Powdered formula bottle feeding - confused!

[Storm007]

Hi all, I am very confused. Regarding to the manufactuer, Unicef, the midwife and health visitor, powdered formula must be made up with water no cooler than 70 degrees celcius and must be consumed within 2 hours.

However, lots of people I speak to say that I am mad and that they boil the water, poor it in a bottle to cool, when out and about to room temperature and then mix the powder up when needed. Am I missing something or are they not following the guidelines?

Also, there seems to be a lot of bottle warmers around, but I can't find a quick bottle chiller. So if I am out and about and have taken boiled water with me to make up a feed, it takes ages for it to cool down, resulting in a very upset baby. At night, to cut down DDs waiting time I cool the freshly made up feed in ice water. Cleary all this waiting around adds extra distress due to waiting time.

I would be grateful for some tips on whether I am missing a trick and if not on how to quickly cool her feed on the go. Many thanks

They are not following the guidelines. Using hot water (above 70degrees) is NOT just about killing the bugs in the water but also killing the bugs in the formula. Powdered formula is NOT sterile and can legally contain bugs.

Using water at 70 degrees kills enough of those bugs to make it safer for your baby while maintaining the nutritional value.

As mummyberryjuice said - you are not missing a trick, they are not following current guidelines. The way you described in your first paragraph is how to make it up.

However, there are guidelines from WHO and Department of Health on the safe way to make it in advance if required, although it is still preferable to make it as you need it. See page 13 of the 'Support for those who FF' thread for more details. Basically, it must still be made with water that is hotter than 70c, then cooled rapidly before storing in the back of the fridge and using within 24 hours. Using cool water to make up feeds, even if it has been boiled first, is not recommended.

But to answer your question about cooling feeds when you're out - I normally use cartons, to be honest, as I can't be bothered with the faff I find it much easier and stress free. I also use Tommee Tippee thermos bags to store a milk if I'm taking it out (for example, I make it and cool in the house and take to a cafe, if I know I'm using it within 2 hours, so I don't have to do it when I'm there). But you could also ask for a bowl of cold water to cool it down when you're out - cafes etc should be happy to oblige.

Hello, thank you both. Glad I am not missing anything. I shall stick to making them up fresh and taken the cartoons with me as I have done. Its not worth taking the risk of DD getting ill. Its better for her to wait a little longer for her feed, even if a little inconvenient for her at night.

We went with the 2 flask method.

Sterilise 2 flasks, e.g. use boiling water

Fill one with water just over 70 degrees

Fill other with boiled cooled water

Make up a feed exactly the way it says on the pack and mark the milk leek on the bottle

Then, in future you can use the 70 degree water to add to the powder up to about 2/3 of the volume and shake, then add chilled water to cool.

Worked for us and was very quick. We soon got into the habit of doing the flasks in the morning when we made tea. DS was on comfort formula as well so no cartons available. We just chucked the flasks in the change bag on the way out.

Leek? Sorry, level.