Formula when out-and-about: what's best?

[Lunarlyte]

Hello, just wondering what the best way would be to safely bottlefeed DD2 (3 wo) when out and away from our kettle!

DD1 was born in 2009 and we bought Tommee Tippee bottles that came with little pots to store powdered formula in. We'd make the bottle with fresh, boiled water and when we needed the milk to feed her, mix the powder from the pot into the water, which was usually backto room temp by the time we fed her.

However, having seen the HV today and being informed of new guidelines from the FSA (i.e. The powder needs to be dissolved into water of at least 70 degrees F to kill bacteria) clearly the old pot and cooled water method isn't deemed safe. DD1 never had any problems from the way we fed her (aside from using the pots, her bottles were ALWAYS made up 100% fresh) but I don't want to buck new safety advice.

So, I'm just wondering whether any of you bottle-feeding Mammas still use the powder and pots? Or if not, how do you recommend feeding bub when out flying your kite? All answers appreciated!

We make up bottles before we go as recommended, cool them really quickly in ice water then reheat when needed

You can do it this way and store in the fridge for 12 hours, but we've been ok for a couple of hours out and about just in the nappy bag, but i probably wouldn't do it for very long. Or we take sterilised bottles and cartons for when we're out which is much easier!

HTH

We usually use formula from the pre-mixed cartons when we're out. And take some pre-sterilised bottles. The cartons are sterile until opened.

Cartons are your friend here

Yes, ready made cartons and pre-sterilized bottles are easiest and safest, as ready made formula is sterile until the carton is opened. I used this method to feed DS any time we were out and about or travelling and he has never had any tummy bugs or other issues since being FF from 6 weeks.

I used to carry boiled water and milk powder seperately (I had a nice little plastic sterilisable tub to measure the powder into. I quite often found that if I started with boiled water it would cool down in a bottle carrier to the right temp by the time I needed to use it. Otherwise I would microwave the water (never happy microwaving the milk itself) or carry a separate little vacuum of boiling water and a little plastic jug to put the bottle in to get the temperature of the water right before I added the milk powder,shook it up and voila.

Not happy carrying mlik but boiled water is biologically inactive a lot longer so safer.

I'm confused by the new guidelines, DD is currently in the neonatal unit and hospital advice for making up bottles is exactly how you describe you have previously done it OP. ie room temp water previously boiled (or we use bottles of sterile water, same thing) I would stick to what you have been doing, much safer than making up bottles in hot water then carrying them round.

Bottles are advised to be made up using water that is 70C, this is because the powder is not sterile. So the water is hot enough to kill bacteria without affecting the milk.

On the back of formula boxes it says boil 1L of water and wait half an hour, which brings it down to about 70C. Powder can contain harmful bacteria than can cause D and V and in some cases be extremely serious

Get a little thermos flask, and apot to dispense the powder. The flask keeps the boiled water really really hot for a good ocuple of hours, and then you make up the feed as you would normally. OR, make it up as you are leaving the house and put it in a little thermal bag thingy - it's safe at room temp for up to 4 hours.

GotMyLittleLamb - Some very specific milks need to be made up with cold water (I have no idea if that would apply to neonatal, AFAIK it is generally reflux ones), but generally the water should not be below 70 degrees. I am sorry, but it is wrong that it is safer to use previously boiled water than making them up first.

OP- The best thing to do is either use cartons, or make up the bottle, cool it down and then heat it up to serve if you want to. I'd say at 3 weeks old your best bet is to get him used to having it not warmed!

if you want the milk to be drinkable straight away a good way to do it is to have a flask of boiling water, then two bottles one with say 3oz of cooled boiled water the other empty, then put 3oz of boiling water in the empty bottle, add powder and mix and then add the cooled boiled water pre measured to make it the right amoutn of water and the right tem.

so for a 6oz feed, you have 3oz HOT water with all 6 scoops of powder, then add the other 3oz of measured and cooled water and mix thoroughly is should then be roughly drinking tmpe, you may have to try a few times at home to check the quantities of hot and pre cooled water etc.

Why not above 70 degrees? I am very hazy about temperatures anyway.

We always go to a cafe and ask for some hot water which they always have. You carry cool boiled water with you. Put in powder, then a bit of hot water to zap germs, then make rest up with cooled water.

At home our best investment ever has been a Quooker - instant hot water tap. You can make bottles up safely and almost instantly.

Thanks all for your suggestions. Had our first outing where we fed Babba away from the house (albeit at my parents house - bold!) and we took an SMA ready-to-feed carton.

I think I'd continue to use the bottle pots to carry the right amount of powder in if I was going somewhere where I had access to a kettle (so, a friend/relatives' house). I can't take the risk of mixing the powder in water cooler than 70F when the message seems to be everywhere telling you not to do it!

Thanks again for your advice x