FF Preparation - overseas advice?

[flyingcloud]

I have read the English guidelines but I have bought my first tin of formula (in France, where I live) and it says to add lukewarm water (40 degrees max) to the bottle.

Are the guidelines really that different?

It's Hipp Organic btw.

Bump...

Countries vary a lot on all recomendations relating to childcare.

I had a French paediatrician tell me just to mix the formula powder with Evian.

It's a mine field and you've really just got to do a risk assessment and do what feels right to you.

Thanks for your reply.

I am amazed that the French guidelines vary so much from the WHO guidelines - especially as the guidelines were changed partly due to the deaths of babies in France.

Whoops, I've just bought my first tin of Hipp Organic, in France...I prepared it with Evian, heated it up in a bottle warmer and fed it to DS with a spoon (he refuses to take a bottle, but I have to go back to work in 10 days....)

I must say the powder didn't look as though it had dissolved properly and I was worried about it, but DS is still fine. Have only fed him once with it, though.

Sorry, not offering any advice, just am in the same boat as you, not knowing what to do now! How old is your DC? My DS is over 6 months, so probably past the sensitive stage?

Hi Bunny. I don't want to worry you! You are doing what every French Mum does.

My dd is 5.5 wks. I am going back part time in a week's time and full time in five weeks so I am worried (I am gutted to give up BF but it's sadly not compatible with work.)

Obv when dd goes to the childminder she will be fed their way which is prepare it with mineral water and heat it up in a warmer...

I have just read so many threads on here about FF prep that I was surprised when I read the instructions on the tin. Also DH thinks I am being precious...

1 handed typing - enjoying the last few weeks of BF!

Oh, flyingcloud, I know it's so hard to give up BF isn't it! Giving DS formula while at the same time feeling my body preparing to feed him just felt so weird.

But you have very little maternity leave for France - don't you have the usual 10 weeks? And I've heard you can get 2 extra weeks off "sick" for breastfeeding, but many doctors are unwilling to grant it...

Whereabouts in France are you? I'm in Alsace.

Good luck with going back to work!

Well I agreed to take the minimum (8 weeks) as long as I could also work part time for four weeks either side - which makes up the full 16 week allowance. I'm in a bit of a tricky situation as my job is very seasonal and there would be no one else to do it if I took any more time off. I didn't realise how hard it was going to be before DD came along.

DD won't actually go the childminder until she is 10 weeks old (still soooo tiny). I've been expressing loads but I still don't think my supply will be up to working and expressing and taking into account my very unfixed hours.

I'm in Picardy.

Good luck going back to work to you too. I hope it isn't too hard.

I know most French mothers prepare with Evian or similar but that won't kill any (rare) bacteria in the powder. For that reason I would always advise dissolving the powder in v hot water and topping up with boiled/cooled or mineral water. Slightly higher risk of bacterial proliferation here though (tropical DOM).

French paeds look at me very strangely but I've never had one actually disagree.