Sterilising and formula: do you follow the rules?

[DavidBeckhamsMum]

Oh good lord. After 3 months of feeding DD formula I have finally got around to reading a leaflet on How To Do It Properly. Quick show of hands, please... do you:

• Use sterilised bottles within 3 hours of sterilising them (in a steam steriliser)?
• Disinfect the work surface before making up the formula?
• Make formula using water around 70 degrees C?
• Use formula within 2 hours of making it?

And if you answered yes to any/all of the above, how do you DO this for middle-of-the-night feeds without your DC becoming seriously, purple-faced unhappy at the lack of speed on your part ?

err no, no, no and no.

It's been a while since I used formula but I didn't do any of the above.

Although I never formula fed at night - I only swapped to formula from breastfeeding when they stopped night feeds.

So can't answer your last question, sorry!

Make up bottles within 3 hours of being sterilised, but make a batch in one go (4 bottles) and put them in the fridge. Then (shock horror) microwave them when needed. Dd (10 weeks) no longer having night feeds but even in the day time would not want to let her scream for milk (even though she is very predictable/programmed for when she eats). Fridge is very modern and has digital temp so know they're being kept cool. This is what I did with dd1. Water is c70 degrees and yes, I do clean work surface first. The 'make it up every time' rule is fairly recent and is, I think, the formula companies being extra cautious in case a child gets sick. Oh, and very soon am going to ditch the steriliser too If dd can pick things up and put them into her mouth from the floor then clean but unsterilised bottles should not be a problem. But, am probably in the negligent minority here.

Oooh, I do love a negligent minority - this is exactly what I wanted to hear! I've been making them up each time but using a mix of freshly boiled and cooled boiled water so it's instantly drinkable.

Good point about sterilising alexw!

I stopped sterilising after about a month!
Just wash in very hot water and leave to air dry. Much less hassle.
I also microwave them, 20 seconds usually does the job, good shake for about 15 seconds and it's all good to go!

Didn't sterilise, did store made up bottles in fridge, did microwave up to temp. Everyone lived to tell the tale.

The two main points as I understand them are:

a) old milk is a breeding ground for bacteria, so make sure all milk residue is cleaned away, best done with efficient bottle brush.

b) powder isn't sterile so either add it to VERY hot water and cool quickly and store, or add it to pre-boiled cool water but serve immediately so no time for nasties to breed. I know several people who put hot water in bottles and leave it to cool. At feed time they just add the powder, shake and go. Some people on MN have admitted to serving milk straight from the fridge, sadly mine were too fussy for that!

Of course point c) is that microwaves heat hot spots so as already advised, shake the slats out of the bottle before serving it.

Thanks all. Another question: If I add powder to just-boiled water, is the heat killing off anything good and depriving DD of some essential nutrients?

Don't know the answer to that one, sorry!

I sterilise the botles and then immediately fill them with required amount of boilng water and put teats and lids on.

Then I put same amount of ounces of powder into little pots.

Then I have kits for the day.

No need to put bottles in fridge.

Take up a couple of kits at night, and when baby cries just put the powder into the waterand shake it.

I used to put one in bed with me so that the water was body temperature when I made it up at 03.00.

DavidBeckhamsMum - " If I add powder to just-boiled water, is the heat killing off anything good and depriving DD of some essential nutrients?"

Yes water which is too hot can destroy nutients - that is why the guidelines state 70 degrees C water. This means boiling the kettle and leaving for 30 minutes.

Formula powder is not sterile - this is why you should be adding it to water which is at least 70 degrees C.

Too late for me to post much more but please read these other threads which I have contributed to.

PLEASE DON'T JUST DO WHAT EVERYONE ELSE DOES. PLEASE INFORM YOURSELF AND THEN DECIDE.

See this thread
and this thread and read the WHO guidelines.

Thank you, tabouleh, much appreciated. Should have searched for existing threads first

Here in The Netherlands I have been advised to sterilise every 2/3 days and in between rinse with cold, then hot tap water and dry on paper towels. Also to make bottles using tap water.

We are so lucky to have clean water, WHO guidelines are not primarily aimed at those of us lucky enough to have access to this.

Dutch research indicated that an over-sterilisation was leading to children with a virtually non-existant immune system and an increase in allergies. A small amount of germs is the preferred way to go.

I use the ready made cartons as I thought it was less likely that I would cock it up.

I sterilise all my bottles together (microwave steriliser bottles) and use them within 24 hours of being sterilised, I think that is more than adequate, the lids are on and they are thoroughly washed so I can't see the problem.

