Formula - can i use water that was boiled this morning?

[Mandymoo]

But is still in the kettle?

no, you should not really use boiled water that has been left for longer than 30 mins.

thanks X

It has more to do with the water needing to be warm enough for the formula to mix as well as the growth of bacteria in standing water.

mandy I have always done that for all mine and none have ever been ill. I think we get far too uptight about germs. Imo there is no problem with doing that at all.

The new guidelines say you shouldn't but I have used this method for both my children and they are both fine and have never been ill as a result.

I used to boil it in the morning then keep it in a jug in the fridge - but this was because the type of milk I used couldn't be made with anything more than luke warm water. Wouldn't use it from a kettle that was boiled this morning though - just to be on the safe side.

Mandymoo, how old is your baby? If more than a few months old I wouldn't worry tbh.

I agree with Mum2Funkydude actually.

Hello, I have more questions on this subject. I've been mixed feeding my 12 week old for a few weeks and using ready mdae (expensive) formula for convenience. Now I'd better go to powdered formula, as I don't think the bf is going to last much longer. So you really have to boil a kettle 30 mins in advance of each feed,only make up one feed and then use it within an hour? What about the so called freedom of formula feeding, and people who go out and about with bottles in a bag? Why do they sell bottle holder bags if you can't make up feeds in advance? There must be a way round it?

Thanks for any advice

You boil the kettle, let it cool and then make up a batch of bottles to last 24hrs. Put them in the fridge and then reheat as you need them (some babies will drink cold milk though) Always throw away any bottle from thr fridge if its there for 24 hrs or more
When you go out make sure the bottles are in a insulated holder to keep them cold until use.

I boiled enough water for the day but kept it in the fridge in baby's bottles (just water, didn't put powder in till i needed it).

When I was going out, I thought it better to take the water and mix the formula when I needed it, as I presumed milk would go off quicker and attract more germs than plain water on its own (and the bottle coolers were CRAP). I got an Avent powder dispenser, one of the best things I ever bought! (Warm the water before you put powder in though else it goes lumpy!)

Becareful though, there are new guidelines since a few infant deaths in Europe. The reason to make up the formula with freshly boiled water at a high temp. is because the factories where the formulas are made are not sterile, hence the powder is not sterile. Making the formula with water at a temp of about 70 degrees ensures that the harmfull bacteria are killed when you make up the formula.

Oh my god i didn't know anything about that at all......where did you find that out I feel awful now son is one on Weds and been doing it like that for nearly a year!

If you have been doing it for nearly a year, don't start to panic now. He is obviously fine

He's had about three tummy bugs tho one of which he ended up in hospital with. God what a crap mother i am

I was given a document by the HV at the post natal clinic. I must add thought if he is already a year chances are he'll be fine. It is just one of those "lets preach the fear of God" into them things. The new guidelines came out at about Feb this year. The deaths were all in Germany.

What happened to the babies in Germany, did they suddenly become ill or was it gradual? I'm so worried now.

The deaths were related to gastroentiritis, which would be similar to what your son probably had. The deaths were caused because they dehydrated and became too ill before they were tended to medically. Very small babies can become very ill very quickly, but again your son is already a year, he will be fine.

Sorry I will have to go son is getting hungry! But any advice on this would be appreciated.

Yes mum2funkydude he had rotavirus was dehydrated on a drip for 3 days..... Thanks soooo much for telling me this x

Please don't panic shedevil. My dd4 was breastfed for a year and a boiled water never touched her lips. She still got a gastro bug twice!!!

Only a pleasure shedevil. I'm sure you would've taken the necessary precautions if you had the info. I'll see if I can find the article on the web and post it here.

FSA link

Thats a great link, at least i'll know for next time. Thanks a million times for that.

Magnolia1 I also know of babies who have had gastro bugs and were breastfed. Things like that are, unfortunately, not completely avoidable but at least i'll know for next time to make mine up while the water's hot.

THANKYOU!!!!

Rotavirus would be different from what you'd get from the factory bugs in formula though - the formula-related illness would essentially be food poisoning caused by some particular kinds of bacteria, wouldn't it? Viruses causing stomach bugs will go round all the time separately anyway and some babies/families will get them, some won't.

Personally I'd go for the hot water, but it's only really recently the guidelines have changed to advise that, so I wouldn't have thought anyone should feel at all bad for having done it a different way in the past.

i'll definately be using hot water next time - must also apologise to mandymoo I have completely crashed her thread