No hot shot of water to kill bacteria - Formula

[KinderEggg]

If you have read my other thread. I hate breastfeeding. I am thinking of transitioning and one thing that I am worried about is taking bottles out and about.

I spoke to a friend who formula feeds and asked her how she goes out and about.
she said she takes one flask boiling water water with her and just uses that even if it’s not at the right temperature to kill bacteria. She said she’s always done this and she did it with her other child too and has had no issues.
I would never do this but have others done this? Is the hot shot necessary?

Things change all the time. When I had my first we made the bottles up and just put on side till cool then heated, If we went out we'd make up feed and then use a heated bottle bag, next one 2 years later was told don't add formula (both weaned 3-4 months)
Next one was cool boiled water and pop in fridge, then add hot water and formula. Last one just make up when needed and to wean at 6 months. The sleeping also has changed, first 2 had bumpers and putting baby to sleep at bottom of cot on back was only just coming in with first baby. Baby nu 4 had sleeping bag things but still with blankets others only blankets. I personally would go by what's recommended. Sorry bit of a essay

I used to do the same as your friend. What are your thoughts OP?

I would ask a cafe/restaurant when out and about for a bit of boiling water. It was never an inconvenience. Then I'd take a flask of cool boiled water to top it up.

By far the easiest way is to buy the little bottles of ready made milk. They’re more expensive but if it’s only for when you’re out you won’t be using them that much?

I've brought a nuby rapid cool - make the formula as I normal (I think) add to the flask and within a few minutes it's cool enough to use (again I think).

I have never really understood this.

The water you use to make up a bottle does not kill the bacteria. To kill the bacteria, you'd have to use boiling water which is, from memory, not recommended. The risks that come with bacteria are because once the powder is mixed with the milk, bacteria can breed. Which is why, if you make up milk in advance it's so important to refridgerage it and, if you're using a bottle, to discard it if the baby doesn't drink all of it.

On that basis, we used to pre-pour water into the bottles (boiled and colled) and then kept the powder spearate in handy little containers. Then mix it up as needed, and discard after a max of 2 hours if not used. Both ours liked them room temp but I know a few people whose babies liked it a bit warmer so they used to take a flask of boiled water and not quite fill up their bottles then mix enough of the hot water to get to the right temperature, then add the powder.

Job done.

Just to say I’ve always found this baffling!! I read that boiling water kills the goodness in powder formula?

I mainly breastfed but the bottles I did do I did as per the instructions at home and just bought pre made for out and about

You need the hot water to kill the bacteria in the powder. I'd do what your friend does or use the premade bottles.

I commented on your other thread too. We had a perfect prep machine at home, I never thought about the temperature the hot shot came out but knew enough people that used them with no problems to just get on with it. It was cleaned and maintained as per the recommendations. I either made one and took it out depending on how long I was going out for or took ready made milk. In some ways formula feeding is a faff but it saved my mental health.

I don't think your meant to use boiling water, but use boiled water that's still hot. It was a few years ago that I last made a bottle up but I'm sure you're meant to leave it for a few minutes to cool.

Just to add, I haven't seen your previous post however it doesn't have to be one or the other, you may find doing a combination works.

This is what I always did. The guidelines change so often and unless you are permanently at home or have boiling water, sinks, fridges etc on hand 100% of the time you are never going to make it spot on.

I know advice changes all the time, i formula fed 3 and my youngest is now 23. I made a few bottles at once from a freshly boiled kettle, cooled and refrigerated.
If I went out I took the formula in a purpose made container and added it to the water in the bottle.
As it's prepared in sterile conditions in the factory, I can't see an issue as long as made up formula is cooled quickly
None of mine ever had any stomach problems as a result.

Some of the formulas have small, ready to use cartons. I use them for out and about.

I just bought the readymade bottles of 200ml for out and about (and a plastic tub and flask to warm the milk up). It’s drinkable at room temp but DS had powdered milk warm at home so kept it consistently warm. It is a bit more expensive but I didn’t want the pressure of boiling and cooling while out. I saw other people asking in service stations for boiling water and using a nuby rapid cool flask though. We used those at home to cool the boiling water quickly and it works quite fast.

The WHO advice changed a few years ago when some babies died in China i think, due to formula being contaminated with bacteria. You are now told to add water that is above 70c to kill the bacteria. So you can boil the kettle and let it cool for a bit before using or prep machines deliver the water at the required temp.

Lots of official (and current) advice here: https://www.nhs.uk/start-for-life/baby/feeding-your-baby/bottle-feeding/

As pp have said, i commented on your other thread and I also combi fed. I just use the little premade bottles when out of the house which don't need hot water adding. You just use as is.