Making up bottles in advance?

[fifitot]

How do you do this? I am a novice at bottles having just started combination feeding after months of ebf. I have been using readymade formula but it is too expensive so have bought a tub. I know the guidelines say make up each feed as you go but what about when you are out? Also need something on standby for that hungry first bottle in the morning.

Am I right in thinking I use cool boiled water in a sterilised bottle stored in fridge until needed? Then add the formula and warm?

If so, how long can you keep the bottle in the fridge and what do you do when you go out?

I run them under cold water then leave them for a few minutes in a glass of cold water then repeat. It takes about 10-15 mins and they are still warmish (slightly more than room temp) when I put the bottles in the fridge but I have never had any problems.

I make 2 or 3 at a time after cooling the boiled water for 20 minutes only.

Modern fridges can handle hot things - I'd run it under the tap for a few minutes anyway though (mine has a sticker on it saying nothing higher than 70C - the average cup of tea at drinkable temperature is 80C apparently)

Fifitot a slight hijack but I wondered how nightweaning went? I read your previous thread about it...am in a similar situation with my 11 month old DS. Think they are similar in that I tried a few months back and he cried for ages - so I stopped and am scared to try again. Thinking it has to be done after 4 feeds last night though!

Hi. Well tonight is a biggy as am finally stopping his one and only BF which he has at 10pm. I managed to wean him off other feeds just by me or DH going into settle him. Some nights he will roll over and go back to sleep quite quickly, other nights we sit there for ages patting him or like last night he cries and rolls around for 2 hours! The situation is gradually improving though - I think! I am hoping cutting this last feed out will give him the final message that there is no milk at bedtime. Not even bothering to substitute breast for bottle as no point in introducing nighttime bottle to then have to get rid of it. Am sure he doesn't need the calories. Is eating well now and has 7oz formula a half hour before bed.

He is still no nearer sleeping through tbh but the amount of times he wakes has gone from 4 to 2 and at least DH can go into him.

I think you just have to go for it and be prepared! I don't leave DS to cry but sit and pat him but he can go on for ages on a bad night. off and on for 2 hours last night - though that was particularly bad.

Good luck.

Don't want to confuse you further but I sterilise 3 or 4 bottles at a time, then fill to 5oz with boiled water and just sit them to the side to cool. When I need a bottle for a feed I boil kettle and add a further 3oz of boiling water then 8 scoops of powder and voila a perfect temperature bottle for my dd.

Done that with all 3 now and they've all been fine. If I'm going out I make up a couple of bottles and keep them warm in the insulated pocket of my changing bag.

Though have to agree with POOKA as you say your lo is nearly 12 months I'd just continue with ready made for a few weeks then onto cow's milk and save yourself any worries

Once you've cooled it down it needs to be drunk within an hour. If you are just a few weeks away from cows milk, I'd just buy the ready made stuff to use when you're out, and do it "correctly" with powder when you're at home. It's a faff but you do get used to it. It's defintely a plus side of the good old boob!

Agree with the above, use ready made for a bit then go straight to cows..
If using formula powder You really should be adding powder to water that is 70degrees. That means cooling it off before feeding it. You'll also need to take a thermos of hot water out with you to make up bottles. Alternatively, make up with 70 deg water in advance and chill in fridge. Take out with you in an insulated bottle carrier and either warm up or feed cold. I have always fed cold.

Thanks. Have a tin to use up but then am going to cows milk - probably gradually as he is a fussy little devil!

Read posts with interest but still a bit confused. I understand that water has to be above 70 degrees and rapidly cooled before putting in the fridge but is it really ok to then reheat? I always thought this was a huge no no with milk.

I have only just moved to ff and have been doing each bottle as needed but as DS is 7 months I figure it would be ok to make bottles in advance but he refuses to take cold or even room temp milk so would need to reheat...

It's not hard! Just make up the morning bottle at night with hot boiled water to kill nasties, super cool by plonking straight into a jug with ice in the fridge (or freezer for 1/2hr if you are really worried -don't forget to take out again.) and serve re-heated in the morning. Do not leave any more than 12 hours.
When out I carry a thermos of boiled water and a powder dispenser and a sterile bottle in a bag. Ask the cafe or where ever for a jug of cold water to cool a bottle. Make up as per guidelines and plonk in cold water for 10 mins.
My DD likes her bottle slightly warm so 10 mins is def long enough to cool. I normally make up bottle, eat my lunch and then serve hers!!
Although popping out boob is def much easier, if you can!

