Bottle feeding & nursery

[scotsgirl23]

Hoping someone else has some experience of this and can advise - we've just taken our DD (8 months) for a trial at nursery, and been informed that they will not accept bottles of formula which have already been made up, and expect us to provide a formula container and a bottle of pre boiled water.

I'm not too sure about this - at the moment we make her bottles up with boiled water, cool them quickly and then put them straight in the fridge. I know this isn't ideal but making every feed fresh just isn't practical for various reasons.

From what I've read I got the impression that the risk from formula powder not being sterile was probably bigger than the risk of milk kept in a fridge developing some sort of bug.

I'm not sure if I'm being a bit PFB here - would it be reasonable to insist that they either use a pre-made and chilled one, or make it fresh with boiling water? I'm just not sure about making it up with lukewarm/cold water!

They shouldn't be making up bottles in that way, a lot of people do and a lot of people will say that it's perfectly fine, but you're right. TBH though, making them up in advance isn't actually any better (sorry it's actually what I did, as I figured it safer than adding to cold water)

If they don't agree to making up with boiled water, is there any chance you can provide pre-made formula in cartons?

Making them in advance is better Jareth! The Food Standards Agency/DoH actually have guidelines for child care providers on preparing bottles in advance that stress the importance of making them up with 70c water.

To be honest though, I wouldn't trust this nursery to do it properly - I'd send cartons.

Thanks, I wasn't sure if I was being unreasonable and DH gave me the face when I said that wasn't ok.

I know neither is ideal but I figured the risks from multiplying bacteria were less than those from not sterilising the formula in the first place.

I did wonder about sending cartons - she's only going for a couple of sessions to start with so it may be an option. She never seems to take it as well though, it does seem to taste different.

i'd send cartons'

Maybe if you showed the nursery the Food Standards Agency/Dept of Health guidelines they would change their policy?

You can find it here, there's a pdf at the bottom of the page - www.food.gov.uk/news/newsarchive/2006/dec/infantform

I'd be a bit at a nursery that won't make it up fresh! Cartons seem safest in the circs.

Just picked little one up, raised it with them and pointed out the guidelines and was told that they'd look at that as they must have changed in the last 6 months and they'd been told to use the cool water method! I'd looked them up online but I notice your link is dated from 2006.

Cartons it is!

Course, now I'm worrying about the nursery which we really like otherwise.

I think we'd have heard about it if the DoH and WHO had changed their guidance suddenly! the formula packet instructions would change for one thing.

Don't the nursery have a milk kitchen? I'm suprised by can't make fresh bottles for the under 1s.

Well yes, I did think it had a faint whiff of BS about it!

The cold water and formula containers method seems to be very popular here, as the HVs say that formula should always be made fresh, but don't go on to explain what "fresh" actually means, or to explain the alternatives. I have talked to a few mums who think that because the formula and milk don't mix until they feed, that counts as fresh.

They did say they'd make it with boiling water if we insisted, but TBH when DD wants fed, she wants fed NOW so cartons will probably be easier if we can't make them in advance.