Bottle feeding when out and about

[MrsGiraffe12]

So, my DD is 2 weeks old tomorrow and I gave up breast feeding as my nipples were shredding, she would feed for up to 4 hours at one feed and would generally be discontented all the time.

I still feel a bit guilty about it but she's much more contented on the formula (other than colic between 10pm - 1am and a bit of constipation)

When we are home we follow the instructions for making formula feeds (ie 70 degree water, fresh fed etc). But when we are out how are we expected to do this?

With my 6 year old son I used to just boil the kettle, fill the sterilised bottle with the correct amount of water) and have the correct amounts of formula in a tub and just pour it in and mix it and feed whether the water was hot or cold. But this obviously doesn't fit with the guidelines for now about making a feed.

Bottle feeders, how do you do it when out x

I make all fpur bottles in one go with hot water. Chill and refridgerate. If im heading out, ill plan to do it straight after a feed (we had a routine) and then would take one premade bottle with me. Home for the bottle after it. I would serve it room temp.

Could you buy the bottles of ready made stuff? Perhaps microwave heat it sensibly when out and about?

I bought the cartons of ready made and just packed sterilised bottles to go with them.

Cartons of formula are easiest. I served at room temperature

I've been bottle feeding from birth and have just used the premade cow and gate bottles when out. Worked well as DS pretty much always had 7oz per feed which is the size of the mini ones. Only now looking at using powder out and about as he only takes 5oz per feed now he is weaned.

I made several bottles at a time and kept them in the fridge. Took as many as I thought I'd need with me on a day out. You can buy ice packs to keep them cool and heater things similar to the warm pad things you can buy to go in gloves (where you "snap" them to make them hot). But room temp was always fine for my DDs.

I would take a bottle of cool boiled water, a flask of hot water, empty bottles and measured out powder. I would pour in 2oz of hot water. Add the powder, swirl till dissolved and then top up with the cool boiled water to the amount you are making. Meant carrying a lot of stuff but I knew the milk would be fresh and sterile.

I do what u done with ur 6 yr old OP

The issue is that the formula powder is not sterile and, rarely, may contain some nasty bugs. It needs to be mixed with 70 degree plus water in order to kill off any bugs.

You can make up bottles in advance (using 70 deg plus water), cool them as quickly as possible, and then refrigerate for up to 24 hrs. The WHO suggest this if you can't make up fresh.

The ready made cartons are sterile which bypasses this whole issue, ideal for occasional use out and about.

We use the ready made Cow and Gate, or if we're only out for a short time, an hour or so, I just make a bottle properly and bung it in my handbag.