When did you stop using boiled water to make formula milk?

[zephyrcat]

Or do you always use it until they are on cows milk?

I'm on my 4th baby so you'd think I'd know what I was doing by now! I haven't sterilised since about 3 months. She's 7 months now....

hi boots sell some bottled water on baby section that you can make bottles with it says on it that its safe to use for making formula.

Oh I didn't even realise you were allowed to stop sterilising bottles! Ooops! What age are you meant to stop??? DS is 9 months and I've always sterilised bottles and used boiling water to make up formula. Must admit I do cheat and make up all 3 bottles the night before and keep them in the fridge though!

I stopped sterilising when ds started scratting arond on the floor putting everything in sight in his mouth(5 months or earlier). They all go through the dishwasher at 70 deg or something..

oops... I was making few bottles with tap water since dd turned 10 months....Thanks for reminder.

I used tap water from then too as ds was drinking tap water as a cold drink - I thought uit was fine

New guidelines say that you shouldn't make up bottles in advance (to be cooled then re-heated later) due to them no longer being sterile after a certain amount of time.

Is it also true that in the US no one sterilses bottles (I think I heard this in relation to the recent plastic bottles scare) and they all think we're a bit odd for worrying about it?
I have to say that it seems pretty pointless once they start sticking everything in their mouths!
DS is 8 months and I use filtered tap water and don't bother sterilising bottles anymore.
He licks dogs fgs!

what - warm water from the tap to make up feeds?

I think what can result in ingested formula that hasn't dissolved properly is far more serious that what they can pick up from touching the floor etc. I wouldn't take a chance personally.

[sigh]

it's not the dissolving that's the problem - formula powder can have some quite nasty bacteria in (rare, but is that a risk you want to take?) and you MUST make it up with hot water to kill them.

As suggested below you can dissolve the powder in, say, half the amount of boiling water, then add the rest cold so it's quickly brought to drinking temp.

My midwife told me she has never sterilised any bottles or feeding equipment for her LO's, just washed them in hot water and left to air dry. she told me she wasn't advising me to do it, just saying that she felt it was un- necessary

There is a huge thread on here somewhere from ages ago saying that in the opinion of lots of im portant people (cn't remember exactly - am thinking midwives/HV etc) that there is actually no need to serilise at all.

is it ok to give them tap water as a drink?? or does that still have to be boiled?

tap water is fine from 6m

thanks MrsBadger!

Crikey, there's a lot of people making up their bottles all wrong on this thread!

yes I did know that mrs B thank you, no need to make yourself breathless. However I think you will find that the lack of dissolving does cause tummy upsets.

Bacteria in formula???? Do me a favour Really??

I didnt stop sterilising until DD was 2.5 and someone brought up the issue at M&T and i suddenly thought WTF am i doing? She snogs the dog FGS. It was simply because i had just got so used to doing it and i forgot to stop.

I wash my bottles in dishwasher (she still has a formula bottle at bedtime ) and scald them with boiling water, just to be sure - haven't a clue about the bacteria in formula though, but i would have thought it perfectly feasable that the stuff is packaged in a sterile environment, once it is opened well then of course bacteria could get in there, but for it to come pre-packed, i aint convinced.

Its a good idea, dissolving in boiling and then topping up, but it will result in incorrect dilution rate.

Spare bottle put half boiling water, half cool water up to level. Put formula in normal bottle and pour in water and shake

No - you cant mix hot and cold water the add the formula - it needs to be over 70 deg!!

Put 4oz of freshly boiled water in a bottle
Add 7 scoops of formula
Shake
Add 3oz of cold water (either bolied cooled or tap if +6months)
Shake again

You have correct dilution as 4+3oz of water, 7 scoops of formula, although you will end up with more than 7oz in the bottle - probably closer to 8 - water displacement and all that.

Mmmm I do wonder why the hell i sterilise his bottles when he licks the dog and eats crumbs off the floor but I always worried about the bacteria in milk as it gets warm. Does seem a bit of a waste of time. He's 9 months now and mashes his food into the floor and still eats it so I guess it's time to stop!

Don't see the point in not using boling water though, it only takes a minute. Surely it wouldn't disolve in cool water? Does it?? I'll stick top boiled water though! I used to make up all the bottles as I needed them but then my health visitor told me I was making things much harder than they needed to be and SHE was the one who reccommended making them up the night before. Tbh there is so much conflicting advice- no wonder I'm still clueless!

lucyellensmum, read the information on the link I posted at 16:11 on Friday

formula powder is not sterile

Yes, i read the link, and i am astounded, it is not impossible to prepare things in an asceptic manner, so why not formula?? This is the first time i have ever been told this and i have always let my boiled water cool down before i added the formula (found it mixed better) - this is clearly something that people need to be made better aware of. I know the instructions say used boiling water, well i think they recommend letting it cool too (not sure) but they need to make it clear that this is important.

As to whether this is important in a 2 year old or once you start weaning anyway. I mean, you don't steralise their food. So i guess that this advice is probably only pertinent for so long as sterilisation is necessary.

I personally think we worry far too much about sterile this and antibacterial that, and i often think it causes more problems than it solves. The problem with all of these antibacterial sprays, soaps and handwashes is that they are indescriminate, that destroy everything, (pretty much) and that means the "good" bacteria too. These good bacteria, because they are harmless live on and in our bodies in high numbers. When we come along and zap them with the new all singing all dancing, kill everything in its path, antibacterial soap, we kill these too. That then leaves the playing field open for more virulent and resistent strains which before were kept at bay by the bacterial that normally sits there quite happily in the first place.

So, if you want healthy kids - let them have filthy hands, let them pick something up off the floor and eat it (five second rule of course), let them make mud pies and don't have a anuerism if they put some in their mouth. My DD loves nothing more than playing in the garden when im working out there, she likes to collect the worms, and we collect the snails regularly to carry over to the alley - i don't stand vigil with a baby wipe, so i daresay she puts her hands stright in her mouth (thumb sucker) and she is hardly ever ill - so i dont think im going to threat about a few bacteria that may or may not be floating around in her formula.

But surely Milk bacteria is worse than these garden bugs (honest question)