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Infant feeding

Get advice and support with infant feeding from other users here.

Original poster

Formula shortage??

32 replies

MOGMOGMOG85 · 28/04/2021 00:52

Hi - I usually buy a couple of aptamil 1l premade milks everytime I go to the shops but over the weekend there was none, so I held off buying and eat into my supply assuming the shelves would be restocked on monday. On monday nothing and I had to use my stock of 200ml bottles which I keep for if I need to go out and feed baby on the go. On Tuesday still nothing and I'm getting to my last bottle so I go to the other supermarket in town- nothing. I figure maybe my local store managers are not very organised (some of them really arent) and I check the corner shops - nothing. Then I drive across to another town to a superstore which is like a mecca for baby stuff and has 2 massive aisles full of so many things and there is no premade formula and only 6 boxes of powder. I hate powder and it's bad for my boy but I bought 3 boxes and one box barely lasts a week for him and I'm starting to get scared- the assistant said they are not restocking until june?? I'm feeling so anxious now - recently we had to buy a new fridge freezer and we had to choose between 2 models as there were massive supply issues at the border. Then we had to buy a grabrail and it was the same story. I'm feeling so anxious this could be a brexit thing? Has anyone else had trouble or is it just a fluke thing in my local area? I'm in east cambs xx

OP posts:
MrsTerryPratchett · 28/04/2021 01:18

Amazon? I think they sell it.

Trytowin20 · 28/04/2021 01:27

Our tesco had a little bit but I had noticed how bare it was, I assumed it's the outdoor visiting as people don't have access to kettles to sterilise/make the powder. I got a four pack of the little ones for out and about.

Lou98 · 28/04/2021 01:47

I've just started buying in some formula as I'm due in a few weeks and plan to FF and all of the shops round me have loads of stock in all different brands so it could well be an area thing (I'm in Scotland).
Hopefully your locals will get it back in soon! As others have said, have you tried online? You might have more luck that way

MildDrPepperAddiction · 28/04/2021 01:48

My tesco had a notice saying it 2 tubs of stage 1 per customer.

arcof · 28/04/2021 01:59

Why is powder not an option?!

Vicky1989x · 28/04/2021 07:05

My local Sainsbury’s ‘ran out’ recently (I use SMA powder) so I bought it on Amazon. I’m sure they sell the ready made stuff too.

Original poster
MOGMOGMOG85 · 28/04/2021 08:03

Thanks everyone- I will buy it online, perhaps it is just a local thing although if dr peppers tesco had a notice maybe not... arcorf I will feed him powder now as I have no choice but it makes him a little constipated, although not the end of the world. What is the end of the world for me is that I follow the instructions to make the powder and it drives me insane - boil the kettle with exactly 1l, wait exactly half an hour, make sure oh doesnt come and make tea in the mean time, mix up the formula and then sit the bottle in a bowl of cold water for 15m till it gets to the right temp. I have to set 3 timers for every feed and it drives me nuts so I just Love premade which you can just shove in a bottle and warm. Do the rest of you not go insane following the instructions for powder? Perhaps you have a different way of making it up? I have OCD and if I dont follow the instructions to a t it stresses me out a lot which just isn't worth it for me xx

OP posts:
Original poster
MOGMOGMOG85 · 28/04/2021 08:05

Oh and also @arcof the problem was the powder was very thin on the ground too which was also what was stressing me out - seemed like there might be an issue with all formula (and if one type runs out it would have a knock on effect which makes sense) xx

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Aliceandthemarchhare · 28/04/2021 08:07

I’ve never used the powder either. You’ve made me think ... we used cow and gate but have had to buy Aptimil recently as there wasn’t any cow and gate at Costco.

It makes me even sadder about breastfeeding.

Yummymummy2020 · 28/04/2021 08:35

We always made a batch of bottles together to make life easier, our health visitor said it was ok to do, so it was a one time a day job and kind of made it like having pre made bottles as you just had to heat them. Never did our baby any harm but if it worries you I totally understand why you would do them separately!

Original poster
MOGMOGMOG85 · 28/04/2021 08:37

Awwwww Alice I feel you and have been incredibly sad myself, but I bet your baby is absolutely thriving like mine is and I bet they just beam up at you all the time like mine - they're not sad xx i think it's sad that we're made to believe everyone can breastfeed when that was never the case throughout history, and made to feel that low supply (which was one of my many issues) is shrinkingly rare when actually 3 in every 20 women will be affected by it xxx

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BertieBotts · 28/04/2021 08:40

NHS and WHO say the next best option if making fresh isn't practical is to make bottles up as you have been, cool and then store in the back of the fridge for up to 24h.

