Probably really stupid question about preparing formula when you're out.

[BlueHat]

sorry if this is a really stupid question, but I've started introducing formula to my 8mo ready for when I go back to work. I haven't paid much attention to how friends do formula preparation as I didn't need to, and now I can't really can't get my head around how I prepare formula when we are out.

The NHS guidelines say to take a flask of hot water out and add that and the powder to a bottle, then let it cool down. That seems like a lot of equipment to carry around and when out and about, I never see anyone prepare formula like that. They either seem to be heating cold formula up (which HV said was a no-no) or keeping water in a bottle warm in an insulated bag thingy and adding powder to that.

So do I really need to take out a sterilised bottle, flask of hot water and pot of formula power? Can't I put boiled water in the bottle and keep it hot in an insulated bag, and add the formula and let it cool down? How long would water stay

If you can afford it the take ready made cartons. Otherwise make in advance using water over 70 degrees, cool rapidly and take it with you (try to keep it cold until needed) then warm if desired. The main risk is not sterilising the powder by adding it to hot enough water.

I think your health visitor is wrong; if you can store a cold bottle of formula safely, then that's the second safest way of doing things, after making up fresh (or using a carton).

the boiling of the water (to my knowledge) is to kill water germs not powder germs, so as long as the water goes straight into the bottle+is airtight, what temp it is when you actually add the powder is irrelevant (from a health point of view-you baby will prefer x over y temp tho)
sealed boiled water is safe to use until about 3 hours after-even in an insulated bag it would be cold by then, but don't worry. any longer than 3 hours and i'd ask in a cafe for some freshly boiled stuff then let it cool.
with powder i personally wouldnt leave it measured out in the tub for more than 24 hours even tho airtight, just in case any water was left from washing them up.
so, re-measure powder every evening, just boil the kettle and pop into bottles before whizzing out. i always carried a carton inthe car just in case

the hot water is to kill bacteria in the powder, not in the water. I would take a carton of pre-made formula or a cold bottle of milk in a cool bag (your lo may take it cold or you need to find somewhere to heat it for you) or a hot bottle of water in the cool bag (keeps it warm) and add pre-measured powder to it and let it cool.

Sorry but that is wrong. The boiling water is to kill the bacteria in the powder.

Thanks all.

I also thought that the water must be +70ºC when the powder is added in order to scald any bacteria out of the powder. So I can gather from this thread that if not using cartons (which is most likely what I will do) an insulated bottle bag would probably not keep water hot enough to add formula to, and it would be better to take cooled formula out and reheat?

How do so many people not know that it's the powder that needs to be sterilised by the hot water?!
OP I agree with most of the others - use a carton or bring a premade cold bottle of formula in a cool bag and heat when needed.

galwaygirl I don't know - my mum insisted that the powder is sterile and it's the water that needs to have the bacteria boiled out of it. Maybe this was the advice 30 odd years ago and people believe what their mums tell them?

www.nhs.uk/Conditions/pregnancy-and-baby/Pages/infant-formula-questions.aspx - gives options if out and about

www.nhs.uk/Conditions/pregnancy-and-baby/Pages/making-up-infant-formula.aspx#close - how to make up formula

I think the water also can have bacteria which needs to be killed in it as the advice on giving plain water to drink is that it should be boiled. But the bacteria in powder has been linked to fatalities. I think this was in other countries and particularly susceptible babies. But a robust baby would still get pretty sick from them. On an anecdotal level lots of friends babies had the odd bout of D&V and they had powder mixed with cold water, so it didn't seem a risk worth taking.

Cartons are heat treated to be sterile. Powder is not. Maybe this is where the confusion arises from.

I always used to take boiling water in a flask with cooled boiled water in a bottle. I can't remember the quantities now as DS is 8, but if I added the right amount of boiling water to the bottle and then the powder, it was the right temperature to drink. Had no idea about sterilising the powder.

Even the writing on the box admits that it's the powder that's not sterile, not the water!

Think about it - when was the last time you heard of a baby getting salmonella after swallowing a bit of bath water?

water doesnt have to be boiled for drinking after 6 months but it does need to be boiled to make up formula

I thought water for drinking was supposed to be boiled til 12 months??

But yes lurcherlover you don't worry much about babies swallowing a bit of bath water!

Shocking to now realise how many people I know are preparing formula unsafely

When I had DD1 I made all the bottles in one go with 70+ water, flash cooled and stored in the fridge then reheated. DD1 was never sick once.

With DD2 I am making the bottles as I go along but if Im going out I pre make, keep cold (I have a bag with insulated pockets which are quite effective) and reheat.

Though if I am going shopping I usually just take a sterilised bottle and pick up a carton when I am out. A room temp bottle now and again wont hurt!

It is definately the powder which needs the boiling water to kill the bacteria. It even says on the tin that theres a risk of salmonella and another one I have forgotten now. Pleasr please dont put the powder into cooler water. Its just not worth the risk!

I made up at 70°, cooled and stored in the fridge. Took out an hour before feed to get to room temp - never served a wrm bottle. If I went out, I took a refridgerated bottle and put it in the bag - room temp by serving time.

Drinking water doesn't have to boiled.

80C is sterilisation point for water, iirc I think the 70c+ rather than boiling water is a compromise to scald the powder and not denature the probiotics added to formula now.

DS was 11mo by the time I returned to work, and I did either cartons or cooled pre-made bottles, with cartons for day care (usually only 1-2 per day) as it was only a couple of days per week, and the nursery would only keep an opened carton of powder for a month.

Yes, almost everyone you see will add powder to cooled boiled water and shake it up (I got a few s for whipping out my bottle with its cool block). The advice has changed, go against the grain.

Nope 6 months for drinking water :)

Not having used formula much til dd was 12mths I can say that just watching the bottlers next to none of them are doing what u are all suggesting they should be. I saw most of it when brand new borns, but once about 4mths-6mths I just saw powder in a bottle mixed with warm water and fed straight away zero waiting to cool off.

It was that waiting to cool that kept me bfing! Baby screaming as milks placed directly in front of his nose but not allowed it seemed idiotic. My mates went on about schedules but never had the milk ready to drink at right moment. Far too much freakin faffing....

I so agree with you LaCiccolina I don't like formula feeding but I need to go back to work and don't have time to keep on top of expessing. 8mo loves a bottle of formula, but it's a nightmare trying to hide the cooling bottle from him til it's ready. Breastfeeding is so much easier IME.

Depending on the number of non-bm feeds, at 8months I'd probably just give cows milk and water during the day, then catch up in the evenings and mornings with the breastfeeds. And give it in a freeflow cup.

No faffing.

YY at 8 months you can mix feed with no expressing required if you wish - your supply will adjust even to cover weekends :)

I'd still give formula while you're at work though, rather than cow's milk.