silly question about making up formula

[appletiser]

just wondering - the instructions on the container say i should boil water, let it cool for 30mins then prepare milk and cool it under tap to required temperature.....as baby is usally screaming at point when milk is required and this isnt possible when travelling - do u make up formula in advance and what is best way to store in sterile way when travelling - thanks

tiktok I think you mean no less?

The water has to be 70 degrees or more which means you have to boil the water and add it to the powder within 30 minutes for it to make the powder sterile.

Whoops!!!

NO LESS than 70 deg C, thanks, na

I just wouldn't make up a fresh feed each time purely as the baby would be manic by the time it was done, having a toddler to sort out too.

So what is worse...making feeds up in advance and the problems with cooling/storing/reheating? Or mixing with cold sterle water?

Gillyan - no, the powder is never sterile. The water has to be hot in order to stop the bacteria that may already be in it from multiplying - you can't make it sterile, and neither can the manufacturers.

Your HV should be able to explain this.

I honestly never knew that and I've been feeding my baby for 5 wks now this way....ooopps! I never thought about the powder as I just thought the powder was being put in a seperate pot, I forgot about the powder being mixed with boiling water...shit I feel awful now!

Cross posted tiktok I get it, I just can't believe I never realised, god so I should aim to make them as she wants them if the making in advance is out! Nightmare. So can u sterilise empty bottles in advance, open it to make a fresh feed and then cool it down under the tap? These questions must seem ridiculous, I am quite intelligent really!

www.nhs.uk/Conditions/Bottle-feeding/Pages/How-is-it-performed.aspx is official 'how to'.

Thanks I'll have a look.

I just looked up the info on the dispensers I have been using, it sounded so atractive!

www.tommeetippee.co.uk/product/closer_to_nature_milk_powder_dispensers_pack_of_3_/

I think these dispensers I have been using are more for travel and for use with a sterilised flask of water to mix with.

Off to empty my bottled water and put the kettle on......

Official advice is that the best way to cool it down quick enough is to hold it under running water or in a container of water. You could add ice to the container of water aswell.

Thanks, glad I saw this thread! I remember a friend of mine having a bottle seperater thing about 3 yrs ago and she shook it together and commented that her daughter would drink the formula at room temp so dead easy. This time round for me I rememebr thinking how much easier it would be to give cold formula rather than heating it up ( from making advanced feeds ) DD1 used to refuse it if it got to cool etc. So the 'cold' thing was in my head - then I researched the seperaters and it just never occured to me that the boiling water part was missing and how vital it was! Can't believe it, oh well u live and learn!

Thanks for your help guys.