Bottle feeding, out and about.

[Jess234]

Probably a silly question, but I need some advice.

I am currently mix feeding, breast at night and formula during the day. In a few days I will be out for most the day, so need to take enough bottles for baby?s feeds. I have an Avent insulated bottle carrier; the problem is it only holds two bottles of chilled baby milk/boiled water for up to four hours. Baby may need more than two bottles and will probably be more than four hours apart. So how do other mum?s ensure they have enough bottles for baby?s feeds if out for along time.

Any advice welcome.

ok, you can get sachets of pre-measured formula, its more expensive, but handy when out and about. just carry the water about in your bag, add the sachets as and when baby needs a feed. or u can carry cartons of formula milk, take out sterilised bottles, and again empty into bottle when needed.
some places (sainsburys or local chemist)sell containers which will have 3 or 4 seperate containers to put formula into, so u just add this to the water. heat up the water in a jug of boiling water if u baby prefers it warm.

or alturnitivly buy a small cool bag and an ice pack, put bottles in there.
some nappy bags are insulated or have an insulated section, mine does, unfortunaly it doesnt have a label on it so cant give u the make, but it holds 6 bottles, its very large but when i got it i have 2 kids in nappies, and now dd2 is in washables its even big enuff to fit those in as well as her bottles, my dd2 inhalor and aerochamber spacer, plus toys, snacks and a blanket.

Thanks misdee,

Good advice. I didn?t think of it that way, I just assumed that you had to mix the formula milk with hot water, but you cool it anyway. Also forgot about the cartons.

Thanks again,
Jess

Jess - when you are out and about why don't you breast feed (or part breastfeed - would that not be easier? Interested as to why you don't breast feed during the day. Hope I'm not being too intrusive by asking.

Jess234 have you heard of Steri-bottles? You can buy them in boots, tesco etc. They are pre-sterilised one use only recyclable bottles. You just open them up, empty the pre-mixed carton of milk in and the bottle is ready. I use them when I am travelling etc as they are so easy. £1.99 for 4 (so obv not for regular use!) but they really do make long days out easier.

The milk will be room temperature so you don't even have to heat it.

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Take a couple of made up bottles in the insulated container then, as a stand by, one or two sterilised with just pre-boiled water and a plastic container of measured powder. All you have to do is warm the water (most cafe's would do this or Debenhams for example will give you a thermos of hot water to stand it in) and dissolve the powder into it when you need it.

Hi everyone,

Mears- I was breast-feeding all the time, but found it very difficult (pain-full, blocked ducts, etc) and was going to give up. My HV suggested that I part bottle-feed to make it a bit easier instead of giving up all together. I felt that was best, as baby would still get some breast milk.

CountessDracula- I have seen the Steri-bottles about, but never looked at them properly because of the price. Sound like a good idea and like you say, good for travelling. If I only use them once and a while wouldn?t work out too expensive.

Twiglett- Brought one of the milk containers today.

Thanks for the advice everyone.

Take Care
Jess

Jess - I'm glad you asked that question as I was trying to work out the best way for dd milk when I'm out all day next weekend. It's brought forward a couple of options that I hadn't thought about / didn't know existed (like the steri bottles).

I remember using cartons of pre mixed formula when out with my youngest son. Not cheap, but oh so wonderfully convenient if you are busy

CountessDracula, I have tried using the steribottle and they don't work for me.
Have you ever tried them? They leak and ds would not even put his mouth anywhere near the bottle as the milk was coming out too quickly.

I have tried them a couple of times, just in case I had done something wrong the first times, but I got the same result.

The other ideas are brilliant and I am going definetevely to use the powder in a sachet and bottle with water.

Steri-bottles never worked for me either. Ds hated them - wouldn't take his milk from them at all. I used the cartons - excellent invention !!

I looked at the Steri-bottles today. Not sure if baby would take to them as at the moment she is using the Tommee Tippee- Nuby bottles, which are supposed to mimic the breast (apparently) She wouldn?t take to the normal bottles at first.

While I was out today, I took a sterilised bottle and a ready-made carton, which was easy enough.

Anyway thanks to you all for the advice.

Jess