Help please - advice on formula feeding

[FTM10July]

I’m currently expressing and bottle feeding but thinking of switching my baby to formula as im struggling to keep up with how much she’s feeding. I’m planning to use it along side the breastmilk but with all the advice out there I’m getting really confused.

I know they say to boil the kettle and leave it to cool for 30mins, do people actually do this? Can’t imagine baby being too happy having to wait half hour for the kettle to cool

And what do people do when they’re out and about?

FTM here so very confused and feeling a little overwhelmed :(

Just get a prep machine. Makes life sooo much easier

If you are just talking about adding in a small amount of formula then the small ready made bottles would probably work out the most cost effective. I also used those while out and about.

With regards to waiting for the kettle I was able to judge my dd well and would prep everything in advance so she wasn't waiting.

We used a Perfect Prep machine at home. Then when out and about we'd use the ready made cartons/bottles (they would drink it cold).
Congratulations on your baby!

Our DS has been exclusively FF from birth. We bought a Perfect Prep machine and make each bottle fresh with that when we're at home. We take empty sterile bottles and ready made formula out and about with us.

If your baby isn't on a strict feeding schedule then the official guidance would be very difficult to follow. Our DS is fed completely on demand, which works with the Prep machine because it only takes 2 mins to make a bottle. I'm aware that some people have had problems with mould in the Perfect Prep but we haven't (I'm always checking it!). I clean it with boiling water and Milton fluid and it's spotless. I do recommend it.

The other option is to make bottles with the kettle, flash cool and store in the fridge, and heat as needed.

I use perfect prep machine at home.

Can't use the ready made bottles as they don't do them in comfort milk so when going out I take a flask of boiling water and a flask of pre-cooled boiled water (either filled the night before and left to cool or from the prep machine.
Add 2oz of boiling water to the formula and mix then add the cooled water so she can drink straight away.
Also have a powder dispenser with 3 slots in it for storing powder when on the go.

It's a mission leaving the house with blooming comfort milk.

I used to sterilise all the bottles I would be needing for the next 24 hours, then fill them with boiling water. I'd allow to cool to room temperature. When it was time for DDs bottle I would add the powder to the cooled water - she was FF from birth so we didn't warm it up to body temperature or anything. When we were out and about I would take the required number of bottles and one of those pots with the divider in with the measured out powder.

This method obviously only sterilises the bottle and water, not the powder itself. DD didn't get any tummy upsets though.

You will either get to know roughly what time baby is due a bottle and so can make in advance, roughly 45 mins to cool naturally and to be used in 2 hours. I don’t always get it right and so make up using the water freshly boiled so don’t wait the 30mins. Then rapidly cool in cold water and it’s ready to feed in roughly 15 mins give or take. Alternatively you can get the ready made for out and about. Most formula brands will do the smaller 70ml bottles so less waste if only needing a top up.
Adding the powder to cooled boiled water is pointless as it is not killing the bacteria in the powder. You would be better off making a batch up in advance rapidly cool and store in back of fridge for up to 24 hours if you preferred to have them ready.

Thank you all for your advice! It’s definitely made things a little clearer. I just seem to be stressing about everything atm lol

Another here for perfect prep. DS is demand fed so kettle prep was a no go. Now we press a button & hey presto. Actual life saver especially at night