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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

AIBU about making up formula at night?

324 replies

Chocolateorangegoblin · 30/01/2017 20:58

A friend of mine told me she boils the kettle, waits 30 minutes for it to cool etc before making a bottle all while her Dd is screaming to be fed during the night.
AIBU to think that's madness?! Surely most people don't do that?!
Obviously a lot of people have perfect prep machines now but that still involves getting out of bed etc.
I make up bottles in advance, cool them and keep them in the fridge and then at bedtime I take one to bed in a cool bag and DS drinks it whenever he wakes up. I am obviously a lazy sod but there's no way I would be standing about waiting for water to cool down at 2am!

OP posts:
kel1234 · 30/01/2017 21:29

We always made bottles in advance, let them cool naturally then left them in the fridge. When needed we simply boiled the kettle and warmed the bottle in a jug of boiling water. So much easier IMO. I never wanted the perfect prep as I wouldn't want a machine making bottles for me

trappedinsuburbia · 30/01/2017 21:29

Yes it had to be freshly boiled water, not reboiled, I can't remember if we had to wait for it to cool down a bit before adding the milk, quite possible.
We were told it was ok to store in the fridge, but not the fridge door as that wasn't cool enough apparently and never keep for more than 24 hours after it was made up.

crazycravings · 30/01/2017 21:30

I think it's cruel to leave a baby screaming for milk let alone stressful! I used to use cool water or premade them all. Much easier

gingina · 30/01/2017 21:31

I'm curious.
My 'babies' are both teens now but I used to make all the feeds for 24 hours using boiling water and formula then put them in the fridge and warm them up when needed.
My Mum did something totally different as did her mum and gran.
But we all survived!
Were babies back then tougher and more resistant to bacteria or are we all too careful now?
I'm not having a go at anyone - I'm just baffled by the idea that all these generations of women have apparently been feeding their babies wrong for all these years

BusyBeez99 · 30/01/2017 21:31

Trapped I was told to boil once and then let it cool for a few minutes before putting in the sterilised bottle with the teat upside down inside and the lid on.

Worked. No issues. So easy. Didn't even heat up - just gave at room temp as kept on the side for up to 24 hours.

dementedpixie · 30/01/2017 21:32

Also from that NHS site you linked to:

If it isn't possible to follow the advice above, or if you need to transport a feed (for example, to a nursery), prepare the feed at home and cool it for at least one hour in the back of the fridge.

Take it out of the fridge just before you leave and carry it in a cool bag with an ice pack, and use it within four hours. If you don't have an ice pack, or access to a fridge, the made-up infant formula must be used within two hours.

If made-up formula is stored:

  • in a fridge – use within 24 hours
  • in a cool bag with an ice pack – use within four hours
  • at room temperature – use within two hours
trappedinsuburbia · 30/01/2017 21:33

Aw but gingina, there was much higher infant mortality back then, would be interesting to know how many of these were down to gastroenteritis (I had to spell check that!!!!! )

BusyBeez99 · 30/01/2017 21:34

Was infant mortality higher 11 years ago than now in the U.K.?

BusyBeez99 · 30/01/2017 21:35

When did the 'rules' change from what I was told to do (although that was like pulling teeth as midwives don't like to help you know how to make bottles up)

ispymincepie · 30/01/2017 21:35

That's helpful Pixie thank you. I really want to stop pumping but couldn't figure out what to do if I needed to be out for than 2 hours!

ChocoChou · 30/01/2017 21:36

And all this fuss is why I bought ready made cartons and poured them into one-use ready sterilised bottles I kept by the side of my bed. Lucky for me DS liked room temp milk Grin (that was 13 years ago now though, height of laziness!)

datingbarb · 30/01/2017 21:37

God why put yourself or them through the trauma!

