Formula feeding out and about

[SausageSmuggler]

Just wondering the best way to formula feed if you're going out so can't necessarily make up a fresh feed? Obviously going to people's houses isnt an issue but what if you're going somewhere where boiling water might not be available? I don't remember having this stress first time around!

I always prepared my bottles every morning and still do for ds2 as far as I'm concerned and I'm sure a lot of other mothers do put water in sterilised bottles and add milk as and when through day. As long as bottles sterilised they will be for 24 hours. X

I always make my bottles up the night before. Rapidly cool and then store in the fridge until I need them. I put them in the changing bag when we go out too as I have one of those thermally pockets things that keeps them cold.

HTH

Yes, it is better now to make up bottles correctly and then keep cool than it is to use sterile bottles of cooled boiled water and bring powder (according to advice regarding the powder not being sterile, so bottles need to be made up using water above 70 degrees. Alternatively you can take a flask of boiling water and the powder? Or if your brand does cartons, they are easiest as they are sterile and you just pour into a clean bottle and feed?

The ready made cartons are actually a different milk to the powder formula so may upset baby if swap and change

I did what x6bec did and didn't have any problems - though it's not strictly best practice. At restaurants/cafes staff are generally helpful with providing hot water to heat bottles in. But they often don't have a tea pot or bowl big enough to put a bottle in - so you can't heat up the bottle adequately. I would take your own container, something the right size to heat up your bottles in and ask it to be filled with boiling water.

We eventually fell into the trap of using cartons & DS would only drink them, not powder. $$$

I have a small flask, that has boiling hot water, that's enough 4 two feeds. I then find somewhere 2 cool the bottle down. Don't know if that's of any use 2 you? The water is hot 4 about 6 hours.

Same as xbec & LST, we make up feeds in a batch.
If we're going out we bring one in the bottle cool bag (DS is happy with room temp and straight from fridge).

DS is on comfort milk atm & you can't get cartons of it..rats!!

Hi there

If you search google for Department of Health Formula feeding guidelines it tells you how long you can keep pre-made bottles for. I now make up bottles with freshly boiled water and place in the fridge straight away. If I'm going out I take a bottle in a chill bag, with one of those blue camping iceblocks and this is good for 4 hours. If out for longer and I can't make one up from scratch (if I have to make one from scratch I make it up approx 30 mins before I think my LO will feed), I take a carton but use these sparingly so that I can continue to afford to buy shoes :)

The best FF purchase I have made is the tommee tippee flask. I was caught out twice with restaurants disappearing with my bottle. The flask keeps the water hot for ages - a good 6 hours +

Thanks ladies. I forgot I have a tommee tippee flask already that was buried in a cupboard. It is very very good at keeping water hot too so will be busting it out again.

We make up feeds in batches and put them in the fridge. If we're going out for a short time we just transfer one to the insulated pocket of DD's bag and find a way to heat it when needed. Occasionally we'll make up a feed and take it with us still warm.
For a longer time requiring a second feed we take a pot of formula powder if we know we can get hot water, or a carton in not, plus a clean bottle.