Is anyone out there using disposable bottles?

[SlummyMummy65]

I've just had to stop breastfeeding my five month old baba (had to have an op and am on meds for 6 weeks), so am now trying to get used to bottle feeding. It certainly makes breast feeding look like a breeze! My health visitor said I should boil water and let it cool for 30 mins before adding milk powder, and when I'm out, or in the wee small hours, I should use a disposable bottle and a carton of formula (unless I want to make baba wait 30 mins!!).

Does anyone else do this? I haven't seen anyone out faffing around with bottles and cartons. For my first boy, the rules were different and I just used to add powder to boiled water in a sterilised bottle (non-disposable). Really struggling to find decent disposable bottles, too, and nearly fainted with shock when saw how pricey they are.

Any ideas, tips or advice, please?

Many thanks, SlummyMummy

my only tip is to check check and double check that the meds ytou are on are incompatible with breastfeeding

very few really are (strong cancer drugs for example) but most HP's are not really aware what is and isn't safe.

no real advice on the bottles though i'm afraid!

Yes I did this when I was out and about, just kept a disposable bottle and a carton in the changing bag. We weren't feeding in the night by the time we switched to bottles so didn't do it at night, but def did when out and about.

Unless I was going to be giving a bottle in say, an hour in which case I'd make it up and take it with me. Think it is ok for 2 hours.

I don't see why you need to use disposable bottles, that seems like odd advice. Can you ask why she recommended it? Then you can see if she is following some new guidelines, is being over-cautious, or is just a loon

You do need to add the powder to water between 70-100 C because the powder is not sterile and may contain bugs which can cause tummy upsets. The hot water kills the bacteria, if present.

Just to say - although I used cartons all the time when out and about, I generally took a sterilised, reusable bottle with me to pour it in to - the disposables were just in the changing bag for emergencies.

I can understand the advice about cartons, for the reasons others have said. Why disposable bottles though? V expensive and not very eco! The mums I know just strelise, assemble the bottles and take them out empty.

I have never used a disposable bottle for my 2 bottlefed lo's. I also didnt stick rigidly to the guidelines for making up formula but it depends how much risk you are willing to take. For out and about and night feeds I took boiled water in a pre-sterilised bottle and pre-measured powder in a dispenser and when the feed was due I poured the powder in and shook to mix and the feed was ready. The main issue is bacteria breeding in the milk if it is left at room temperature for too long - I felt that making it up and feeding immediately was a risk I was prepared to take. I did also use cartons on occasion and just took a pre-sterilised assembled bottle out with me.

Many thanks for all the tips and advice! I think I'll give disposable bottles a miss (seem like a con) but stick to cartons when I'm out and about.

SlummyMummy

...and btw, the meds I'm on are aspirin to thin my blood - you'd think they were ok as are an everyday medicine, but apparently a big no-no for breastfeeding. Really sad to give it up earlier than planned...

SlummyMummy

You don't have to let the water cool for 30 minutes, you have to let it cool for no more than 30 minutes. Just let it cool enough so that there is no risk of scalding yourself and then measure out the appropriate volume.