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Infant feeding

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

Original poster

Making up formula - do you follow the rules??

213 replies

MumtoHarry · 06/03/2008 10:11

We have just moved Harry onto formula and I am worrying about how I should make it up ... does everyone follow the new guidelines about making it up with boiled water cooled for less than 30 mins, and then let that cool enough for the baby to drink it (which seems a real faff - and a bit impossible to get the timing right if you are letting the baby demand-feed)... or do people make up the bottles of cooled boiled water in advance (and make up the feed with water at room temp)... or do people make the feed up in advance and keep in in the fridge?? I am probably over-thinking this, but it all seems SO much hassle to do it properly and yet if baby was ill because I couldn't be arsed to get it right I'd feel awful ....

OP posts:
Nessamommy · 07/03/2008 18:54

I'm not so sure about temp stuff...I just know you should make sure the quantity stuff (amount of water and formula) is important to abide by. You probably already know this though.

StripeyKnickersSpottySocks · 07/03/2008 18:56

Just remember if you do make feeds up in advance and keep them in the fridge - don't keep them in the door of the fridge but ratehr the main part.

tori32 · 07/03/2008 22:19

I think on the time front. If you add the powder to boiling water and cool it, as it cools to room temp the bugs have chance to multiply and bottles must be completely cold before refrigerating.
If you sterilise/boil the water and refrigerate then no bugs should be present in the bottle. If you then add powder as you need it and give the bottle straight away there is next to no time for bacteria to multiply IYSWIM.

Lulumama · 07/03/2008 22:23

but i thought that the new way of making it with hot water, killed any bugs? the NCT and NHS have good leaflets taht explain it all really clearly..... or use cartons when out and about or for the night feeds if possible

tori32 · 07/03/2008 22:23

PS bacteria cannot multiply below 15 degrees or over 65 degrees c. Whatever happens the baby needs the feed below the latter and above the first reading, so it is immaterial which way you do it. The bottle will be fed at optimum bacteria breeding temp.

VeniVidiVickiQV · 07/03/2008 22:24

That really truly is a load of rubbish.

Lulumama · 07/03/2008 22:25

you can download the infomration here from teh NCT

tori32 · 07/03/2008 22:27

Yes, it does kill the bacteria if you add hot water. Its only if you want to make up 24hrs I would then microwave the refrigerated bottles of water as needed and then add powder IYSWIM. For 1 bottle it is best to add hot water to powder and rapid cool in a pan of cold water/ under the cold tap.

Lulumama · 07/03/2008 22:28

the whole point of the new guidlines is taht you don;t make up the feeds for 24 hours all at once

rachaelsara · 07/03/2008 22:28

Why the chuff isn't formula milk sterile for chuffs chuffing sake?

tori32 · 07/03/2008 22:30

VVV which bit?
Bacteria multiplication? I used to work in the fresh food industry and am well aware of food standards and optimum temperatures for bacteria to grow.

That babies will have a bottle at the optimum temp for bacteria growth- well if this is not the case then you will potentially either scald the babies mouth or give him colic due to very cold milk.

Do you have a food handling/hygiene cert?

FAQ · 07/03/2008 22:32

exactly optimum temperatures for the bacteria to grow - so that doesn't mean that they don't grow above or below those

(and yes I do have a currently food handling/hygiene certificate)

Twinklemegan · 07/03/2008 22:33

But if you've added the powder to water that's hot enough to kill the bacteria, there's going to be minimal bacteria growth in the time it takes to cool and feed it, wouldn't you say?

I don't understand what isn't clear about the guidelines. It's all there in black and white isn't it?

tori32 · 07/03/2008 22:34

lulumama I understand the guidelines perfectly. I choose to not go by them because I feel perfectly happy doing it in advance. Not advocating this as everyones choice, just mine. Perhaps I have the confidence to decide what will harm my baby/not harm her.
My belief is that the reason my dd has never had a stomach upset/ allergies is because I didn't follow the guidelines, she was exposed to some levels of bacteria and got used to them.

Lulumama · 07/03/2008 22:35

the link was not aimed at you in particular tori, but to the thread in general as people seemed confused.

if you feel confident to not follow the guidelines, taht is your choice, but no harm posting useful information for other mums

PuppyMonkey · 07/03/2008 22:37

What a lot of bold there is on this thread!

MrsBadger · 07/03/2008 22:37

rachelsara - because they way they freeze-dry and pack the powder makes it impossible to sterilise after handling has finished.

tori32 · 07/03/2008 22:38

Fair enough lulu, I just found doing individual feeds a complete faff tbh. Also waiting for a bottle to cool while baby is screaming in the night is not good.

Lulumama · 07/03/2008 22:39

and that is where cartons are useful!

FAQ · 07/03/2008 22:39

tori - that's what the cold water tap is for (cooling down bottles)

Twinklemegan · 07/03/2008 22:40

I think it's fine to understand the risks and make an informed decision. I varied the guidelines myself because it was so difficult to feed on demand. I used to store a small amount of cold boiled water in sterilised bottles in the fridge. I then added boiling water so that the water was quickly at 70 degrees rather than having to wait ages for the kettle to cool.

What I find really worrying is the lack of understanding that's still so prevalent, even thought the guidance is out there for all to see.

tori32 · 07/03/2008 22:41

Yes but blardy expensive (cartons that is). Even under the cold tap it will take at least 5-10 mins which is enough time to wake the whole house up.

VeniVidiVickiQV · 07/03/2008 22:42

Why? Does a food handling/hygiene cert prevent you from reading and taking on board new, and improved peer-reviewed advice?

No, I dont. THANK. GOD. I fear it may make me an arrogant idiot.

FAQ · 07/03/2008 22:42

5-10 minutes - no - doesn't take that long (I speak from experience having overheated DS3's milk on many occasions and stood there at 2am in the morning with the cold water tap running )

Aitch · 07/03/2008 22:44

i reckon that apart from the clumping thing, they tell you 70degrees because you can actually feed the baby the milk at that temp without hurting it.

what i used to do, for the record, was put boiled water into the bottles and leave to cool, then i'd warm the bottle in the microwave. (advice is not to do this because hotspots may occur. if you're adding powder to the hot water, though, you have to agitate it to mix it, so i figured that dealt with that.)

i am a bit geeky, so i did check how long it took for the water to heat up to 70degs in the micro (in mine it was 40 secs from room temp) so once i had that info i made them up like that. it was very quick, actually. 5 bottles every morning, with boiling water, left to cool, and only 40-50 secs between dd wanting milk and getting it.