I probably wouldn't make a whole day's worth at once but I would make 3-4 up in one go quite happily and use those then make more when on the last one so that one is always ready.

rainbowthoughts · 28/04/2021 08:43

@arcof

Why is powder not an option?!

Why should it be?

Personal preference and all that.

Caspianberg · 28/04/2021 08:50

You can make a bottle straight away. The powder actually says leave ‘ no longer than 30 mins’, not you have to wait 30 mins.

Water boils at 100degrees. After 30 mins the average kettle will have cooled to less than the 70 degrees needed. Hence you can use the water any time from 30 seconds later to 30 minutes later

Also, I do think the above 70 is a British thing for some reason. We live in mainland Europe, and the powder here , the same aptimal brands, say cool water to 40 degrees before making.. so how can same brand say different things in different countries.

And yes as above, the world health organisation says of you can’t make fresh each time, it’s fine to make several bottles straight away with hot water. Cool bottles. Then place in back of main fridge (not door), and they can be used for up to 24hrs. Just warm standing in bowl warm water as needed. I ended up breastfeeding and baby refused bottles, but if he took them, I would do this option I think, especially for overnight ie just make 3 bottles when make evening feed. Then make another couple in morning. And keep ready made mini ones for out about

Aliceandthemarchhare · 28/04/2021 08:51

I’ve never made powder.

Original poster
MOGMOGMOG85 · 28/04/2021 08:59

Thanks everyone for the powder advice will def do that! But caspainberg there are no little premade bottles atm so I am probably going to have to cancel all my socialising plans or brave using someone else's kettle and being really stressed about making powder whilst out xx

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Original poster
MOGMOGMOG85 · 28/04/2021 09:03

Also Caspian I read somewhere that the water has to be 70 as if it's too hot it kills the nutrients? My pack def says leave for 30 mins and tbh I'd find it really hard not to as I have to follow instructions exactly (yes it's an issue). However I am gonna try making up 3 bottles at once that will help a tonne xxx

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Vicky1989x · 28/04/2021 09:07

@MOGMOGMOG85 You can make the feed straight away, it can’t be less than 70 degrees which is why you must use within 30 minutes.

I premake my DD’s bottles and store in the fridge and warm up when needed (use within 24 hours) - never had any issues.

GraciousPiglet · 28/04/2021 09:11

Have you thought about buying a perfect prep machine? They make making formula feeds so easy! If your baby is still quite young, you'd definitely get your money's worth.

Wouldn't help for out and about but would help whilst at home :)

Aliceandthemarchhare · 28/04/2021 09:14

They aren’t certified safe ... sorry to be that poster.

rainbowthoughts · 28/04/2021 09:32

Don't be afraid to change brand OP.

Caspianberg · 28/04/2021 09:32

www.aptaclub.de/en/products/milk-formula/aptamil-pronutra-advance-1.html

You can see the German aptimal prep instructions here for exactly the same product . Completely different and say make at 40. I doubt all German babies are getting deadly bacteria

Therefore I would just use common sense and make as safely as you can, but without driving yourself crazy. You can’t be boiling, waiting 30-45 mins, waiting another 15 mins to cool. Mine are every hour at that age… so you would be making second as soon as first made

Original poster
MOGMOGMOG85 · 28/04/2021 09:42

Just been to shop and asked them to scan different product labels to see when they are in stock and fingers crossed it seems to be just the premade stuff which is an issue so that is reassuring. And thanks for the reassuring tips I think I'm gonna buy some more bottles (I only have 3) then make up 5 at a time to keep in the fridge which my lo should eat within 12 hours. I'm gonna have to keep making it in line with the instructions though as it would make me too anxious not even though common sense tells me that you all right - ocd doesnt listen to common sense unfortunately... but making up bottles once a day will be far easier than as I go along! Thanks all xx

Also my husband found a whole subreddit on people who had been driven insane by following powder formula instructions Confused

Also alice I'm with you I couldn't buy a prep machine as I'd be too anxious about cleaning it and the reason I had to give up on pumping was cos I had a total meltdown about cleaning the parts at 15 weeks... this stuff ain't easy if you're a bit mental like me! Xxx

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espressoontap · 28/04/2021 09:47

@MOGMOGMOG85 do you have help with your ocd? Just wondering if you're under the perinatal team. It sounds like you are an amazing mum 💜

I breastfed but I would be stressed about the formula shortages you mention - there should be some rule about making sure it's priority to have it in stock. I remember before I went on mat leave I had mums so stressed about formula shortage during the first lockdown, it's so wrong things become scarce.