making up bottles on the go

[dizzymac]

I've started using Cow and Gate comfort so I now need to make up milk from fresh on the go. Is it OK to fill a flask of the right temperature water for a day out? I assume it is as it will be just like using a kettle.

If I do use a flask I assume I only need to rinse in boiling water between uses rather than washing with soap.

I want to make up hot feeds and cool it down as I don't think the milk dissolves well in room temp water. For short trips I will just take hot water in bottles in the bottle bag and powder in a container.

Is all this ok?

If you are following the official guidance then no.

You need to dissolve the milk in water at (no less than and no more than) 70c and then cool it down.

If the water cools below 70c before you add the formula it would not be safe as the powder is not sterile. Added formula to water above 70c could damage the formula.

Lots about this on other threads.

So how do I do it then?
Surely I don't need thermometer. I don't use one at home!!

I think most people use ready to use catons when out and about.

You don't need thermometer at home as one kettle holding 1 litres takes 30 mins to reach 70c.

They don't do cartons. That's why I'm asking. Surely if I fill a flask a bit before 30 mins it will stay at approx that temp for the time stated on its label.
I really want to know if the container will be as clean as in a kettle if I only use it for water and clean it with boiled water regularly.

dizzymac don't worry - you need this leaflet.

"If you are out and cannot boil water how do you make up a feed?
Mothers should be advised to fill a vacuum flask with boiling water. If the flask is full and sealed the water will stay above 70° C for several hours. This flask can be safely transported and used to make up a feed when necessary.

Do vacuum flasks need to be sterilised if they are used to store boiled water for making up a feed later?

No, the vacuum flasks do not need to be sterilised but they should be washed thoroughly and rinsed with boiling water before being filled with boiling water intended for the feed. The boiling water should kill bacteria present in the vacuum flask."

Alternatively you can make feeds up in advance (but they will need to have been in the fridge for ah hour - so properly cool):

"? Prepare feed(s) and place in the fridge as outlined in section ?preparing feeds for use later?.
? Ensure feed has been in the fridge for at least one hour before transporting.
? Only remove feed from the fridge immediately before transporting.
? Transport feeds in a cool bag containing a frozen ice brick.
? Feeds transported in a cool bag should be used within 4 hours.
? Re-warm at the destination as in section ?Re-warming stored feeds?.
? Alternatively if you reach the destination within 4 hours, feeds transported in a cool bag can be placed in a fridge and kept for up to a maximum of 24 hours from the time of preparation - this is not ideal as the risk of illness increases the longer it is stored.

I am planning to do some experiments with a flask and boiling water to see how long it keeps its temperature.

If you put boiling water in then depending on when you want to use it it may not have cooled down enough - needs to be about 70 degrees - not too hot or it will destroy nutrients in the milk but needs to be 70 degrees to kill any potentially lethal bacteria in the powder.

I forgot to say that if you are not going out for long then you could consider making the feed and taking it with you:

^provided that it will be used within 2 hours^.

Tabouleh, you are a star. thank you for all that.
This is child no.3 by the way. You'd think I'd know by now!! but things have all changed since I did this lst time.

Depending on where you are going (e.g. if you are in a cafe at some point), could you not ask for some boiled water and then let it cool etc in accordance with the guidelines?