Best way to prepare Neocate formula?

[user666555]

Hello,

My baby has recently been prescribed Neocate formula after being on Aptamil Pepti 1 and still having CMPA symptoms.

My question is, what's the best way to prepare the formula (especially at night)?

The guidelines suggest to boil the water (in a kettle) and let it sit for at least 30 minutes before feeding. However, my baby wakes up at random times in the night so I'm not sure when I'd boil the water ready for her to drink?

How did you prepare the feed if your LO was on Neocate? Also, how do you prepare the milk when you're out and on the go?

Lastly, when did you notice a difference in your LO after they started drinking Neocate?

TIA

Just add the milk when it's cool enough to give to baby rather than when the water is first boiled as other formulas are made. I used to just take water in a flask and cool it when out and about, adding the powder just before giving to baby. I had a perfect prep machine so used to let it do both shots then add the milk. It only says to let the water cool for thirty mins so it's cool enough for baby to drink, you can cool it quicker by running it under a cold tap or putting in a bowl of cold water. Only took a couple of days to notice the difference and I had a different baby, all the constant screaming stopped

@arghrain so would it be okay to boil the kettle, put the water in the flask and let it cool and then just use the cooled boiled water as and when needed throughout the day?

She already seems a little happier, it sounds crazy as she's only had one feed with the Neocate - could be complete coincidence though as I don't see how it'd work so quickly!

Yep, I used to boil the kettle, put it in a flask, then take pour it into a bottle when I was out and let it cool if I knew he was due a feed soon or cool it like I said in cold water or under a tap. I also used to do the same at night as it was easier then getting up to the kettle at 3am 😂 honestly, it's doesn't sound daft, I had four like it and they changed overnight, it is amazing, but then milk allergies run in the family so I kind of knew what it was

I used to make it essentially the same way that the Tommee Tippee machine does, whether at home during the day, at night or when out. Basically it's this:

Add a small amount of hot water to a bottle, add all the powder and shake; then add the rest of the water but use cool boiled water. So if you were making a 5oz feed it would be 2 oz hot water (I would boil in advance and keep hot in a thermos flask; I invested in a thermometer so I was confident that my hot water was hot enough*) then add 5 scoops of neocate and shake well, then add 3 more oz of (cool) water - measured separately, you can't just top up your bottle to 5oz because that won't be enough water. Shake and the bottle is perfect temperature.

Notes:
*the tin says boil one litre of fresh tap water and leave to cool for an hour, this would result in the water being 70 degrees when you are using it so that's what I aimed for in my thermos.
I would use the rest of the kettle of boiled water to measure into cool shots which i would store in spare bottle.

This all sounds complex but it really wasn't; my little boy was on Neoctate from 8 weeks old and I fed him anywhere and everywhere using this method!

Oh and @user666555 my sons first feed with Neocate he drank the whole bottle for the first time in weeks. I couldn't believe it. Took about two weeks for the reflux symptoms to properly abate.

I'm in the same boat - just swapped to Neocate LCP from Pepti 1. My label says 'Do not boil formula' so I boil the kettle in the morning and add to bottles to cool then just add the formula when needed.

@WooYa thank you. So it's at room temp when you feed baby?

How long have you been trying Neocate for? Any difference yet?

@Dysphone thank you! Will look into this method too.

What symptoms did your LO have initially that he was prescribed Neocate?

He is 10 now so it was a while back 😂 but he had the more awful reflux. It was silent (no actual vomit) but he was in so much pain he couldn't eat at all and would just scream all day. He lost so much weight at 8 weeks old he was like a newborn again. He also suffered from very bad eczema. He needed a dairy free diet until he was nearly two years old but now drinks milk by the gallon and loves cheese, yoghurt etc.

I did it with mineral water or filtered from the Brita jug. Put water in the bottle and heated up in the microwave (runs and hides).

DS is 14 now and all fine, all allergies gone apart from mild asthma.

Neocate is a miracle thing, I'm such an advocate for it. I remember when I was breastfeeding I nearly died because I went on a severe vegan diet as I was putting pressure on myself to carry on breastfeeding. I introduced Neocate when he was 5 months and I did mix bf with Neocate until he was 9 months(!). When I stopped BF I went straight to McDonald's and had a Big Mac, happiest day of my life 😅

Good luck with your LO!

Yes room temp, luckily DD will drink it cool. The water is sterile for 24 hours in the bottle. I'm also sure I've seen that you can make up 24 hours of bottles (water and formula) and store in the fridge. There's a parents leaflet online. I googled Neocate LCP instructions and downloaded it.
We've been on it just 24 hours and it's lovely so far! No screaming and normal poos!

Don't you need to use the very hot water to sterilise the powder formula? Pretty sure you can then allow bottles to cool and even store in the fridge on the day until needed. More info on the formula tin or nutricia website.

Not with neocate as it’s sterile unlike other formulas

@WooYa Thank you. I've just had a look on the website. Yes, I did see about pre making the bottles. I hope DD will be okay with taking it at room temp/slightly on the cooler side because when she's hungry she screams and cries hysterically and would not wait for the formula to heat up again (bottle in a bowl of boiling water). She'll kind of want the milk near enough instantly!

So day one on Neocate. She's much better than she has been. She's burping easier, isn't arching her back, lifting her legs up etc as much however, she is still crying when passing wind and crying when her tummy aches. I guess that's expected as it does state on the website that initially it can make baby windy. Also I suppose it's only day one so hopefully things will improve in the coming days. But she's defo not been crying all day like she was on Pepti 1. Seen a lot more smiles from her today which is lovely!

I was wondering if anyone else has been in a similar situation with Neocate.

My daughter was drinking around 4/5 oz previously on Pepti 1 (when she wouldn't refuse it) however with Neocate, she only drinks 3, does anyone know why this might be? Is it more filling? Or is it the taste maybe? She hasn't seemed to be too phased by the taste to be honest. She accepted it straight away.

Hi OP, came across you're post and I'm now in the exact situation with my 8 week old- pain/screaming when passing wind and reducing to 3oz in comparison to her 4/5oz. Did it take your LO long to settle on neocate?

Neocate transformed my DS following severe CMPA🙂.

I was not prepared for this side effect though - at 7, he can't get enough broccoli and brussels sprouts 😮. Apparently the strong taste of the Neocate can affect their developing taste buds, making them love brassicas!

Hi all, just wondering if anyone used neocate transitioning from breastmilk? I am currently non dairy but baby is still unsettled after I had a slip up 7 days ago. She is not a great feeder on breast so hoping to top up with neocate but worried about making her reflux worse?

I did the same as some of the other posters. I would boil the kettle in the morning. Pour in to 4 bottles seal them then leave them to cool. Just added the formula when baby needed a feed. Never had any problems and she’s now 5