Bottle feeding advice for a BFer!

[fifitot]

I have managed to wean DS on to daytime bottles now that I am back at work (though still BFing at night - sadly too many times!). He is nearly 11m and has in total 3 bottles of EBM/formula per day - usually a mix of the 2. We are out for the day, all day at the weekend, I don't want to BF him (though it would be the easier option) as don't want to confuse him or mess with my now diminished daytime supply, so am taking a bottle.

I know it sounds daft but don't know the drill if you know what I mean! I am taking 2 sterilised bottles and probably 2 boxes of ready made formula (easier than taking EBM I think). He likes it warm so do I take a flask or hot water to warm it up - I think I have seen this. or will cafes let you do in there. Is there some kind of portable bottle warmer type thing I could get?

I know I sound stupid but honestly am not taking the piss here!

I would take plenty (3?) cartons of readymade formula, bottles, and depending on where you are going, you can either take a flask (if you will not be in a town/near cafes etc) or most places will give you a pot of hot water to warm it up. Very few places can be arsy about giving you hot water (citing health and saftey rubbish) but in this case they should have a bottle warmer. If not, you can always buy a pot of tea and ask for the teabag to come separately. Then dunk the bottle in the teapot (before you add the tea!)

Will he need 3 cartons though? I suppose I had better take more than necessary. usually only has 3 bottles a day, morning, mid afternoon and then bedtime.

I was thinking of getting a bottle warmer thing to heat up his food while on the go too - I need to look around at what there is I guess. More bloody expense!

Thanks for the advice.

Actually the other thing is..............after struggling to get DS onto daytime bottles, the HV 'told me off' as she said he should be moving towards a cup now. Sigh.......

I suppose that's right but god he's not even 1 yet. There is always this drive to move them onto the next thing - drives me mad!

If I use a cup though, should it have a valve or not? I just can't see him taking that much milk from a cup but suppose I could try it.

God breastfeeding seems a breeze now........

Personally I wouldn't bother sterilising bottles at this stage in his life. There are a million and ten threads about how to prepare formula (and be prepared, they get quite heated - excuse the pun!)

You've only got a month though until he can go on to cow's milk, which makes life a helluva lot easier - cup or otherwise! I would go for a tommee tippee cup without a valve personally - but it depends on your spillage-worries.

With food, I used to make the food/heat the food up at home before setting off. and keep it in a cool-bag type thing, then it would still be warm, but cool enough a couple of hours later fof LO to eat. Don't buy things at this stagr - he'll soon be eating the same food as you.

Thanks. May try a cup in a couple of weeks once he's used to the bottle! I am suprised he is so adaptable now, a few months ago he'd scream the place down if I even showed him a bottle!