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

[Jojonewmaman]

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

My now 3 year old preferred cool bottles so I used to do this, prepare the water boiled in the bottles in the morning and then added formula as required. My HV caught me doing it a few times and never said anything so must be ok, my 3 year is also absolutely fine she has some SN but that's not related to how he bottles were prepared

Crikey when I had my eldest it was common practice to make up a day’s worth of bottles with formula added and keep them in the fridge.

There are over 4 million babies born in the US every year. Let's assume half are breastfed, even though the rate is probably lower than that. That's 2 million babies having their formula made up with cool water as per the formula instructions (similac.com/baby-feeding/formula/how-to-make-bottle). Every year. In the US alone. Now add babies in the Netherlands, Australia, France...

It amazes me how many people think it is ok to place the bottles in the fridge when they haven't been flash cooled first this is the reason why guidelines had to change, people ignored this important step. WHO guidelines state that it is best to make up each feed fresh (with water that has been cooled to approx 70 degrees) but if this is not possible you can pre prepare, FLASH COOL, put in the back of he fridge and use within 24 hours.
If going out you bottle will keep for up to 4 hours if you use cool packs. Otherwise, it must be used within 2 hours.

Buy the pre made formula, ready to feed stuff, pour into a sterilised bottle, ready.

I also used to buy the pre sterilised disposable bottles.

As others have said, add the powder to the boiling water, but it's then fine once cooled to store in the fridge as long as they'll be used that day - discard if not.

Advice only changed in recent years due to some numpties using bottles that had been pre-made days ago.

@reaa yes I did this when away on holiday or if going out all day. It is very expensive to use ready to drink all the time though

It interesting the changes in advice over the years, no wonder people get confused, 30 years ago you made a batch and kept them in the fridge for 24 hrs. Then you were told to make them up fresh each time ( I did feel for the babies having to wait for them to cool, esp in the night) Then it was ok to take a thermos of boiled water to bed to make up the night feed. Luckily I breastfed but I do feel for mothers. If the latest is to go back to batch making up, I suspect this feels better for the hungry waiting baby, at worst his feed might be a bit cool if he is desperate, I am also very aware in the hospitals there such pressure on the breastfeeding lobby that 4 years ago they were not allowed to teach mothers how to safely make up feeds and mums had to rely on the packet instructions. Look how well that turned out! Of course, mums are listening to the ever changing family advice, who wouldnt?

Although the advice to add the near boiling water to help kill germs is a good one. I would very much doubt it totally did that. Any research anyone? To sterilise a bottle with boiling water you boil it for 5 minutes

There are germs on dummies, carpets, teething rings, FOOD. We all eat food. We give babies food. Are we playing 'fast and loose' there too?

Why aren't the manufacturers obliged by law to put unequivocal instructions on the packaging?

Why aren't they obliged to sell only bacteria-free formula in the first place?

I've heard of babies dying in China etc because the formula was tainted, but assumed it was down to poor storage in rural areas. How can powder sold in Europe not be sterile?
Or is it sold sterile, but poor hygiene in homes (dipping a scoop in, leaving that on the countertop, etc) is what leads to bacteria?
I did read a few months ago about legal action being taken against formula companies in France because too many babies were getting ill.
The amount they charge for formula, it's a disgrace if it's not safe.

I used to make up bottles normally - with hot water to sterilise the formula powder - and store a day’s worth in the fridge. I would take them out fir the day in a cool bag designed for the job called a “Fridge to Go”. Not sure you can get them anymore, but they would keep 2 bottles properly cold for 8 hours.,

Confusedbeetles post resonated with me; looking at parenting boards now, we did everything wrong - although we did do our research and were following guidelines of 35/40 years ago. Bottles could be made in advance, using cooled boiled water, I breastfed, but my babies slept on their fronts and were given cooled boiled water between feeds, weaning started at about 4 months, they slept in their own ‘beds’ if not rooms right from the start, any car seat was forward-facing ( that’s when they’d outgrown a carrycot which was held onto the back seat with webbing restraints) etc etc. ‘Tis a wonder they survived... I do wonder what the advice 30 years hence will be though.

