Logistics of formula feeding - help with mixed feeding

[slothprincess]

My DD is 8 months and I'm trying to drop daytime breastfeeds over the next 4 weeks before I go back to work. DD can drink from an open cup and we've tried her with formula from cartons a couple of times recently which she's drank fine.

I have bought some powder as it's obviously better value and I know it sounds stupid but I feel a bit overwhelmed and confused about how to make it up. Any advice or handy tips?

TIA

The instructions are on the box/tin.
The scoop is inside.
The tin will say how much coolish boiled water to measure out (measuring jug) you then add the correct number of scoops of formula.
You put coolish boiled water in a sterilised bottle, add the powder, seal the bottle (there is a flat cap provided with bottles for this normally) and then shake up vigorously to make sure the powder is fully mixed.
This should be cool enough to drink.
If you say they can use a cup then pour into a cup, but I would give your DD a beaker with a spout that is non-drip.

Hi sloth, i mix feed my son and i decided to go with the ready made cartons as he doesn't have that much formula and it's easier. I was also a bit stressed about making up powder formula safely as you need to make sure that the water is still hotter than 70 degrees when you add the powder otherwise the potential bugs on the powder won't be killed. Then you need to wait for the water to be cooled til safe enough to drink obvs, so you haveto pre empt the hungry baby!

you cant mix the powder with coolish boiled water as klick said it needs to be 70 deg to sterilse the powder and most bottles dont have the little flat cap bit anymore. you put your 70 deg water into the bottle, say a 7oz feed so do it up to the 7oz line on the bottle, then add 7 scoops of powder, level them off on a bit on the inside of the box if it has one, or with a clean knife. i tend to count the scoops out into a little tub (you can buy them from mothercare etc) and it will have a lid with a spout to pour it in, that way if you loose count you can tip the powder back into the box and start again, no wasting powder! then pour it into the bottle, the attache the ring/teat and lid then shake, but not vigourously as it will bubble. just sort of swish it about. then to cool put it in a jug of cold water or run it under a cold tap either till drinkable temp or if its for later till cold and then you can store it in the fridge and warm when you need it :)

powder already sterile- plus kid is 8 months not newborn.
Do not think that amount of faffing needed.

the powder is NOT already sterile, look up the numerous threads on this already. the who guidlines and the nhs guidlines are to mix it with 70 deg water to kill cetain bacteria which have caused illness and death for some babies. again its all on numerous threads on mnet.

Just wanted to say that 5madthings is correct, the powder is not sterile! It is very important that you use water that is at least 70 degrees, to kill any nasties in the powder.

It doesn't matter that the baby is 8 months old, they can still fall ill if formula isn't made up properly. It's really not worth cutting corners.

and if you use water over a certain heat it destroys some of the nutrients in the formula. Its a no win situation, I would go with what ever your comfortable with. I'm on my third, all mix fed and always used boiling water, its only for one feed so DP can give DD one feed a day (and I cannot express). The loss of nutrients in my mind is made up in all the other breast milk.

The powder is NOT sterile. It must me mixed at a temp of at least 70 degrees. ( about half hour after kettle has boiled)

Thanks all for taking the time to respond. Another quick perhaps silly question. I don't need to sterilise her cup do I? She drinks water from it when I've just washed it as usual in hot soapy water so I don't know why formula should be any different.

You have to sterilise bottles that have had milk in as there can still be residue in the little nooks and crannies that can breed bacteria.
I guess if you're using an open cup that would mean that as long as its had a good scrub you wouldn't need to sterilise it.

Also the tins of formula have a shelf life of 4 weeks once they're open. You might need to check that you will use the whole tin within this time if you are mix feeding. It might actually be more cost effective to use cartons if you're going to have to chuck out half a tin every month.

no, you do not need to sterilise her cup.
The powder is perfectly safe to use in boiled water as long as it is in date an stored correctly. The powder is of course milk based and so extra hygiene is needed with dairy products. She presumably touches unstreilised things all the time- floors, walls, dorrhandles, cars etc etc.
Just good hygiene standards (hot, soapy water) are all that is needed for her water cup. Milk cup needs very hot wash.

Actually I've just checked that the tins I use make 195 oz, so if you were making just one 7oz feed a day it would last 27 days. I'm talking rubbish! ignore me!

Guidelines vary from country to country- France advises making up formula with bottled water, Australia with cooled boiled water and to sterilise equipment only until three months.

Powder is not sterile, but at 8 months I wouldn't be sterilising cups or using water over 70 degrees. That would be my choice though, as it goes against guidelines. At 8 months they put a lot of non-sterile things in their mouths.

Thanks guys, that's really helpful :)