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Infant feeding

Get advice and support with infant feeding from other users here.

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Original poster

How best to make up formula milk

26 replies

Jo15 · 07/01/2006 12:35

I was just wondering whether any of you had read the article in the Daily Mail yesterday regarding the bacteria found in formula milk. I have just switched - after four weeks of breastfeeding - onto formula feeds as I was struggling with the breastfeeding. Having overcome the massive guilt I felt I now discover that every feed I give of formula could potentially be fatal. Research has shown that 10% of formula milk tested had high levels of bacteria present and there is a risk of meningitis as a result.

Having commited to the bottle feeding route I am now not sure how best to make up the formula milk. I have been boiling water and letting it cool to room temperature and adding the formula powder when my baby is is ready to feed. However, in the article I read it suggests the only way to destroy the bacteria is to add the formula powder when the milk is over 70 degrees. This would then involve putting the powder into near boiling milk and storing it in the fridge and reheating it when baby is ready to feed. However, every where else I read it suggests that milk is better made up as and when you need it and not in advance.

I would be grateful if anybody has any advice. My mind is spinning with everything I have read.

Thanks

OP posts:

mummytosteven · 07/01/2006 12:44

I think it's better to do as you have been doing -use boiled water to make up the feed freshly, rather than to prepare the feed in advance. I have been there and done that with the whole breastfeeding not working out guilt. Bear in mind that the media often does not report health issues responsibly - drama makes a good story, and that small risks are inherent in life - there is a small risk anyone's house will burn down tonight, a small risk that anyone will be run over by a speeding car when they cross the road.

expatinscotland · 07/01/2006 12:48

I have also been where you are now. Don't beat yourself up, hon! It's going to be allright. As it is, you got 4 weeks in. Well done!

I followed the instructions on the package w/regards to making up DD1's feeds. She used Cow & Gate, and IIRC we sterilised the bottles, let them dry and then poured in freshly boiled water. Left it to sit per the instructions, and made up feeds.

We did make up feeds in advance, especially when she was tiny. I don't see how it's possible to use freshly boiled water and have time to let it cool when your baby is too young to have a feeding routine and you don't know when they'll wake up hungry.

We used a bottle warmer.

Tortington · 07/01/2006 13:08

stop reading stuff at this rate you will never feed your kids anything

no veggies or fruit- the chemicals the farmers use

no meat - bse
chicken flu
foot and mouth

expatinscotland · 07/01/2006 13:12

Exactly, custardo!

Just follow the instructions on the package religiously.

Lots of us have bottle fed w/no problems.

Surfermum · 07/01/2006 13:13

I did the same as Expat. I made up the bottles first thing in the morning, waited for them to cool, put them in the fridge the reheated as and when needed. I also had some cartons of milk for emergencies if we were out and she needed feeding.

expatinscotland · 07/01/2006 13:19

We used the cartons for going out, too!

SueW · 07/01/2006 14:09

I haven't seen the article but it may be based on the guidelines on preparing formula milk for babies which were updated in November 05. They are available here . HTH

expatinscotland · 07/01/2006 14:20

im still trying to figure out, however, how you make a feed from fresh every time if you have to leave boiling water out to cool for no more than half an hour. i mean, your infant wakes up at non-set times when it's very young, can't exactly leave it to shriek for half an hour whilst you prepare a fresh feed.

mummytosteven · 07/01/2006 18:04

expat - by cutting corners and letting the cooled boiled water cool all day, or by letting it cool for 40 minutes, then putting it in the fridge, and warming it up at feed times before adding the milk.

mummytosteven · 07/01/2006 18:05

by making up a feed from fresh I mean that the milk is completely fresh rather than the water.

expatinscotland · 07/01/2006 18:15

Gotcha! Am bfing DD2, but always made up whole feeds for DD1, but them to the back of the fridge, and warm them up as needed - never made them more than 24 hours in advance, however.

