My box of formula says water should be 40-50C- that isn't right is it?

[raininginbaltimore]

I ordered my Hipp formula, as I am ff from start (medication reasons). I got their new one and looked at instructions and it says water must be at least 40-50 degrees C. I thought it was 70? Have guidelines changed?

I might ring them but thought I would check with you knowledgeable lot first!

[GoodHeavensNo]

THick question alert.
When you make a bottle - does the water have to be 70 degrees? How do you know it's 70 degrees, do you have to use a thermometer?

Can't you just use boiling water, and then leave it to cool?

[SamraLee]

It just has to be 70 degrees or higher. Don't leave the kettle to cool for more than 30 minutes, is the usual advice.

[RuthlessBaggage]

I think the reason for not using water straight out of the boiling kettle is the scalding risk rather than 'nutrient bruising'.

You can make it up with half boiling water, then half cooled boiled from fridge. Hot kills bugs, cold assists cooling.

[BrightJumpers]

i used hipp - water at 70 degrees- my baby is v healthy and happy on it. i didnt know they recommended cooler water, and am v disappointed about this as it is clearly against dh guidelines.

i did use a thermometer at first (ordered off amazon) as obvs all kettles are different. the key to safety i found is quick cooling in a bowl of iced water as soon as you have made it so the milk spends as little time as possible at room temperature which is when bacteria likely to breed.

ff can be a bit daunting at first. you are not stupid! the guidance is confusing enough without hipp making it more difficult.

[raininginbaltimore]

It can be higher than 70, just not lower. They suggest not boiling water as it may kill some nutrients.

The DOH guidelines annoy me because they say 30mins, but then they say a litre or water takes 30mins. Why would I boil a litre of water to make a 160ml bottle? But that is a personal bug bear of mine :)

Should have said as well decision to ff is also to do with management of condition. Lack of sleep could risk triggering a manic episode and I remember how intense and relentless it was feeding my ds in the early weeks. FF means that I can share with Dh and therefore get slightly more sleep (!) or at least getmore regular sleep.

Thanks for all the advice. It makes me cross that some people will follow advice on box, which could be dangerous.

[Spiritedwolf]

I found this interesting because I figured that if I need to use an artificial milk then Hipp might be my preferred choice because a. I like to use organic animal products when possible and b. Hipp don't seem to have made quite so many crappy marketing decisions as Aptimal/Cow&Gate, SMA/Nestle. (Possibly because they are a smaller player in the market than any ethical stance?)

Its rather annoying to find that they are misleading people about the safe temperature to cool water to before mixing with forumla, thank you for bringing it to my attention. I think it might just be better to make it up with the 70 degree water and doing without the probiotics, if that's what their sterile ready-made milks are like then its hardly bad. As long as we don't go for Hipp because of the probiotic claims I guess.

Fingers crossed I'll be able to breastfeed (40 wks + 1 preg with my 1st), I'm sorry that its not an option for you raining. Try not to beat yourself up about it, it can't be helped - your mental health is vital. Take care of yourself and your baby in the best way you can.

I tend to think of it a bit like pharmacetical companies, I don't really like everything they get up to, but I do rely on the medicines they produce to stay healthy. Luckily, boycotting life/health preserving products isn't necessary to take a political stand that these companies should act (or be forced to act) more ethically - there are all kinds of other things we can do, sign petitions, write letters, start online discussions.

In the event that I ever needed to use a Nestle owned brand of formula for my baby (because no others were available), I would do so, but I'd still keep boycotting their sweets/cereals/coffees/petfoods etc as I do at the moment.

[nickelbarapasaurus]

I would probably allow 10-15 minutes then - 30 minutes for 1 litre is scientifically worked out, and I can't be arsed to work it out for 160ml, so I would say long enough if you were making a cup of tea that you would start to drink it - that's about 10-15 minutes.

As long as it's not immediately boiling, then it doesn't matter.