Ps. My DD is 3 months and is on special formula so no ready made for me. If I didn't do this I could never leave the house!!

Apart from the obvious burnt fingers what is the reason for cooling water from boiling to 70 degrees? If you use just boiled water does it do something to the milk?

Having read this thread have realised I have been making up bottles wrongly for past 2 months (DS is 8 months now) after being told off by HV for making them with freshly boiled water. I have asbestos fingers so figured the hotter the better. (HV told me to use cooled boiled water, add powder and then heat up when needed. Which is what I've since been doing!)

Boiling water destroys some of the vitamins. Water that is too cold won't destroy any bacteria on the powder. It's not the regular bugs that are around the house that are a problem - it's the real nasties like enterobacter and salmonella which are sometimes found on the milk powder - which is why it's important to do this right no matter how old the child (including for toddler milk).

There is a sweet spot at around 70 degrees where the water will kill the bugs, but not destroy too many vitamins, as it's poured onto the powder. Obviously it then needs to be cooled to the right temperature, or it can be cooled to chilled, then stored (chilled) for up to 24 hours at most - but preferably not stored at all.

Many, many babies have had their milk made up in different ways and been fine. However, some have NOT been fine, and some have died. The chances of your baby getting very seriously ill are small - but the risk is there and you need to balance this with the practical day to day problems with using formula powder. If you understand both the reasoning and the recommendations, you can make your own choices.

Here's the full World Health Organisation's recommendation (the definitive guide!): www.who.int/foodsafety/publications/micro/pif_guidelines.pdf

I do try and make up every feed as lo needs it. I also have tt flask to make feed bit easier at nite and have just bought insulateed bags. I know the guideline. Say make up each feed wit boilging water however have just been in hospital wit my lo and the nurses did not. They have little bottles of sterilised water and they just mixed formula with that and then warmed up a little for lo. So if the nhs is doing that, why do we get told not too. Also 5 years ago it use to say you could make up in advance

Quick question ... When I boil my kettle and leave for 30 minutes it's still quite clearly scalding hot yet the instructions on the side of the Aptimil carton says 'do not add powder to boiling water' so I usually leave the water 1 hour before adding powder. Is this ok?

Scalding covers quite a large range of temps - something at 60 would probably be scalding. A food thermometer would give you a definitive answer but the water is probably 'only' at 70 if you've boiled the full litre. Boiling less would take less time to cool (1 litre cools at 1C per minute).

andrea the nurses are wrong, you should report them. They are quite clearly not following the NHS guidelines and there are special guidelines for HCPS unless they are using a special formula which can't be made with hot water. In that case the risk of using non-sterile powder is smaller than the risk of using the 'wrong' formula.

chocolate you should report your HV too. HCPs giving incorrect advice should be targeted for retraining.

You can still make in advance, it's just not ideal.

Hot water + powder = dead bacteria

Cool and serve immediately = no time for any survivors to reproduce to harmful levels

Cool and store in fridge = bacterial growth inhibited, approx 24 hours before levels approach harmful

Cold water + powder = still living bacteria breeding and therefore reaching harmful levels potentially almost instantly given the rate of reproduction at room temp and almost certainly within the recommended time to discard the bottle.

Once sufficient levels of the bacteria have been introduced into the system they will continue to reproduce, causing gastroenteritis. A slightly leaky digestive system could allow them to enter the bloodstream causing sepsis, and potentially entering the brain, causing encephalitis. The risk is greatest for tiny babies, but gastroenteritis is no picnic for anyone.

I have been to several hospitals and they all use cow and gate glass bottles sterilised water. And the disposal teats. They had a cupboard of different brands of formula. When i've stayed they have the milk room on childrens ward so I could store breast milk as I was combi feeding from week 4 as little one kept projectile vomitting. She is now just on formula. But if a few hospitals are doing it and they wil have inspections wont they.. I know what it says on formula tin but when my friend had her baby it said on tho could make up feed and that is only going back a few years and never did her lo any harm.so why has it changed.

And who would I report it too?

Report to the nursing supervisor at the hospital. PALS should be able to give you info. I would quote this document or the DOH revised guidance.

Pre-sterilised water must still be heated to 70C before powder is added.