bottle feeding - how long can you leave it out for?

[pudding25]

I am mainly breastfeeding but husband gives dd a bottle of formula in the morning. I am shattered beyond belief and need some sleep so dh on days off (usually works evenings) is sometimes going to give dd a bottle for the dreamfeed.

We try and dreamfeed at 11pm. However, she sometimes wakes between 10 and 11pm. If she wakes, we want to feed her there and then.

If we make up the bottle in advance (e.g 9.30pm), how long can it be left lying out for? Can it be left out until she is fed at 11pm (if she does not wake before).

a made up bottle shouldnt be left out for more than about an hour before being used. Are you using a brand that makes pre-made cartons? If so, you could just open one of those and use immediately. Or, if you knew it was going to be used fairly quickly then make up the bottle a short while in advance and put it in the fridge.

I know there are loads of guidelines about making up formula at just the right temperature, chilling it properly etc and
I am not saying leaving formula out the fridge is ideal but sometimes circumstannces dictate ..
.
I used to carry made up formula about with me in my bag for much more than an hour when I went places and ds is now a healthy 3 year old

Obviously every child is different and I wouldnt advise anyone to do something which may harm their child..

but hopefully this will reassure you that you dont have to get it right every time

good luck

The cartons advise (for what it's worth!) that formula should be used within 2 hours and I've tended to stick to that. DD is such an unpredictable snacker that I'd have wasted fortunes if I had thrown away every bottle after an hour.

p.s. I forgot to say that I used to make the bottles up with cool boiled water and only add the formula powder when the feed was required. It is totally against the guidelines but it made feeds much easier i.e. add powder to water and shake and the feed was ready. DS would take the feed at room temperature so I didnt even need to heat it.

I'm with Frasersmummy on the pragmatism-route.

There are loads of not-quite-by-the-book options, if you are prepared to take a calculated risk. As well as being h&s guidelines, they are also there to stop the manufacturers being sued for upset tummies and the like.

1. Mini-fridge
2. Insulated bag with an ice-pack, I'm pretty comfortable with this for about 4 hours
3. Half a bottle of cooled water, topped up with boiling water from flask, plus a dose of powder (buy a plastic dispenser)
4. Ready-mades, except they're expensive and it feels really wasteful if they turn out not to be hungry

What a palaver. Stupid q. If I make it up before and put it in the fridge, what do I do if she wakes up crying before it is warmed up? Leave her to cry for 5 mins? She definitely wont take it straight from the fridge.

Last night, boiled the water, left it to cool for a while. At 10pm, added the powder, left it out until 10.45pm when he heated it up by putting it in a pan of boiling water and then fed her. So far, she looks fine!

Oh, and why is it wrong to have a bottle of cooled boiled water and then add the powder?

Because you need the water to be hot to kill off any bugs in the formula powder as it is not sterile.
Ready made cartons have been ultra-heat treated (UHT) and so are sterile, so you can leave them for longer.

I make up 5 feeds in one go and leave them until dd is ready and them warm them. I dont use them if they are over 24 hours old or re heat them. I used to do this when I worked at a nursery as the guidelines advised this, they have now changed but it really isnt easy to make up a fresh feed when you have a screaming baby. She is 9 weeks old now and perfectly healthy.

What about making the bottle up abit before, pop it in the fridge then just slightly warm it in a cup of hot water to take the chill off.
Thats what i do. Thankfully DD doesnt automatically scream for a feed and we have learnt her tell tell signs of when shes getting hungry.

When out and about i either take a carton with me or use a powder dispenser and a small flask of boiled water and make it up as i need it.

I would throw a bottle out after it had been out for about an hour.
Cartons are fine at room temp until they have been opened.

Finally someone that uses their common sense! This is the way I do it. Shes healthy and totally fine. Please don't listen to everything the NHS says. Other wise you will end up wasting alot of time. Bringing up a baby is all about being quick, efficient and saving time. No harm is done...Use your motherly instincts!