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....

Just re-read my post, should be 'their mouth' - that'll teach me for posting after a glass of wine!

in answer to the OP - (otherwise I'll get side-tracked) you MUST use fresh boiled water, cooled for 15-30 mins (but no longer) to make up formula.

Formula is packaged in a sterile environment, but once opened the powder is no longer sterile and can be sitting around for days. Bacteria can get in and multiply and that is why they need to be added to water at +70ºC.

You must NEVER use hot tap water to make up feeds either... it's not fresh from the ground supply and has been sitting in the tank. It could have all sorts of nasties in it.

Sterilising is a totally different issue. If you are making up feeds on demand then you don't really need to sterilise. If you are making bottles in advance then the milk could be sitting in the fridge for up to 24 horus and IMO you need to sterilise.

Changed DS to cows milk at about 14 months and don't bother sterilising anymore.