Heating up formula in the microwave.....

[Lucy10]

I know this is considered a no no but I know a lot of people do it, so was just wondering how long you should put the bottle in for....?

I'm not trying be argumentative, just very confused myself

lol Lucy - I had to say the argumentative bit as HM and I have a history of debates on FF/BF threads (and she thinks I should be called Contrary Mary )

Says here it increases the risk but if you have to do it, the water should be no less than 70 degrees and the fridge should be under 5 degrees.

Thanks HM

FF definitely seems to be a very emotive subject!

Don't store ready made formula in the fridge door. It isn't cold enough.

interesting that it says that milk can be stored for up to 24hrs - but that's it's not ideal.......not that it's a huge major, life threatening risk and shouldn't be done at all.

(BTW you could have warned me it was a PDF file - my computer just froze when I first clicked on it!)

and according to that link you sholdn't really leave the bottles with just water in in the fridge and then add water later - unless you're going to ensure that the water is reheated to 70 degrees before adding the powder...

Which seems like a bit of a faff to me - practically re-boil milk, add powder, then cool again to feeding temp....

That is a tad confusing.......I've been doing everything, Ready made stuff, pre prepared and storing partially filled bottles with just water.....

SMS dons a microbiologists hat (well labcoat actually )

Right guys. In order to make anything sterile to GLP (Good Laboratory Practice, i.e. Gold standard) you have to heat it to 121C for 15minutes.

Cartons of milk are not actually Sterile to GLP standards.

Home steam "sterilised" bottles are not actually sterile to GLP standards (cold water sterlised probably aer though.

Milk powder is not actually sterile

Milk made up from milk powder, using water that has reached 100C for 30s (i.e. not 121 for 15min) in bottles from a domestic steam steriliser served on the kitchen worksurface with no laminar flow or bunsen is not actually sterile.

HOwever in the scheme of things:

UHT milk in a carton which has been packaged in a protective atmosphere has a lower starting level of bacteria than milk you make up in your own kitchen and store in bottles which have been sterilised and then opened on your kitchen worktop.

If you put a carton of milk which has been opened with a small hole with clean scissors and then folded down will have less starting bacteria than your bottles of formula which have been made by sploshing water and powder around you kitchen (by comparison).

Both pools of bacteria will grow in the fridge. The bacteria will reach a level which will make your LO poorly quicker than the bacteria which are growing in UHT cartons.

So guys none of your milk is technically sterile...it is all relative.

And although that all sounds scarey and technical and stuff it is the last statement which is important

It is all relative

Shrek, the trouble is that the bacteria which might be present in the dry formula powder are a sight more dangerous than those whihc might be on the kitchen scissors, the steam-sterilised bottles etc as the spray-drying process effectively selects for S.sakazakii etc.

that too....

"the bacteria which might be present in the dry formula powder are a sight more dangerous than those whihc might be on the kitchen scissors,"

don't know about that......guess that is all relative too - as it would depend on the cleanliness of the kitchen and especially what the Scissors had been used for before - and whether they had been cleaned properly (I'm think used to cut up the chicken breasts for dinner, given a quick rinse (as opposed to good wash) and then used to open the carton of milk)

I am assuming we are all consciencious & sensible - a key trait of a MNetter surly?

These days I don't often agree with DH says.....however one thing he said to me when we first got together during a (normal, non-heated, friendly conversation) was

Never ASSUME anything, else it's makes an ASS out of U and ME

FAQ, in general people realise that kitchen scissors used to open milk for babies need not to have been recently used for wheedling dogshit out of jelly shoes.

I know HM - but how many people would think of the risks of not washing them properly after they've been used on something such as raw meat???

Given the number of people that suffer from food poisoning at Christmas time because they don't follow all the proper guidelines on handling and preparing their turkey/chicken I should imagine there would be plenty who would think a quick wash under the tap would be ok......

I used to have a specially designated "milk carton opening pair" in my changing bag, kept in a clean (but not sterile) sandwich bag.

I would then wipe them with a baby wipe immediatelt before use

and hm - you don't really use your kitchen scissors for the purpose you mentioned do you

FAQ, I'm living on planet clean then - and I don't often say that!

What are you saying though? That powdered formula is the same as/safer than the more sterile (but not sterile to SMS standards ) because people might stuff raw meat germs through the carton when they open it?

No, nor do I have a dog or jelly shoes!

God they are not actually my standards. My DD3 had the powder plonked in at serving temp...no-where near 70C.

Work is a different matter though

Was that Q to me or FAQ(must go and have tea. Back in a bit if it was)?

Twas to FAQ, SMS But feel free to answer it - will be interested in your opinion, actually!