Would this be an OK way to make bottles up?

[lurcherlover]

Firstly, let me say my baby is due on Saturday and I really want to breastfeed, and that is hopefully what's going to happen. So this question will hopefully be irrelevant. But I just want to cover my back so that if for whatever reason breastfeeding doesn't work out (and I will be posting on here with lots of questions for you ladies if it's not going well!) I know what to do in advance with bottles and I'm not googling frantically with a screaming baby in the background...

OK, I know the official way is to make up bottles on demand. But I know that in practice most people seem to make a day's worth in advance. So would this be acceptable or is it too risky?

• Sterilise all bottles/teats for a day's feed.
• Boil kettle, wait til it's cooled to 70 degrees, make up all feeds. Allow to cool and refrigerate.
• Remove and warm as needed.

Is this what most people end up doing?

No, made up bottles need to be used with 2 hours of being made AFAIK. It really is essential, formula powder is not sterile.

I think you can boil the kettle, wait til it's cooled, fill bottles and keep them in the fridge (put in a bit less than the total water you need as you'll add some later).

Then when you're ready, make up the feed and add freshly boiled water up to the amount you need, just to take the chill off. But make sure you give it a good stir!

Think this is ok - it's what one of my friends does anyway.

Or if you only need formula as a back up then you can buy little cartons of ready made formula, about 50p each and one carton would last a newborn for a full day I reckon.

that's what i did op and it was fine

Yes, you can do what you suggest it's not best practice which is to make up each feed and use straight away but it is an acceptable alternative.

TO make it that bit safer rather than leaving to cool - which would increase the time any bacteria not destroyed by the hot water has to multiply by the milk being at a good 'breeding' temp for longer - you could actively chill the bottles by immersing them (but not past the bottle collar) in icy water.

Whilst the kettle is cooling you could get ice packs out of the freezer and a jug of cold water out of the fridge and putting them in a large bowl so that when you have added the boiled water/powdered milk to the bottle and mixed, you can then plunge the bottles straight into the iced water. This would cool them quickly and they could then be refridgerated.

Obviously, I hope you won't need to do this if you are planning on bfing but it never hurts to be prepared (you might end up babysitting a friend's baby who is bottle fed for instance). Cartons though are the easiest way to give an occasional ffed though but it wouldn't be very cheap to do that for an exc.ffed baby!

I know lots of people will frown at this but this is what I did with ds who is now a happy healthy 4 yo...

Boil kettle, have a days worth of bottles,teats etc sterilized ready, make desired amount of formula either separately in each bottle or one bulk batch in thoroughly washed jug (that only ever had baby formula or very hot soapy water in it) ready to pour into each bottle. By the time the bottles had all been assembled (which took a few minutes as I used dr. Browns bottles which are fiddly) the formula had cooled slightly. I then put them all in the fridge ready to be warmed when needed.

I will be doing exactly the same in February when my daughter will be born.

Hth

I've always wondered if you have to wait the 30 minutes for the water to cool. Could you boil the kettle and make up the bottle after about ten minutes? Then just spend a little longer cooling it down?

Look, it's one thing to take risks by not making up formula correctly for you're own child, it's quite another to recommend that other take risks with theirs.

I really am shocked that I've been the only person so far on the thread to highlight the importance of making up formula correctly. We all know using formula brings health risks, some mothers accept them through choice whilst other have no choice but to use it. Thank goodness it exists. But, why would you advocate adding increased risk by recommending someone to do anything other than follow best practice?

Sorry for the shock induced typos...

hi moomin I did it with all my 4 and they are still alive. I am listening to all this bottle stuff but will probably make at least two in advance probably becoming lazier and making more as time passes. How can you possibly know the temp of the water.

You could keep a jug of cooled boiled water in the fridge (clean jug with an airtight lid preferably) then make concentrated feed up with hot water to kill the bacteria, topping up with cooled boiled water to make it the right proportion of powder/water, and also a drinkable temperature.

Probably not the ideal way of making it, but safer than leaving it festering all day.

Clear advice on how formula should be made up.

Surely there are detailed instructions printed on the side of the pack too?

The instructions / advice exists for a reason.

OP - Please, if you do end up needing formula, make it up according to the instructions.

Fermina - I'm with you the recommendations exist because it is the best way to minimise the risks of FF. Powdered formula is not sterile -t is why it is recommended to make up with water no cooler than 70 degrees
Milk is the ideal medium for the growth of bacteria -that is why each bottle should be made up as and when required.

You are your baby's parent and it is up to you to decide how many risks you are willing to take. No one else should be recommending anything but the most stringent of precautions.

Berry

Hi ledkr I am not recommending people do what I do, I am just saying what I did so thAt the option is there.

Ledkr - what thread are we on now, not been around for a while so lost it.

OP - I did exactly what you describe. So did my entire antenatal group. No probs.
In theory, making up bottles one at a time is great. In practice, different matter.

Both the NHS and WHO advise that feeds can be made up in advance as long as they are used within 24 hours. Although this length of time is no longer considered ideal anymore for young babies. So what the OP is suggesting is within the guidance.

With ready made cartons they can be kept, once opened for 48 hours.

OP - I did as you suggest for my first (now 13) but by the time dc3 (now 3) came along I used to put water into the bottles from the kettle to about 60% of the required amount and chill that.

Then when needed I would top up with boiling and add powder.

I appreciate that this is not current guidelines but it was then (that you could store boiled water for up to 24hrs).

Good luck with bf.

it is not difficult to make up bottles fresh , as you need them. it just takes organisation.
op , suggest you stick to the manufacturers advice

NHS

What's the for Fermina?

I'll stop ing when you show me where "Both the NHS and WHO advise that feeds can be made up in advance as long as they are used within 24 hours."

As long as the bottles are cooled quickly, the making up in advance is considered to be safe - although not best prctice (the safest way being to make fresh each time).

Page 10 of this world health organistaion leaflet discusses the best practice when it comes to making up feeds in advance.

If you want to make feeds fresh each time, then you can speed the process up by using water boiled and cooled to 70degree kept in a flask to make up the feed,which will then need cooling under the cold tap.

The point of mixing the powder with hot boiled water is that it (hopefully) will kill bacteria that are known to be present in formula.

You said you are planning to breastfeed. Do yo have a La Leche League group/other breastfeeding support group in your area? Most groups are happy to give advice and friendship prenatally and it could help if you already know some bf mums before your DC is born. You will need a lot of supporting you will succeed in bf so why nWot give them a ring?

Good luck with the arrival f your DC (and there is always someone on here who s willing to give help and advice)

NHS advice, says this is not best practice, but that

"If you are unable to follow the above advice or if you need to take a feed to another location, such as a nursery or a child minder's house, you should prepare the feed at home and cool it at the back of the fridge. Take it out of the fridge just before you leave and transport it in a cool bag with an ice pack."

"Feed stored in the refrigerator should be used within 24 hours of preparation. Even if water no less than 70 °C
was used to reconstitute PIF, spoilage bacteria may have survived that can grow at refrigeration temperatures
and can cause feeds to spoil. The quality of reconstituted PIF may also deteriorate on prolonged storage." WHO advice

"You should use the feed within four hours, or if you reach your destination within four hours, take it out of the cool bag and store it at the back of the fridge. Do not store the feed for more than 24 hours. However, this length of time is no longer considered to be ideal, particularly for young babies. Wherever possible it is always safer to make up a fresh feed." NHS advice

Both previously linked to on the thread. OK?