Bottles whilst out

[sthitch]

How do you make your formula bottles for the day?

If I'm going out and feeding within 2 hours I use my TT machine and keep the bottle in an insulated pocket, but if I'm going out for longer I've been putting boiled water in a bottle and adding the powder when needed and warming up slightly (this was advice given from a family member with two young children) I've now read that this is no good as doesn't kill the bacteria in the milk- I didn't realise this as thought the milk was sterile, so I'm looking for advice-

-Do I use a flask?
-Does it need sterilising?
-Will it be ok for more than one feed?
-Does anyone recommend a flask?

..and finally lol

-Can I have a bottle of cooled boiled water, put 2oz boiling water into a 2nd bottle, mix the milk and add the cool water like the TT machine?

Sorry , 20 questions but I want to get it right. My LO hasn't had any issues so far but now I have realised my mistake, I want to do things properly!

On a side note (to save another post!) her 8 week jabs are being done at 10- is this ok?

Take a carton and an empty bottle or a chilled prepared bottle or a bottle of hot water in an insulated bag and add powder when required

I breastfeed but occasionally take a bottle out just in case as she has both...

Anyway we have a tt machine but I always say to dp what are you supposed to do if you bottle feed and go out

Currently I use boiling water with formula and shake usually by the time I'm feeding it's cooler etc

Waiting to see what posts you get as I could do with knowing as well!

Eight weeks is the minimum age for the injections, they won’t be any less effective because they’re given two weeks later. The 12 & 16 week jabs will probably also need to be delayed to give the recommended time in between, which means your DD will be two weeks older before she has full protection from the diseases. Realistically she is very unlikely to contract anything during this time, and is no more at risk then she is for the first 8 weeks of her life.

I didn’t formula feed so don’t have personal experience but from a biological point of view the word sterile / sterilising is very misleading as its almost imposable to achieve outside of high tech labs. Making formula with boiling water won’t kill 100% of bacteria but it doesn’t need to as babies immune system can cope with the small amount that’s left. The problem comes from keeping made up bottles as the small amount of bacteria multiply over time to dangerous levels.

If you need to take made up bottles (on you < 2 hour trips) don’t put them in the insulated pocket as bacteria multiply faster in warmer conditions. If possible you need to cool the milk as quickly as possible and then reheat when needed.

For making up bottles I don’t see a problem with mixing the powder in a smaller amount of boiling water then topping up with cold, as long as the powder is exposed to 70+ temperature it should be fine. Though juggling baby and boiling water on the move sounds like an accident waiting to happen so if you can afford it why not just get some of the pre-made stuff for when your out?

Thank you for your replies.

@ForeverBubblegum I don't think they do pre made bottles (I could be wrong but haven't seen them as using SMA comfort milk).

I didn't realise that about keeping the milk warm. I'm currently putting the water bottles in there as well- it doesn't keep it boiling but keeps it warmer for longer - does the same apply re bacteria or is it just in the milk- sorry to sound daft but I would like to make sure I do things properly.

Ok my youngest is 10 months I always have put 4oz of cool boiled water in the bottle and then top up with 2oz from a flask, then add the powder and shake (6oz bottle) I have not had a problem.
Be careful using pre made as it’s a slightly different taste due to the way they make them. (My daughter hates the pre made stuff) if I am popping out for 2 hours I make one just before I go so I know its okay.

The powder needs to hit boiling water to kill bugs, DONT put it in with cooled boiled water.

Get yourself a good insulated flask, put the powder in with say 2/3OZ boiling water, shake to mix, then top with the cooled boiled water. Perfect temp bottle, no waiting to cool for fussing babe, but correctly made up sterilised milk.

Hope this helps everyone. Took me a while to get used to it.

Either keep made up milk cool or boiled water warm. Don't keep milk warm as is a breeding ground for bacteria.

I used to make four feeds ata a time, chill, then shove in the fridge.

Id typically plan going out after a feed, then put one of the fridge ones in my bag for 3h later, theb be home for the feed after that. We fed 3h rigidly (which dc seemed amenable to luckily).

Thanks everyone - in future I'll keep the TT milk at room temp.

I'm going to buy a small flask (any recommendations) and take two bottles out, one with 3oz cooled boiled water and then use 2oz boiling water from flask in the other and add the milk.

No don't keep it at room temperature as that's the worst temperature for it to be held at. If you have made up milk keep it chilled in a cool bag.

Doing it the way you are suggesting will not kill bacteria in the milk as you are adding it to cool water. Even adding the hot water to the cold will not bring it over 70 degrees

Sounds like you will be taking an awful lot out with you!

I did it probably the most difficult way but the only way I knew would be safe.

Fill flask with boiling water (tesco own flask kept this really bloody hot for at least 8 hours)
Take a bottle (I used a sports bottle) of cooled boiled water.
Bottle
Pre-measured formula

2 oz of boiling water in bottle, mix formula in and top up with cooled boiled water. Took up a fair bit of room in changing bag but worked for me.

I forgot to say in my post drink straight away.

We do the same as Bored. My daughter is on comfort milk too and hey don't do pre made formula sadly.

You’re meant to do it the way bored does. Or you can make it in the morning and put it at the back of the fridge until it is fully cooled, then take that in an insulated bag.

@BoredOnMatLeave such a good idea thank you I will be using this method from now on ! Xx

@dementedpixie

No I'll add the milk to the boiling water and shake then add the cooled boiled water - just like the TT machine.

All I need is 2x bottles and a small flask so not much.

Yep, I've done it as per Boreds method.

Another tip - save the unused boiling water for the next day as by then then it will be cooled boiled water ready to go. Just pour into another bottle and refill flask with boiling water. I realised this only recently and was pouring away perfectly good unused hot water

I've bought a black thermos flask in Tesco , they have a sale on so it was only £5 if anyone needs one.