Formula Bottles - Make up in advance?

[DribblersMum]

Hello

Can anyone help - I'm planning to try and wean my 8.5 month baby off my boob as I'm going back to work soon. I've tried expressing but just won't have time to get all I can...

Does anyone know - can I make up bottles in advance? And if so, how far in advance?

Thanks!

technically you can yes. although it's advisable to make each one fresh to minimise the risk of bacteria multiplying.
if you really, really need to though you can make them up each morning and keep in the fridge. make sure you use water that's over 70 degrees to mix with the powder to kill off any bacteria in the powder itself. then cool as quickly as poss and store in the fridge.

but have you considered just continuing to breastfeed morning and evening and baby having formula in the day or just having solids/water? quite a lot of people do that and your baby is old enough to be ok with only breastfeeding around your work schedule

We used to sterilise all bottles in the evening, boil the water then pour into bottles. Leave on side until needed (up to 48 hours). Then add powder when needed, shake and it's ready. Both of ours had it at room temp.

I agonised over whether this was hygienic and safe for ages but did extensive research and this is what we went with. DD started at 5 months, DS at 2 weeks. Never had any problems with it.

PS I didn't add the powder till needed so bacteria couldn't breed. You could add it first then store in fridge apparently but I never tried that. You'd then have to keep chilled if you're out, and have to warm it up to feed.

bubble's method is not recommended because formula powder is not sterile and there have been cases of babies getting seriously ill through the bugs on the powder not being killed by very hot (around 70 degrees) water.

However, as thisis says, it's ok to make them up with the very hot water, cool them quickly then store for a day.

I would also second the suggestion of considering BFing when you're with your baby, if you want to, and FF when they're not with you. It's a lovely way to reconnect, and they get all the lovely antibodies that they need to fight those nursery germs.

Sorry, X post with classic

re reverse cycling, it's not the BFing that causes it, but the going back to work. It's when the baby needs to be close to mum at night because she's separated during the day, and in this case BFing and co-sleeping can mean mum actually gets some sleep, and baby gets the reassurance she needs. so in some ways keeping some BFing going can help with a lot of things (and like anything, if it doesn't work it can always be changed).

I read that the only instances where bacteria poisoning has occurred is in developing countries where the conditions are not sterile. I really did research this for ages and I did also read that advice. The nursery never had any problems with this method when mine started there still on bottles. I guess keep it chilled then and ensure you have something to keep it cold and something to warm it up! Mine are older now so I'm relieved not to have to sterilise anymore!

bubble - you have not been researching in the right places. The babies who died and who provoked the newer guidance were in Belgium.

I think this is less of a concern with older babies, of course.

Sadly a baby died in Belgium fairly recently, so certainly not a developing country. It's very rare for babies to actually die (this baby was sick already) but it's much more common for them to become ill. However, of course, your babies were absolutely fine so that's all good :)

It's the powder that's not sterile, you see - nothing to do with the water, the country, the bottle sterilising, etc. And developed countries aren't sterile, either .

Xpost city

I am also going back soon but I am going to send in cartons instead. I don't think I can face making bottles in the morning. I'm still going to bf when I'm with DD. Does your LO drink formula in a bottle already? If not, at nearly 9mo, your LO will most likely reverse cycle or increase solid intake while not with you. I will be thrilled if my DD takes in the full 200ml in a carton a day. So you probably aren't looking at much formula at all.

I believe it was Belgium and France where babies became ill, some of them were actually in a maternity hospital so not an issue with water or unsterilised equipment. This was in 2004/2005, which is what prompted the guidelines to change in 2005.

Thanks for the help and advice.

Can I just ask if you make them up and put them in the fridge what is the safest way to warm them up again in terms of bacteria?

Make what you need with very hot water (70C as mentioned before), cool and store in back of fridge, and be sure to use within 24 hours. You should be fine, just be vigilant with how you prepare the bottles and always sterilize all equipment before making the bottles, jsut in case there is even a tiny amount of formula left in/on the bottles or teats, the sterilzing will take care of it.

Hi Sausage,

I warm my bottles up in a bottle warmer or jug of hot water. I think to keep the milk safe you need to store them in the back of the fridge and warm/feed ASAP. Xx