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 ?

No, no, no and yes. Although my sterilizer keeps bottles sterile for 24 hours.

For night feeds I take the bottle with water up to bed and the pre measured powder in one of those sectioned pots. Then takes all of 2 seconds to tip it into the bottle and shake (but ds does drink it at room temp).

I do know about the who guidelines but am choosing to do it the same way as previously.

In response to Migril, I suspect many people take the risk because its very low and its a hassle to follow the instructions to the letter.

See here:

link

I suspect this is a short term problem as no doubt the formula manufacturers will come up with a way to make sterile powdered formula. Apparently this is not currently possible so if the instructions say make up at 40c it means the manufacturers are ignoring this risk.

I sterilise four bottles at once and fill with cooled, boiled water. But I've never bothered then keeping them in the fridge. I just add the formula when I'm about to feed and yes, I have followed the guidelines about not keeping that feed for more than two hours. Though this has meant I have thrown away a lot of feed at times - especially right now that my DD's teething and feeding is such a total 'mare (see other plea for help!)

Hi new to mumsnet...
Just from my own experience of little one surviving two and half months of intensive then special care having been born at 2lbs 6 following cat 1 ceasarean, the intensive care rules for even these vulnerable babbies is simply hot soapy water to wash the bottles, boobs and hands...milk is expressed and fridge stored for no more than 24hrs and formula is made up to feed and any left over discarded. Thats that intensive situation so you could be less strict I guess. But the key to it was washing with v.hot water and drying with a disposable towel immediately...from the intensive care point of view thia greatly reduces the likelihood of water born bacteria. They have even ditched milton sterilising as it offers no additional protection as us mums didnt sterilise their boobs for hours before bringing in expressed breastmilk! even the special unit could never have been germ free...my wee guy just needed to be introduced to lifes muck and germs at a slow pace...well sort of slow...discharged at 37 weeks weighing 4lb 7 and we spent the rest of week breasrfeeding in the park, he is now packing(for us mighty) 8lbs! Heres to a life of a healthy playing mucky wee fells with an immune system thats built for it! Good Luck and try not to fret!

Look can we just separate out a few things here please:

1. Boiling nipples etc

1. Sterilising bottles and teats

1. Boiled water v tap water

1. Using 70 degree water to make up formula

1. Boiling nipples etc - yes very funny ha ha - hopefully most readers of MN will realise that breastmilk and breasts are designed for feeding babies (no special preparation of breasts etc required). Personally I find the flippant comments annoying as I am devoting time here to explain to people about the risks of unsafe FF preparation.

2. Sterilising bottles and teats

UK guidelines state to sterilise bottles and teats. The only reason to sterilse is if you think that washing with hot soapy water and drying has removed and not introduced new bacteria. Personally I felt I was too tired to ensure scrupulous hygiene. I also felt that as I wasn't BFing this was one area where being ultra hygienic and trying to elimiate bacteria was an area where I would be making my DC similar to a BF one. This the leaves all the dirty floors/shoe licking etc for DC to build "immune system"

3. Boiled water v tap water

I have not idea whether the water in the Netherlands is "cleaner" than in the UK - but there is no way that I would want to risk any bacteria in the water. This is why I followed the guidelines to boil the water. A BF baby does not have water which may contain bacteria so I did not want my baby to.

"WHO guidelines are not primarily aimed at those of us lucky enough to have access to this." - I have to disagree with this WHO guidelines are for ALL countries.

"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 agree with this BUT NOT IN RESPECT OF FFing. So yes to cut down on the anti-bac everywhere but why take risks with the FFing?

4. Using 70 degree water to make up formula

"What a load of rubbish re. making formula up at 70degrees." londonlottie - have you read the WHO guidelines and experiments.

Aptamil in this country states that it should be made by boiling water and leaving for 30 mins (this will mean it is at 70 degrees) - if you call the UK Aptamil careline they tell you "70 degrees is the optimum". The only reason they are not doing this in Switzerland is that the authorities are letting them get away with it.

However the one qualifiation I will make is that I am aware that there are some formulas which (due to their ingredients) cannot be made with 70 degrees water - it could be that this is the case for the Aptamil Prem.

However there is no way that it should be made in advance.

"In hospital after my twins' birth, midwives told me to make up a jug of formula at the start of the day and leave it in the fridge for up to 24 hours, to make things easier."

I am so very very annoyed and sad on your behalf that you were given this DISGRACEFUL advice. Premature babies are at the very highest risk from an Enterobacter sakazakii infection.

report from the US (warning - very sad).

In summary the risk is small - but surely FFing parents should be made aware of the risks/the methods for reducing the risks and the fact that the risk is highest for newborns etc?

• sterilising: no, I use hot soapy water, they get a good scrub, are rinsed in hot water and left to air dry on a clean tea towel. (I would have sterilised for the first few months had I ff then, though).

• work surface: no

• use water around 70 degrees: no. With DD1 I only used cartons. We had to make up bottles in the morning before we dropped her off at nursery. All of the babies were left with made-up bottles in the fridge. Ours were cartons poured into sterile bottles, so no idea if that makes a difference. Now I boil the water, put it in bottles, refrigerate and add the powder as and when needed. A paediatrician friend told me that was fine! But today I learn it isn't. Oh well... but at least if the powder goes in and then it is used germs shouldn't be multiplying. And DD2 is 9 months old.

• Use formula within 2 hours of making: yes, actually within 1 hour normally.