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AIBU?

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Original poster

Can I prepare bottles of boiling water in advance for formula?

236 replies

Jojonewmaman · 26/08/2018 05:19

I have just started mixed feeding, expressing some feeds and using formula. I know the advice is very much to prepare bottles as required however I have read that some parents have pre prepared bottles of boiling water, then quickly cooled and stored them in the fridge and added formula when required. Is this safe? And does the powder mix as well in cold water? TIA

OP posts:
SleepingStandingUp · 26/08/2018 05:24

Is fine, hospitals do it like this when you're in with a baby. Keep no longer than 24 hours

Candyflip · 26/08/2018 05:25

you have to add the formula to boiling water as the formula is not sterile, you could add a shot of boiling water to formula and then top up with previously boiled water, but you have to be meticulous with measurements. It would possibly be best for you to make them fresh though?

cautiousoptimist1 · 26/08/2018 05:29

No. The formula has to be added to boiling water to kill any bacteria in the powder.

JennyBlueWren · 26/08/2018 05:34

We've also just started combi-feeding. On Monday I had my first day back.at work. Only issue for baby was the length of time it took to boil a kettle and then cool it down. So now when I get up in the morning and make my coffee I pour the rest into a jug and put it in the fridge. Not noticed any problems with the milk mixing and baby doesn't mind the temp.

How are you finding your supply? My plan was to ff with daddy during the day and bf evenings and at night. Had unsettled nights all week so wondered if she's getting enough (or teething/growing?) And this weekend I've felt the need to feed her so just switched to whichever seems right but this doesn't feel very organised!

Fluffywuffyunicorn · 26/08/2018 05:35

No, you need the boiling water to sterlise the powder. So it needs to be mixed in hot water. It's not recommended but you can mix it in an oz or two of boiling water then top up with the cooled water, so that it's ready to drink once made. Thats exactly how a prep machine works.

JennyBlueWren · 26/08/2018 05:36

Just read the pp above and see we'll have to rethink it then.

Monty27 · 26/08/2018 05:36

I always added the formula. Cool down and refrigerate. Easy. Smile use within say 24 hours tops though.

ChangerChangerson · 26/08/2018 05:37

I agree with those who have said that it needs to be boiling water added to the powder to kill off any bacteria in the formula.

MaryShelley1818 · 26/08/2018 05:43

We make up 3 bottles on a morning, formula added to boiling water and then refrigerated and used within 12hrs.
Much easier for us as we’re out and about most days doing classes/activities and it just wasn’t practical making a fresh bottle each time.

QueenCity · 26/08/2018 05:43

No, that is the least safe method of preparing them. The water needs to be at least 70c to kill any bacteria in the formula. It you can't make up a bottle fresh in this way then the next safest method is to make up the formula in advance (with 70c+ water) and cool rapidly then store in fridge.

StatisticallyChallenged · 26/08/2018 05:48

As PP have said, it must be mixed with 70c+ water.

The recommendations for childcare providers who can't realistically prepare all bottles fresh is to make up as per manufacturers instructions, flash cool, and stick in fridge (main fridge, not door) and use within 24 hours.

Sciurus83 · 26/08/2018 06:50

I've heard lots of people rave about the tommee tippee perfect prep machine for this problem, worth a look?

Poodles1980 · 26/08/2018 06:52

Get a tommee tippee perfect prep machine. Makes bottles to correct temperature on demand. It steralises the powder so no worries there. It is a game changer if you are making bottles. Best investment of all time for us

PrivateDoor · 26/08/2018 06:56

Definitely is not how hospitals do it and it definitely isn't ok. Also the previous advice about using a small amount of hot water is also incorrect - a very small amount of water and large amount of powder could still mean it not getting sterilised sufficiently. You cool it down after it is mixed by setting the bottle into cold water. It is well known the prep machine doesn't sterilise the powder sufficiently, there's plenty of evidence out there about it. AS HCPs we are expected to actively discourage their use.

FromNowOn · 26/08/2018 07:13

Is fine, hospitals do it like this when you're in with a baby. Keep no longer than 24 hours

No hospital I’ve worked in does this.

As pp said, the water has to be hot to kill bacteria. We used to make about 3 bottles up, cool them quickly then store in the back of the fridge.

swapsicles · 26/08/2018 07:15

Make a bottle up using just boiled water (not boiling, a few minutes after the kettle has boiled is fine)
Add powder then cool by running under a cold tap/bowl of cold water and pop in the fridge until the next feed.
When combo feeding I used to make up the next bottle after she'd finished the last, when dd was fully formula fed I'd do a day's worth at night and keep 24 hours.
Adding formula to cold water makes boiling it in the first place pointless.

eurochick · 26/08/2018 07:16

If you don't want to wait for the bottle to cool, you can add the hot water to the formula to kill any bugs and then top up with cooled boiled water to get it to the right temperature straight away.

Whereisthecoffee · 26/08/2018 07:18

it would be so much easier for me to make a few bottles in advance I’ve been making them fresh each time. I worry about going against medical advice though.

sar302 · 26/08/2018 08:42

No!!!

Formula must be added to the very hot (but no longer boiling) water, to kill all the bacteria in the non-sterile formula powder.

We mix and then put in the fridge and warm again when needed.

PixieBob28 · 26/08/2018 08:47

Have a 5 week old here. Formula fed from birth and thriving. Putting on enough weight and drinking well. What I do as advised by friends and family who are clinicians and mums. I make up 4 bottles at a time as that's how many I can sterilise at once. I then boil the kettle, leave for 20-30mins. Water is still hot, I add the desired amount of formula to the water (eg: 5 scoops) which sterilisers the powder. Shake the bottles, and put them in a bowl of cold water to cool for 10-15mins. Once they have cooled I refrigerate them and make sure they are used within 24 hours. Realistically they are used well before 12 hours even hits. When you want to use one, heat it to room temp or warm and serve. Once out of the fridge and warmed you have 2 hours to use the bottle before throwing it away. So for example if your baby drinks half the bottle then has a nap for half hour then wakes up again, you can use that same bottle. Haven't had any problems here touch wood! Baby seems to enjoy feeding and it seems A LOT of parents do it this way its just not advised by the health visitors, who I have found to be bloody useless anyways. Good luck.

Fatted · 26/08/2018 08:49

I made both DS bottles in advance for 24 hours. Better to add the formula to hot water and bung in the fridge than add powder to cold water.

Isadora2007 · 26/08/2018 08:53

Right here is a fine example of why babies who are formula fed are 5 times more likely to have gastrointestinal infections than breastfed babies. This thread shows a clear lack of accurate information and an equally often as clear wilful ignoring of guidelines because “auntie so-and-so has always done it that way and hers all turned out fine”.
Poor bloody babies.

stillnotTheDoctor · 26/08/2018 08:53

I've heard horror stories about those prep machines. Personally wouldn't touch one with a barge pole.

But yes. Make up bottles with formula in advance then refrigerate. Warm up in a bowl of hot water.

Somewhereovertherainbow13 · 26/08/2018 08:55

This advice changed between me having ds1 who is 7 and ds3 who is 2. With ds1 I could make bottles with boiling water and leave to cool, with ds3 I had to make each bottle fresh each time. I fully understand the reasons and why guidelines are there to keep children safe but have never noticed a difference between ds1 and ds3 despite things being done differently

DwangelaForever · 26/08/2018 08:55

It's the heat of the boiling water that kills the bacteria not the fact it's been boiled 🙄