how do I make up feed

[frankiebuns]

Ok, had a chat with hv today told her how I make up bottles cooled boiled water in bottles left in fridge for day, she said yep fine (I did this with ds 4 years ago) I then read the healthy start book and it contradicts what I said / I'm doing, says boil kettle fresh for each bottle. Really or is it ok to do what I used to do

Because formula is not sterile, it is advisable to add it to very hot water, then cool the formula before you feed it to baby.

The NHS has a webpage which details their current guidelines.

www.nhs.uk/conditions/pregnancy-and-baby/pages/making-up-infant-formula.aspx

the water is supposed to be >70°C to kill bacteria in the formula powder so if you are making the bottles up with hot water before putting them in the fridge then that would be ok. If you are mixing the formula with cold water then that is not ok

www.nhs.uk/Conditions/pregnancy-and-baby/Pages/infant-formula-questions.aspx#close says:

*If made-up formula is stored in a fridge, use within 24 hours.
*If made-up formula is stored in a cool bag with an ice pack, use within four hours.
*If made-up formula is stored at room temperature, use within two hours

www.who.int/foodsafety/publications/micro/PIF_Bottle_en.pdf

The WHO has guidines on making up formula. Always use water that is not less than 70degrees (in practice this means boiling a kettle of fresh water, approx 1litre) and leaving to cool for no more than 30mins. You can make it up sooner, obviously.

It advises making up feeds fresh when you can, but if you want or need to make them in advance, they should be made correctly, cooled rapidly then stored in the fridge for noire than 24 hours. There's advice about safely transporting it too.

We make a few at a time (so they're always used well within 24hours), cool them in a pan of water and store in fridge. We use cartons when put and about.

*no more, not noire. Sorry

We use a large thermos flask, boil water and store it in there. It kept the water at the right temp so we just used that, added the formula and then cooled for a few minutes in a bowl of cold water. Obviously check that your thermos keeps the water hot enough though, we had two and one did and the other was rubbish, water went cold within an hour.

I'm a student HV and at yours not knowing the current guidelines

You need to use water hotter than 70 degrees to kill bacteria in the powder (the guidelines changed following the deaths of some babies in France due to contaminated milk ), but don't use boiling water as this may scald the powder. If you have to make up feeds in advance (it's better not to in an ideal world but it's not really practical with a newborn!) store them at the back of the fridge until you need them. If possible use cartons to go out and about (expensive I know) or carry a flask, or coolbag with previously made up feeds. The links above are helpful.

You could read the instructions on the tin...

Which say to make up each bottle freshly with water that is above 70 degrees and then cool.

You can then put them in the fridge if you make a few at a time for up to 24 hours but you have to cool them down rapidly before putting them in.

Sorry to hijack op's thread, but if you do make in advance then cool and store in fridge - can you reheat the feed before baby eats? Not sure if it counts as reheating if it's only been made with hot water then cooled first...

Yes, you can warm up a pre-made bottle that has been stored in the fridge.

If you have the cash (I paid £60 but that offer may be over) I cannot praise the tommee tippee perfect prep machine enough.

It makes it possible to create ideal temperature feeds (having sterilised the formula) in less than a minute and so there's no need to make any in advance.

Hi All

I'm loaning my cousins Tomme Tippee Perfect Prep and was wondering what people do when they are out and about? Is the general consensus to sterilise the bottles and to give ready made milk? My LO is on Aptamil and is great with the formula but struggles with the ready made stuff. The thought of carrying round flasks etc when we are out for the day just seems so daunting...

Any advice much appreciated!

I always used rtf formula when out and about.

If you don't then you need to take a flask of hot water out with you to add to the powder.

carty76 why does he struggle with the ready made stuff? I certainly find cartons the easiest thing by far when I'm out and about

I found some of the advice a bit odd too... do it this way but if you can't or have twins it's ok to make in advance if you must. Hmm!

I tend to make a few in advance and use ready made when out as can never heat up to the right temperature otherwise.