Powdered formula and timing

[strawberriesandrosepetals]

Currently using expressed milk and ready made formula. Bit concerned about the number of bottles going in the recycling and can't buy a 1 litre bottle as baby was premature and only has half a litre a day (says must use within 24 hours).

Looked up how to make up powdered formula. Is there something I'm missing?

Baby starts asking for food. Boil kettle, wait half an hour, mix formula, shake for 10 mins, run under cold tap for ages until cool enough to give baby.... who has presumably been screaming her head off for 45 minutes while you've been fannying about.

Baby is fed on demand as is only just waking herself to eat and formula must be used within an hour so I couldn't make it in advance in case she goes longer. Also am working full time (from home, with baby) so do have time constraints.

Like I said, am I missing something here? How's it done?
Sorry for being a thickie x

Some people make batches up and fridge. Or use a Perfect Prep machine.

Can you not just use a shot of hot water with the powder and then top up with cooled boiled water from fridge?

(Disclaimer: I have very little idea what I'm talking about)

I don't formula feed but from friends who do perfect prep machines are god sends so I would recommend purchasing one!

You can get kettles that will go to a certain temperature. You only need enough hot water to kill any bacteria in the powder as it's not the water that's a potential risk but the powder itself.

If you are going to make up bottles in advance, I'd keep them at the back of the fridge where it's cooler

We were like this for the first few weeks of formula feeding. During the night especially. Then a friend 2 kids ahead of us told us to put boiled water into the bottles, let cool and just add the formula to once needed. Game changer for night feeds as we kept the cooled boiled water sealed in the bottle plus pre measured out formula on bedside locker.

Now - disclaimer - this phase was during a hot weather period so we never heated the bottles, just gave at room temperature so he never got used to warm milk. However the friends of ours used one of those bottle warmer machines that heat up in like 1 min or so.

Honestly we used to stress ourselves out over this like you are and this made our lives so much easier and baby thrived.

Boil the water and fill x amount of bottles up for the day . Don't put the powder in until you need the feed and if you want it warm then top up with a an oz of boiled water . Perfect temp . :) ...

Or buy a prep machine ! :) x

There's a useful leaflet which talks about the need to add hot water to the formula here OP.

Whilst infection is rare, it really is worth reading up on, especially if your LO is preterm and may be more at risk from infections.

I will get shot down in flames for this. Make it in advance and store in the fridge.

I did this. The universe did not end and we're all still here to tell the tale.

Fatted that's probably much safer than making it up with cool water

I’m with Fatted! I did the long way first few weeks now I just batch prepare a few and stick in fridge. Much easier and we are all fine!

Thank you everyone!

In between the whole neverending cycle of nappies/feeding/winding/expressing/sterilising my brain is not functioning!

When you read all the rules you just can't see how it's practical so it's good to understand why they say to do certain things and find out from real mums the sensible way of safely achieving the same thing!

I'll look into the formula machines too. Anything that makes life easier at the moment gets a thumbs up from me (God bless next day delivery and the 14 minute setting on the washing machine )

I must admit I've never been one for sanitising everything in sight but was a bit more paranoid when she came early. We are past due date now though and growing well so I'm back to normal.

Oh and thank you for being so kind. I was terrified of coming up against the militant breast feeding brigade x

I agree with others who have recommended the perfect prep machine, plenty floating around for sale second hand; just check the pipes if you buy off someone else as if they haven't been using the proper filters then there could be a build up.

Mine were all made with boiled water that had cooled in the bottle. Add formula and 20 secs in microwave, shake well and check temp before feeding. Both DDs are fine and were never ill....

I was under the impression that it’s better to make formula with boiled water and store cold than to make with cooled boiled water, because the powder needs to have been in contact with the hot water to kill any bacteria.

We are on day 3 of formula feeding after breastfeeding didn't work for us so I totally understand trying to get your head round it all while coping with a new baby. I Amazon prime'd a perfect prep machine and microwave steriliser and I already could not be without either. We tend to make two or three bottles at a time and cool/stick in the fridge ASAP. Having read lots and lots online in the middle of the night, that seems to be okay.

So I think general consensus is make will hot water then refrigerate.

How long can it then be kept in the fridge?

Thanks Calypso. I've done most of my baby research in the early hours too. Sorry I forgot God bless google and mumsnet in my list

24 hours at the back of the fridge. Don't keep it near the door as the temperature rises when the door is opened

Thanks Jilted x

Please don't make it with cooled boiled water as it wont kill any potential bacteria in the powder. WHO guidelines say freshly boiled water cooled for no longer than 30 mins. I recently took this up with our local hospital after they were giving out bottles of cold sterile water to make up formula. Took several months but they've now seen the issue and have changed the procedure across the hospital. So many people think it's the water that needs to be sterile - it's not - it's the powder that needs to be blastered with water a certain temp from a kettle.

We try to make fresh which is easier when baby is older. You also get a 2 hour window once it's made so you could make it knowing baby will have milk sometime in the next 2 hours. I used to guess and do it an hour in advance. We've also made bottles correctly, rapidly cooled and stored in the fridge for night time.