Formula

[Newmumma25]

Hi everyone I’m a first time (very confused mum) I recently stopped breastfeeding my 12 week old baby as I wasn’t producing enough due to having mastitis for the 3rd time and had to use bottles to get through which she ultimately got too used too so had to begin bottle feeding. My question is how do you actually make formula up? What does everyone do? I’ve been following the instructions letting it cool and making it fresh but it’s a mega faff! My HV said she personally boils water makes the bottle up adds the formula when needed and heat it a little. When asking everyone they tell me they made it up with fresh boiled water and put it in the fridge! Im so confused on how to make it. The way I’m doing it just now is a real hassle!

Maybe get the cartons for when you're out and about?

I have a prep machine for my twins it's a life saver

Tommee tippee is a huge brand do you really think they'd be allowed to release something in the U.K. market if it hadn't been rigorously tested? We have very high testing requirements for products in the U.K. - much higher than say the USA

It's safer than making them up in advance and storing in the fridge for 24 hours

I feel they try and make using formula a pain to direct more mums to BF!

I think you've hit the nail on the head there. The method on the tin takes 20-30m to make, and your are supposed to demand feed - it doesn't work. What you've got to remember though is that the nhs doesn't care about making bottle feeding easy, only what's fastest, even if it's impractical. And the companies want to cover their bums so suggest the safest way possible again without considering practicality. It's the same reason that toys marketed at toddlers are often marked 3+, and why nuts often say 'may contain nuts' etc. It's butt covering.

The WHO compares the different methods, and although the absolute safest way is to make them up officially, making up, quickly cooling and storing for 24hrs is also considered a safe method. It's what I did, and it worked out fine for us.

Currently in hospital with my 12 week old and they make milk up for the following 24 hours which is what I have/would do at home, have done with other DCs. Surely if it's hospital practice it's perfectly safe.

Our daughter has 7oz (210ml).

We put 5oz (150ml) of boiling water that has cooled for 30 minutes into her bottle and add 7 scoops. Mix, let it cool down and put it in the fridge. When we need the bottle, we add 60ml of boiling water and give straight away.

The HV told us it was unsafe to store bottles but when you have a baby screaming for her milk with reflux too, I was happy to do anything as a quick fix.

It's all a balance of risk isn't it? It's marginally safer to give bottles fresh and not use a PP etc but I always felt that the risk of me messing up making bottles because I was knackered and had a screaming baby and was making bottle #11 of the day from scratch was much higher than the small theoretical possibility of an issue with cooling formula and storing it in the fridge or using a PP

@Newmumma25

So you can store them ! Why do they tell you that you can’t ? I don’t understand why there’s so many rules! I feel they try and make using formula a pain to direct more mums to BF!

Seriously?! No, it's because babies do die from unsafely prepared formula! It may be rare but it's not made up. Please just prepare your formula safely rather than making this an unnecessary FF/BF debate or spreading misinformation.

Perfect prep for me. And we use ready made when going out - it's not the cheapest option but really convenient.

Ive made a bottle up once following the instructions and waiting for it to cool was the most stressful thing, I thought I'd left enough time and was left with a starving angry baby and a too hot bottle of milk.

@AndTheReasonIsYou

Another vote for the perfect prep here. HVs don’t like them but never did I meet one who could give me a decent explanation as to why that was…

Probably because it makes formula up with half boiling and half cold water? I always assumed that boiling the water was to sterilise the water, not the formula.

There's also lots of stuff online about how people haven't changed the filters and they've got all gunked up etc.

I used to boil the kettle, make 6 bottles in advance, put them in cold water to cool them down and put them straight in the fridge. If I didn't use them all that day, I threw them out.

The rules are there to allow you to make an informed decision, but a SWAT team is not going to come crashing into your house if you don't follow them. Nothing is 100% sterile or safe.

I guess advice changes over the years which is why people do it so many different ways.

For me, I used a perfect prep machine but for the water used boiled cooled water and make sure you clean it out regularly. No uneven heat, it comes out the right temp but you can always give it a little shake and let out the air if you are worried.

