which can cause large items to topple or loose items e.g. on high shelves, they also raise the baby to a level that they can now grab things which the parent may be unaware of.

It comes down to supervision, but they introduce many risks which might take parents by surprise and hence they have been the cause of many accidents, and have been banned in several countries.

The type which the baby stands behind and pushes along are very safe as long as they are balanced and don't tip (older ones might).

BF vs FF is irrelevant. As long as anyone chooses to or has to bottle feed, we need safe and practical products for them to use, which includes easy to understand instructions. It really is not relevant why somebody would FF here. You can go argue it all you like, somewhere else. The fact is that you're never going to get a situation where 100% breastfeed, so we need safe formula. Saying otherwise is just like punishing FF mums (and adoptive dads, I'm sure you don't expect them to BF?) - surely you wouldn't be so crass?

[ChickenLaVidaLoca]

I had a baby walker as a child, they were all the rage then. My DM loves telling the story of how I once ran right out of the front door and halfway down the path in mine before they could catch me. It went back in the box after that incident. No hip problems here, but I think it might have caused DM a few grey hairs...

[Cherryblossomsinspring]

And how many of these babies have been sick????

God almighty, you'd think people were pissing on bottles and then using them the way people go on about the fear of bacteria on bottles and evil bacteria lurking in powder ready to kill babies.

Unless a baby is immune compromised or very preemie I wouldn't worry too much about the level of sterilisation of the bottle, the temp of the water when adding powder or the refrigeration of bottles. Much less likely to make baby sick than all the aunties kissing it on the lips or the dog getting a lick in.

Talk about big brother when it comes to raising babies these days!

[DisappointedOne]

my youngest is 21 months now and I have a tin of formula for bedtime if he's not eaten much during the day Why not just give him cows milk? It's got more nutrients than follow on milk.