Making bottles question

[jojoisamum]

I know this is a difficult subject and responses can vary but should I:

Boil kettle, let cool, fill bottles and refrigerate - add formula when needed.

Or

Add formula to water then refridgerate?

It's a minefield out there!

Thank you.

nooooooooo! it is the temperature of the water that is key, not when you add the powder to the water

p.s. I would never ever make up formula and leave it at room temperature as that is just asking for trouble. Water, yes - formula, NO

tommee tippee and powder storers - honest!!!!!

It's not the safest way though is it? I would prefer to use the safest way personally.

yes, but unless the water is being kept at 70 degrees, then you have the same issue with bacteria

but you can nuke the water and cool it down - better than room temp formula for hours nuked and cooled down. dc3 had this for about 4 months as we were travelling with nowt but the bottles and a micro steriliser and she never had a problem.

spotsandstripes

You can get the litre ones but they need kept in the fridge once opened, but you can get 8oz ones, they are 50p or so ( sma) you could just keep them in your bag for when you need them.

I give my parents the DoH guidelines and then when asked say what i have always done LM it is their choice and should they wish to follow the DoH guidelines then i do but this 'bacteria' isn't new it has always been there.

Yes MLTN they are great, i use them on their own rather than the segmented containers which i find can let powder leak in from nieghbouring sections over time. Tescos and Asda stock them i found. it is a 3 part item, a container, a removable top/funnel and a lid for said funnel. Really easy to use and compact.

fair enough

It is their choice and i have found that every few years the 'rules' change and family and friends always have an in my day story about making up bottles.

Heck when i first started you made up the 24hrs worth of feeds either in bottles or in a jug and they went into the fridge and you warmed them as needed. That was then discouraged as not everyones fridge is a constant 4'C.

rules change, and that is true, as a professional, you need to keep up with them and ensure parents are aware. the back in my day we did x y z and it did us no harm is not enough of a reason to ignore new guidance IMO. if parents choose not to follow the DoH guidance then you have done all you can

Is what i said LM they have the most up to daye info and they are free to ask others views and make the choice they are happy with, no point in my pretending i have no view as i am not pushing my view over DoH at all.

Why are the manufacturers permitted to produce formula that contains bacteria? Surely it would be reasonable to expect them to produce the product in as sterile a facility as possible. The liquid is sterile, so why not the powder - why are there not regulations in place to require manufacturers to produce a sterile product?

It is made using sterile liquid, nannynick, but I suppose you can't completely ensure that bacteria is not introduced. As my link above says, it's when the liquid is turned into powder that the bacteria may be introduced. And even if they could ensure it was completely sterile, it will only be so whilst sealed. Once you open it, bacteria are free to enter every time it is used. It is rubbish, but true.

It seems that it is produced in the same way cereals other dry goods are produced in a clean but not sterile enviroment but exposure to air when being used - hence the use in 4 weeks rule on packets / tins can give any present bacteria a home.

So, if you have to make them up in advance you'd be best to make the formula with the boiling water, let cool slightly and then refrigerate and warm through before feeding.

Been using the ready made stuff at night and first thing in the morning but was using boiled water from the fridge and then adding powder. Water isn't hot enough according to guidelines.

i was agreeing with you matnan

No jojoisamum, you should use it immediately after it is made to prevent bacteria from being introduced. Refrigerating allows the bacteria to multiply.

From HERE "Powdered infant formula is not a sterile product and has the potential to contain bacteria such as Enterobacter sakazakii.

Infections caused by Enterobacter sakazakii are extremely rare but can be very serious.

The powder is pastaurised but but sterile, Ready to Feed cartons are sterile until opened.

Yeah but what if you don't have a feeding routine for your baby yet? It would take an age to boil, cool, prepare and cool further before being able to feed?

Surely refrigeration is better than leaving prepared formula at room temp?

In an ideal world, we'd all be able to afford ready made stuff but even at that there would be a lot of waste because they come in 200 ml sizes.

cartons. you might have to tolerate some wasteage though

I am confused now. I saw on tv the other day that you should not let the bottles come in to contact with hot water because of the chemicals in the plastic. There have been concerns about carcenogenic factors in the plastic.

Is this true?

ooh for gawd sake. are these people just trying to scare us? My boiled water is just that - still boiling after half an hour.

LM re-read my post and realised it was not neccessary

that is why you use the water half an hour after it is boiled, so it is the optimum temp, to kill bugs, but not destroy nutrients in the formula

'these people' are the department of health and want to try to ensure babies are not ill, hospitalised or worse through the bugs that can be present in formula

re the plastic in bottle, i think it is BPA free bottles that avoid the issue, but i am not up to speed on this yet.