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Infant feeding

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

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Original poster

Bottle Feeding - New Laws??

14 replies

Jelliebaby · 01/12/2008 17:18

My DD is nearly 4 and when i bottle fed her i made 6 bottles up at a time and kept them in the fridge until they were ready to use, making sure they weren't in there longer than 24 hours.

Ive heard now that there is a new way to do it that includes milk dispensers??? and each bottle needs to be done as and when you need it.

Has anyone got any tips? Is the new way easier? I'm quite tempted just to do what I did 4 years ago.

OP posts:

TheButterflyEffect · 01/12/2008 18:04

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn

susiey · 01/12/2008 19:17

I have just read that page and think that would be a big faff.
The way I have always done it is

sterilise the bottles for the whole day in the morning

put boiling water in each bottle to the desired amount
leave to cool on the side
heat the bottle as required

then when it comes to milk time add the formula to cold water and mix

I have a special dispenser for when we're out to take up to 3 powder feeds at a time

thisisyesterday · 01/12/2008 19:19

well it isn't law. but the recommendation is that formula powder needs to be put into freshly boiled water in order to kill any bacteria that may be in it. on account of formula not being sterile.

you're free to make bottles up any way you like.
presumably the guidelines have come in as a result of a number of children becoming ill from it?

no idea. but as I say, it's not law.

ChairmumMiaow · 01/12/2008 19:23

Its a sad fact that formula is not sterile and babies do die from bacteria in it. Its very rare but it does happen. See this

On a similar thread, someone suggested making the formula up with 2/3 the amount of very hot boiled water to kill the bacteria, then cool it with the remaining 1/3 as cooled boiled water kept in the fridge. I have to make my disclaimer that I've never made up a bottle of formula in my life, but that made sense to me.

AnarchyAunt · 01/12/2008 19:24

As others have said these are new guidelines, not laws. They have been introduced to reduce the number of babies becoming ill as a result of bacteria in formula milk.

The guidelines are to make bottles up when they are needed, not in advance, and to use water that has boiled within the last 30 minutes. This is to ensure the water is hot enough to kill any bacteria in the formula powder, as it is not a sterile product.

AnarchyAunt · 01/12/2008 19:26

FSA/DoH advice

Original poster

Jelliebaby · 01/12/2008 20:27

Thanks for all the links, I didn't realise that it was because there was bacteria in the formula, sounds quite scary!!!

If I did bottles in the morning and left them on the side and then just added the formula as and when the bottle is required and reheated them - is that safe?

I remember being confused about sterilising first time round but it soon became second nature.

OP posts:

ChairmumMiaow · 01/12/2008 20:34

JellieBaby - what is important is that the formula is heated to (I think) 70 degrees to kill any bacteria that might be in there. I don't think it matters whether you add cooled water then heat it to that temperature and let it cool again or add the hot straight to the formula. However I know its not generally advised to heat bottles in the microwave because it doesn't heat evenly and can create very hot patches in the formula.

HTH

AnarchyAunt · 01/12/2008 20:35

No, thats not safe - as the water will not be hot enough to kill any bacteria in the formula.

The powder should be added to water that has boiled within the last 30 minutes if you want to cut the risk of bacterial poisoning.

ObsidianBlackbirdMcNight · 02/12/2008 11:05

i've been making day's bottles by boiling water, adding formula whilst hot then putting straight in the fridge. then warming with hot water when needed. i think that's the best compromise between safety and faff!

Original poster

Jelliebaby · 02/12/2008 20:35

Thats the way I use to do it and wanted to carry on that way if it was safe to do so

OP posts:

AlexanderPandasmum · 02/12/2008 23:18

Surely the way that Kat describes would kill the bacteria but then leave the contents 'sterile' but able to be cooled?

I think I did it that way sometimes (he stopped bottles 10 months ago but I DID read the 'new' guidance). I think the main thing is you don't just mix the formula with lukewarm/cold water no matter how sterile the water is.

The cartons are different as liquid formula in a carton is sterile until opened.

TeenyTinyTorya · 02/12/2008 23:33

I made a day's bottles with boiling water, added the formula half an hour after boiling, then put them all in the fridge.

I read advice that said bottles in the fridge could keep for 24 hours, but that there was a small risk of bacteria growth if they weren't cool enough. For that reason, they should be kept near the back of the fridge, not in the door.

Preferably, a fresh bottle should be made up for each feed, but this was impossible for me to do.

treedelivery · 02/12/2008 23:45

The companies recommend formula should not be stored once 'made'

It's in response to the stats which UNICEF etc use to promote breastfeeding, namely that bottle fed babies are 10 times more likely have an admission to A and E in the 1st year of life.

Not all to do with sterility but often. They brought out the ready mixed stuff about the same time as the guideline.

Which is sensible and helpful except they charge more for it.....
Why should a baby be more likely to get gasteroenteritis becasue it's parents can't afford ready mix? Grrrrr

End of soapbox!!

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