Oovavu · 07/01/2006 18:42

with dd1 we made feeds up in advance then warmed up when ready. very healthy baby no stomach upsets.

with dd2 we sterilise bottles, put cooled boiled water in them as soon as they are sterilised then leave at room temp and add formula just before a feed and don't warm it up. very healthy baby no stomach upsets.

always wash your hands before feeding, sterilise well and throw unused feeds out after an hour.... and dare i say it, don't read the daily mail!!

izzybiz · 07/01/2006 21:54

i always made up feeds with hot water, then cooled made up feeds in sink of cold water, then stored in fridge and warmed up when needed. both mine have been happy and healthy.

PotPourri · 07/01/2006 22:01

Jo, have also been where you are. 4 weeks and hten I had to admit defeat on bf. The BEST advice I have ever had (and it was from mumsnet) was to do what you are doing - boil the water and cool, then add powder just before giving it. And second best piece of advice? Give it at room temperature. DD is soooo healthy, and what a happy mum and dad as there was no faffing around involved, just a bit of space on the worktop. I prepared the bottles each night, so new water every 24 hours.

Am expecting again and I plan to bf, but this time I will be pleased with every day I manage bf (hopefully that will be at least 6 months!). And if it doesn't work out, I would definately do the bottles like I have done with DD.

Original poster

Jo15 · 08/01/2006 08:28

Thanks so much for all your help. You have definitely helped to put my mind to rest. Will make up bottles as you have suggested. Thanks again.

OP posts:

greyriver · 08/01/2006 20:14

Hmmmm.....this had got me worried now as when i make DD's formula if she wants it asap and i have none ready i use boiling water and then i add cold water straight from the tap to make it instantly the right temp....then i add formula? this means the milk temp is never over 70 degrees when i make her bottles ......

can i add she is happy and healthy!

suedonim · 08/01/2006 21:43

If you're adding cold water directly to the bottle straight from the tap, Greyriver, then that isn't a good idea. All water for formula should be boiled to kill off any bugs. Luckily the water in the UK is generally good but even so, contamination does occur here.

If a feed is too hot after making it with boiled water then you can cool the bottle (but not the teat)by holding it in under running cold water or by placing it in a bowl/jug of cold water with ice cubes in.

greyriver · 08/01/2006 22:32

i just presumed that as DD drinks tap water that it would be ok back to boiling it is then....thank goodness i read this thread

suedonim · 08/01/2006 23:32

How old is your dd, Greyriver? If she's over 6mths or a year (not sure which - someone will put me right, I'm sure!) she can have plain water straight from the tap to drink. But under that age the water should be boiled and cooled before you give it to her. Hope that helps.

greyriver · 10/01/2006 20:02

hi sudonim my DD is 1yr, i always boiled the water up until she was about 9 months. From 6 months though she has been drinking tap water, which was where my reasoning came from when i started filling around 5oz of her bottle with boiling water and then the last 4 oz i would top up with cold tap water to make her bottle the exact temp before finally adding milk powder.... i find this works v well for me as i don't have to make any in advance (as per recent advice) and DD doesnt have to wait for anything to warm up or cool down! Do you think its ok to do this as she is over a year???? .......sometimes i wish there was a smiley i could insert for confused

MaloryTowers · 10/01/2006 20:15

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

suedonim · 11/01/2006 15:45

If your dd's over a year then tap water is fine for drinking, Greyriver. I honestly don't know about making up the formula partly with tap water for a 1yr old, though. I guess you could keep some previously boiled water in the fridge to add to the hot water when you're actually making up the feed? I'm the one who needs a emoticon now, hehe!

Best thing I think is to keep bumping this thread so that someone with more knowledge can comment!

julienetmum · 11/01/2006 16:19

I would still use boiled water to mix the formula with becasue of the bacteria it can contain. However ay 1 year old she can just drink ordinary cows milk rather than formula.

polly28 · 11/01/2006 16:49

I used to make a jug of formula and keep it in the fridge,then decant into bottle.

Got a brilliant jug from lakeland that had sealed lid and we sterilised this to begin with .

It's a wonder ds is alive

LynseyM · 11/01/2006 17:14

After reading this thread, me and DH have realised we have been making DS bottles up inthe wrong way since he was born (almost 5 months ago).

We have always washed then sterilised bottles, boiled water, filled to required lvel, added formula then shaken and put in fridge to use when needed using a bottle warmer.

Is this going to do any damage to DS?

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