How can powder sold in Europe not be sterile?

Even if it was packed in a sterile environment, the moment it is opened in a domestic kitchen, it stops being sterile.

The current advice from the FDA (America) is that you need to be more careful for the first 2 months of the babies life (or if there are issues with immunosupression low birth weight etc) but otherwise
You can use tap water (if you have your own well you should get it tested regularly)
The first time you buy bottles and nipples, you could consider sterilising them (as per Mayo Clinic advice) but after that just wash in the dishwasher or hot soapy water

I think the key difference is that all companies that supply formula to the US market are required to test for salmonella and camp?... in the manufacturing process.

All that being said, I sterlized my bottles until we stopped using them at 1 year, and I batch made formula for the day every morning using boiling water, but not because of the bacteria issue, but because its a complete bastard to get formula to dissolve properly in cold water. If it doesnt dissolve the baby isnt getting all the nutrients you want them to.

Sorry, that should say cold tap water

We cooled the water to luke warm first before adding powder to it, 13 years ago. Instructions on the side of the SMA tin which we followed to the letter. Didn’t start formula til 4 months though so maybe that’s different to a newborn (not that the sma tin differentiated between ages).

I believe this is the incident that caused the advice to change:
www.nytimes.com/2013/08/04/business/global/large-dairy-supplier-warns-of-botulism-threat.html

The hot water hitting the powder kills botulism. If you use cool water you are risking your baby's health.

@BertieBotts absolutely a risk of accidental scalding... the pressure build up when someone mixes the formula at 100 degrees, takes the cap off and the boiling liquid squirts out.

But vitamin C is denatured at higher temperatures and infant formula contains vitamin C.

My son is nearly 5 and was FF from birth. I always made my bottles up in batches for the day and just added the formula when I needed to. He's perfectly fine and healthy and always has been. Never ever had any gastro problems. What works for one doesn't work for someone else. I know what you're supposed to do before anyone shouts me down, but this worked for me and him.

I used to boil the water and cool it and then add formula when it was time. I didn’t even think about formula not being sterile! But my first is fine !
We used to have to take Pre mixed bottles to nursery with DC1 so when I had my second I’d make his bottles for the day with boiling water and formula and cook them in the fridge. Then I’d make his night needs up before bed. Then repeat next morning.
Both are fine! And both used to drink formula at any temperature.

I did used to keep Pre made formula in a cool bag if we went out though.

There are germs on dummies, carpets, teething rings, FOOD. We all eat food. We give babies food. Are we playing 'fast and loose' there too?

Well you wouldn’t give a baby food that had been prepared unsafely would you? It’s not just about ‘some germs’, some batches of formula do get contaminated with dangerous bacteria such as salmonella and no matter how much they try they will never recall all of the batch. There was one in France just last year. Also formula is the perfect environment for bacteria to breed once it’s been opened in the home. Again you wouldn’t feed your child meat that hadn’t been refrigerated or cooked. It’s not about eliminating all germs, it’s about taking sensible precautions to avoid nasty and potentially dangerous illness in infants.

I used ready made liquid formula for both mine. It was expensive, but I couldn’t be bothered with the worry and hassle of boiling water vs cooled, Worrying about making them ill if I got it wrong etc. Also meant they got used to drinking room temp
Milk with no problems. I used to go out for the day with a stash of empty pre sterilised bottles and cartons of ready made formula. Much easier!

When my DD was in hospital and we had to FF top up they provided cartons of the ready made formula for the popular brands.

The tommee tippee prep machine is amazing but you do have to be vigilant with cleaning it because I have read some stories about it if you don’t.
We use the prep machine at home and ready made milk when out.

The water HAS to be 70degrees to kill off the bacteria in the milk formula. Please please please read and follow the guidelines.