I always filled a bottle with boiling water when I went to bed, put the formula in one of the pot things and when baby woke bottle was cool enough, popped powder in and fed baby

Yes I know it's not recommend that way etc but all 4 of mine were fed this way no problems

SpookyPotato · 30/01/2017 21:39

I agree OP but I did the same as your friend 3 years ago! I was abroad so no health visitors to advise, and the tins that were available all said "can't be stored" and "make as and when needed". So there I was at 3am boiling water (bottled water in a pan as the water from the taps wasn't drinkable) then quick cooling in freezer... while poor baby had to be patient for 20 mins! It made it so much harder. I did this for months until I came back to the UK and people told me to make several in advance, store in fridge and warm a bit as and when needed. It changed my life! I feel silly now but sometimes when it's your first baby you're not sure which advice to follow.

trappedinsuburbia · 30/01/2017 21:40

BusyBeez99 - I think some midwives disapproved of formula feeding so could be less than helpful. Thankfully I didn't have that experience.
No idea about infant mortality 11 years ago, was thinking maybe 50 years plus ago when I wrote that.

picklemepopcorn · 30/01/2017 21:40

Ah, the bacteria in the milk powder thing was not talked about seven years ago.

Thing is, when you've seen mums from different countries who have been taught different things and realise that some people have poor basic hygiene and others have a climate which complicates everything, you tend to work things out for yourself a bit.

The guidance takes into account all kinds of stuff which doesn't apply in all cases.

Trifleorbust · 30/01/2017 21:41

I think most reasonable people know that the NHS advice errs on the side of extreme caution. The chances of infection are undoubtedly reduced by following the guidelines to the letter, but they were minimal to start with, so you would need to be 'unlucky' for something to go wrong, rather than 'lucky' to not do everything perfectly and have a perfectly healthy baby.

user1485725368 · 30/01/2017 21:42

What is this about not adding the water as soon as it's boiled as it kills nutrients!!

We were advised in the hospital and baby is only 8 weeks to make up fresh feeds and that the boiled water can be used straight away and for up to 30 mins but not after that as it won't be 70 degrees anymore.

We were also advised it can be cooked instantly by running under a cool tap.

I have a 4 year old and yes kept them in the fridge then and did no harm but have been following new advice so far. May relax it a bit the older she gets.

Sara107 · 30/01/2017 21:44

I used the cartons of pre-made uht formula whenever making up bottles was awkward. No reason though not to make bottles up in a daily batch provided they are made with boiling water, cooled and stored in the fridge. I don't believe that the formula powders you buy in this country are a high risk for gastroenteritis anyway, the production conditions are incredibly tightly controlled, baby food factories are more akin to pharmaceutical production ( extremely clean) than a regular food factory. The formula will have been pastuerised if not sterilised before dryng into powder.

Totallypearshaped · 30/01/2017 21:45

Isn't low sodium bottled water like volvic ok for them after three months?My French friends said they all used volvic to make bottles when out and about and were mixed feeding, or didn't want to bf. they'd use it at room temp.

My DH used to do the nightfeeds, and I breastfed during the day... with a big cluster feed at evening.

He'd use volvic and ping it in the microwave for 30seconds till it was tepid.
Shake well and ready to go. Handy if he was taking them anywhere during the day too, and I could express for the night (didn't ping breastmilk in the microwave though... sat it in a saucepan of hot water)

Standing by a kettle and letting the baby scream himself sick is stupid IMVHO as it makes the baby windy. And wind is best avoided at all costs!
Just do like the French, use volvic and you're ready to go.

holidaysaregreat · 30/01/2017 21:46

I did what busybeez did and there was no tummy bug. Everything was really sterile and milk was always made up fresh and at room temperature.
I wouldn't say leaving a hungry baby screaming would be very nice for anyone.
It's almost as if they have gone OTT on the advice so that people think it is just easier to BF. Another way to make those using bottles feel guilty!

Screwinthetuna · 30/01/2017 21:47

I got it down to a fine art; I would have a ready made carton next to the bed with a pair of scissors and a clean bottle. Could open and tip in without fully opening my eyes and didn't ever heat it up.
Cost a pretty penny but at 3am that was worth it Grin

TalkingofMichaelAngel0 · 30/01/2017 21:50

Actually just reading this thread has convinced me that it is absolutely easier to breastfeed! Bloody hell what a lot of fuss for six months! Mental.

trappedinsuburbia · 30/01/2017 21:50

Well we've all been told a lot of different things and im guessing our dd's and ds's have all lived to tell the tale with our slovenly milk making skills Grin

waterrat · 30/01/2017 21:51

I can't get my head round people using cooled boiled water. You boil the water to sterilise the POWDER not the water.