Once baby was only on 4 bottles a day I just boiled the kettle and let it cool for like 15mins, make the bottle up and run it under the cold tap until it's the right temp. Have also made a few up on the day and stored in the fridge.

It is important you mix the formula with hot water initially to kill any bacteria.

You HV has given you terrible advice. Even I know what she is doing is bloody terrible and I've never formula fed a baby!

You must add formula to very hot water as it's not sterile. This can be made up in advance and cooled in the fridge for 24hours.

A perfect prep machine is perfectly safe and acceptable and time saving if you can afford one.

The world Heath organisation has very clear formula making safety guidance here

https://www.who.int/foodsafety/publications/micro/PIFBottlee_en.pdf

I always did them in batches and stored them in the fridge. I don't understand how that prep machine is 'safe' since the water is never boiled.

@Cam2020

I always did them in batches and stored them in the fridge. I don't understand how that prep machine is 'safe' since the water is never boiled.

You fill it with cooled boiled water, not tap.

Loved my formula kettle uneeqbaby.com/collections/multi-functional-formula-kettle/products/uneeqbaby-baby-formula-kettle-with-built-in-thermostat

Made bottle with 70 degree water, cooled by standing in a jug of water from the fridge - 5 min job.

'I use a perfect prep at home. I wouldn't be without it.

When out and about though I carry a flask of boiling water and a bottle of cooled boiled water. I copy how the prep works
2oz or so of boiling water into the bottle, add formula and shake well.
Top up with cooled boiled water'

I did this too, worked great

Used perfect prep machine was amazing

Oh great a BF bashing post, was wondering when there would be another one

Don't be so bloody stupid, the op has said she's tried it and it hasn't worked out for her. Absolute prick. Some things, like maternal mental health, are more important than breastfeeding and formula is a perfectly safe, acceptable way to feed a baby even if she hadn't tried breastfeeding.

Perfect prep op. You can get them for about £20 second hand, get a new filter and give it a good wash. When i took my twins out id use the ready made formula. They learnt to drink it at room temperature!

Pre prep machine...had two of them..one upstairs one down... I found it really easy formula feeding. So quick. Have a very happy healthy child now.

I can't see that anyone has bashed bf

I used perfect prep and cleaned regularly and used the proper branded filters and not had an issue.

When they moved onto less bottles I would do the prep method - say an 8oz bottle. I'd boil the kettle and pour 5 oz into a bottle and leave the lid off to cool, once cooled put it in the fridge. The when I came to making it boil the kettle and pour 3oz of boiling water into another bottle put 8 scoops in and shake then pour 5oz in and it was the right temp aswell. I then reused the 5oz bottle later as to me it was still clean.

Another perfect prep recommendation from me. Especially helpful during night feeds...I used to take it upstairs when I went to bed so I didn't have to come down to make a bottle.

Everyone I know who formula fed had a perfect prep machine.

Perfect Prep definitely. Best £100 I ever spent. Just make sure you clean it regularly and change the filters as soon as the warning light comes on.

It first produces a small amount of bear-boiling water, which kills any bacteria in the formula powder, then it dispenses cold water to dilute and cool appropriately. All the water is sterile as it has been filtered. If you are concerned, you can use boiled cooled water to fill it.

I don't understand how that prep machine is 'safe' since the water is never boiled

It heats up and dispenses a ‘hot shot’ of water which is 70degrees to kill the bacteria. You’re also supposed to fill it with cooled boiled water, although I didn’t realise that until using it with DD2. With DD1 I just used tap water and it was fine, it is filtered anyway.

@whatswithtodaytoday - I always filled mine with water from the tap as I was under the impression that’s what the filter was for. If I was out and using the flask method that replicates the PP I topped up with cooled pre-boiled water (until 6 months) but just used tap water in the PP.

Loved our PP - DD had formula until she was 3 and it saved so much time and made it so easy. We didn’t have any problems with it.

Perfect prep alllll the way