Confused as to how to prepare formula milk...

[iamjustamumnow]

So the NHS say something about needing to use water which should not be below 70 degrees centigrade, to kill off bacteria in the non sterile formula powder. But the actual formula I'm using at the moment, says it should be dissolved in pre boiled room temperature water.

I always thought the water needed to be hot and then cooled down to kill bacteria. So I'm really confused and don't want to poison my baby.

It's a special hydrolysed formula I'm using.

Many thanks.

Normally the advice is to use the hot water to kill any bugs in the powder. But when you say it's a special formula is it a prescription type? As it's possible that high temperature water could cause it some problems depending on the recipe. If prescription then I would ask the doctor who prescribed for advice. Or some formulas have a phone line you can call for advice?

From a practical perspective I often took a bottle of preboiled water and a pot of powder out with me if going for a day out and just mixed them when needed. And it didn't cause any issues for any of my 3.

Personally I would assume you are safe to follow the instructions on the packaging. If it is a special formula it sounds like hot temperatures might have an effect on that and do more harm than good. In that case I would think it would have been packaged in a protective environment to keep bacteria out of it; how many servings does the packet contain and how does it say to store it?

Yeah that's definitely the advice ! That's how I always prepared normal formula for my first baby. It just feels wrong to add it to room temp water. But you're right, it's likely to be because it's special formula.

It does require a prescription and I'll talk to the doc and ask. Thank you

I’ve never been taught but assumed I just follow the packet which is clear you use cooled boiled water . To be honest I thought if the water was too hot when it was made it might damage the vitamins but maybe not? Sorry not much help

So I'm thinking that when I go out, I should take the entire container for this reason, rather than putting it in a different smaller travel container. I don't know how long before it expires, but we get through an entire 400 gram container in 3-4 days, so should be OK.

Standard formula isn’t sterile in manufacturing so you have to ‘cook it’ to kill pathogens with 70 degree water. Hydrolysed and other specialist formula can be unstable and so they are made in a sterile environment. Always follow the instructions in the back of your formula!

The instructions for hydrolysed formula are different. It depends on the formula but for example, neocate (for cmpa) contains good bacteria that do not exacerbate CMPA, but would be killed by boiling water. Follow the instructions on the packet.

It's because it's classed as a medicine rather than a food item, so isn't bound by the rules that normal formula is.

Follow the instructions on the packet of formula the powder is from. The companies making the formula do huge amounts of research into it all.

Thanks everyone. How long does boiled cooled water keep in that case ? It's very convenient not needing to use hot water! I tend to boil water and then put it in a big glass water bottle to cool down. I wonder if I got two of those bottles and had them always on the go, if that would be OK ? I think I read that cooled boiled water stays sterile for 24 hours, is that correct ? Even better, can I pre fill the actual sterilised feeding bottles and then just pop the formula in when it's time to feed ? This is going to be life changing and save me so much time !

16 years ago the advice I was given was to make up 6 bottles with boiled water and then let them cool on the side. I would then take out with me or use at home by putting the powder in and then giving room temperature. I never heated up the bottles. Unused bottles of water would be discarded within 24 hours, bottles sterilised and the process started again. Never had a sick child and he’s now a strapping 16 year old.

I had a little pot with three compartments in and I used to put how many scoops I needed for the day in it. Always used it all but if hadn’t I would have thrown it away and washed up the container.

“Even better, can I pre fill the actual sterilised feeding bottles and then just pop the formula in when it's time to feed”

i used to do that and put the teat upside down in it and then turn right way round when formula in and ready to use.

i used standard SMA gold

However I’ve noticed now that this has been replaced with the hot water guidance so I would follow whatever your tub of formula says to do!!

it was my HV that told me how to make them up. We all did the same in my group but some then heated the bottles up to give to baby. I didn’t. He had room temp ……

The cooled boiled water is only as sterile as your containers are, OP.

Do you mean the water containers or the formula tub ?

The water containers / feeding bottles are sterilised before each use.

Sorry, I mean the cooled water containers.

If sterilised and properly sealed, the cooled water can be kept in a fridge for three days, or 24 hours at room temperature out of direct sunlight.