I make them up as I go along as there is no advantage to making them up in advance when using the ready made stuff. There may be a carton of opened milk in the fridge for a few hours.

SkiHorse - it is interesting how different countries interpret the rules.

I don't understand the making the bottles with tap water though? Is this even for newborns - that is a massive difference in the germs that a BF baby is being exposed to v a FF baby.

The WHO guidelines are for all countries as they relate to making up formula powder - the reason for advising for the water to be 70 degrees is to kill bacteria which may be in the powder.

I am very interested in why other countries don't seem to be following the WHO guidelines - having read the WHO experiments I wouldn't be prepared to take the risk for a newborn/premature/immune compramised baby.

That's your choice.

Yes, it's for newborns - in fact mine was a preemie newborn. Perhaps you don't have clean water/formula, not sure where you live.

The WHO are somewhat preaching to the choir - those that need to be told how to do stuff either don't give a flying fuck or don't have access to WHO guidelines. Waste of money (imo).

As for why not "all" countries follow given guidelines, perhaps the Dutch feel they are able to exercise their own research, opinions and values upon such things without needing to turn to a central body.

Crumbs.

I didn't sterlise bottles (dd stopped breastfeeding and started formula at 3 months) and did what anotehr OP said above, made up bottles of water for the day and had pots of ready measured formula to mixas and when.

DD went on cows milk at 6 months (started weaning at 4 months as was normal in the bad old days).

Think the guidelines are over zealous and think mothers lack a basic level of common sense

Hum having only breastfed I haven't made bottles myself.

But I have read all the info for FF, what I don't think a lot of people understant is that no matter where formula is made it is not a sterial product. It can contain harmfull bacteria and that is why you should make it up with water that is at lest 70C. I always cringe when seeing mums add it to cooled boiled water there a health risk in doing this. It doesn't matter if you live in an area with clean water, it's about sterialisng the formula not the water.

I am the last person to defend the WHO guidelines which in middle class UK areas seem to be waved around to make sure that you don't actually enjoy being a mother - heaven forbid - BUT I am at not sterilising bottles or used boiling water.
If the formula companies don't guarantee that their product is sterile why act like it is? If sterilising provides a good back up to your washing of bottles and you quite often wash bottles tired or distracted (as a mum..) then why not do it?

lottie I too wondered about boiling my nipples...

Dh and I were confused about this as the guidance has changed between dc2 and dc3.

Yes - Use sterilised bottles within 3 hours of sterilising them (in a steam steriliser)
Also have a cold-water steriliser for breast pump

No - Disinfect the work surface before making up the formula

Yes - Make formula using water around 70 degrees C
Although 4 years ago we stored the water in the fridge and added formula to it as required and dd hale and hearty.

• Use formula within 2 hours of making it? Is this once it's given to baby? If so yes. Otherwise no, the formula is in the fridge up to 24hrs. I express a lot of milk and it stays longer in the fridge than 2 hours but less than 12.

Not sure if we are doing it right, but making it up fresh every time is totally impractical, given that 2 week dc3 goes from waking to hungry in about 30 seconds.

Regarding the OP what to do in the middle of the night I used a flask. So cooled water for 30mins, put in flask, and then made bottle fresh in night.

Also means you have water ready first thing in the morning when LO is going mental, unless that's just mine.

skihorsewonawean will you be boiling your nipples at 40 or 70 degrees

Ok it is a fact that even in westen countries babies have died from infections from formula that is not made up correctly. That is why the WHO's guild lines are as they are, and yes many babies will be fine if you don't but why take the risk. It's a bit like playing russhan rullet.

I do agree that sterilasing everything like bottle's probably isn't necasary every time you make bottle's. It's the formula that is the most important part hear. I think it's some where like Canida that just recomends you to wash in hot water or diswasher.

Luckly Breastmilk is made on demand and full of lots of things called antibodies so no need to boil nipples. Although there probably is a case for resable personal hygine.

I will move to formula at 6 months, will not sterilise bottles as they will go in dishwasher. Generally I don't put teats etc in dishwasher so probably will sterilise, the point about eating off the floor isn't relevant as old milk is breeding ground for bacteria.

re: mixing formula will cool boiled water, yes I will probably do this esp when out and about - (although would use immediately); I wouldn't for a newborn but at 6 months its about weighing up the risks (low) versus the hassle (potentially high unless you use cartons).

With my previous 2 (before the new guidelines) used to make up the bottles with water at night and then add the powder just before the feed.