Had to give up bf....(Formula) bottle feeding tips please!

[seasister]

I've got a 16 day old DS. For various reasons, have to give up breast feeding, though still ebm a couple of times a day. Hope to continue this.

But he's mainly on formula as of today. I realise it's more of a faff, so I'm looking for as many great tips as possible to make my life as simple as poss! For example, I read that I can boil up a jug's worth of water and as long as sterlised, can keep up to 24 hours to use with powdered formula. Is this right? Obviously that will make a big difference time wise.

Anyway - love to hear your tips for ff at home or out and about.

Thanks

hi - the main thing about formula is that it must be mixed with water no cooler than 70 degrees. this is because formula is not sterile and the hot water will kill most of the bugs that are in it. i would never mix the powder with cold water as this won't kill the bacteria. as your little one is so young I would recommend using cartons of formula during the night as it will mean you don't have to be up for so long. when my DS was that young we used to keep a flask of boiled water so we could make up bottles quickly. we replenished it throughout the day with new sterile water so it stayed around the correct temp.
I know it all seems like a bit of a faff at the moment and it is but organisation is key. give it a week and you'll be an expert! I am sure others will be along with more advice and some of my advice won't be right. just do what is best for you and enjoy your little one while they are so tiny! hope that helps!

I dont ff that much, but a good tip from a friend was to try to get the baby used to drinking formula at room temperature, as then you can use cartons at night/ when out and about and just chuck it straight in the bottle and not have to faff with heating it up when the baby's desperate for milk.

BUT, the cartons are quite expensive relative to the powder.

I've been mix feeding my 9 week old for the last 3 weeks. I thought it was going to be a major faff too but now I've got my head round it it really isn't.

We use a flask (I bought a tommee tippee one). Keep hot water in there and use that to make up the bottles, whether in or out of the house. I then stick the bottle in a jug of cold water for 5-10 mins to cool it down to drinking temperature. (The flask has an outer shell which you can use if out of the house for cooling). The bottle can be safely kept for 2 hours once made up so make a little before you think they'll be hungry to let it cool without the demonic screaming.

TBH I'm very pro breast feeding and was gutted when I had to introduce formula but I'll be honest, when in a cafe or restaurant formula is easier than faffing about under pashmina and risking exposing yourself to all and sundry!