Help with bottle feeding abroad.

[Natalie2900]

Looking for some advice on bottle feeding my 7 month old on holiday.

We are going for a week, how much formula shall I take?

I have brought the milton cold water sterilising tablets, is this the best option?

If I'm using the cold water steriliser shall i use bottled water inside or is the tap water ok? Shall I rinse of the bottles after with boiling water? I have read the smell of chemicals on the bottles can make little ones sick?

I think that is it :-) Any general advice on taking a baby on holiday and any really savvy tips welcome! x

Giving this a bump as I'm off on holiday in 3 weeks time with a 3 month old.

We have the Mam self sterilising bottles which you can sterilise in a microwave without the need for a specific steriliser/Milton tablets etc.

www.mamonlineshop.com/acatalog/FB0503U-Easy-Start-Anti-Colic-Bottle-260ml-3pk-White-470.html#SID=23

Will you have access to a microwave?

In terms of formula, I've calculated how much he normally has and will take that much plus some extra. So he's having about a litre a day so 7 litres for the 7 days plus some extra for travelling/emergencies.

I'd stopped sterilising by 7 months?

I used mother care disposable sterilizing bags large plastic bag you fill with tap water has tablets in lasts 24 hours hanging up on a hook - when abroad I steralised everything as if in a hotel hard to wash stuff properly. I didn't rinse after steralised and baby was fine

I also just brought pre-made cartons for holiday and jars of food which I added to with fruit/veg etc off buffet.

It all depends where you’re going. Most places you’ll be abole to buy formula and sterilizing tablets there. I don’t think you’re supposed to make up bottles with bottled water, by the way- too much sodium(I think)

We've been away 3 times with a bottle fed baby and the first time was a bit daunting but it's become easier each time!
The amount of milk or powder to take depends on how much they are drinking each day. By 7 months my daughter was on 4 or 5 bottles of 210ml, so we would take an unopened tin of milk powder, and about 8 bottles of 200ml ready made formula which we used for the days travelling there and back, with a few spares just in case. I would rather take too much than run out on holiday and have to try and find the same formula.
Try and arrange it so that you can feed the baby at take off and landing - the sucking is supposed to help their ears when the air pressure changes. If you have a dummy then that can also help.
We used milton cold water tablets and took the big Tupperware that we use at home - it only fits 1 bottle at a time so doesn't rake up too much room in the suitcase.
We always used bottled water and would boil it first. You need tp make sure that it doesn't have too much sodium/salt so double check the guidelines on the nhs website, but I never saw any bottles which had anywhere near the amount quoted so most brands should be fine.
With regards to the water for the steriliser, we used bottled water (not boiled) when dd was 7 months in Portugal, but used normal tap water when she was older, because I was slightly less PFB then!
Hope that helps, enjoy your holiday.

www.nhs.uk/chq/pages/1945.aspx?categoryid=62

Nhs website advice regarding bottled water for formula feeds abroad. Sorry if its not clicky

If you are heading for Spain you can use bottled water, it'll say 'apto para bebes' on it somewhere. You can also buy cartons of babymilk in any supermarket. They also sell fruit pouches and other paraphernalia, pehaps not in brands you recognise, but they are all fine for babies/weaners.

Or just take these www.amazon.co.uk/Steri-Bottle-140051UK-Steri-bottle-Pack-of/dp/B075D63YLX/ref=sr_1_1_sspa?psc=1&keywords=steri-bottle&tag=mumsnetforum-21&ie=UTF8&qid=1521541500&sr=8-1-spons

Many years since I was left feeding but always used to take these and pre-made formula. So much easier. Used to keep a small stash at home too for those days when nothing went right

Sorry to keep rambling on! But some airports with a superdrug or Boots will let you pre-order milk and powder that you can then pick up once you get to duty free so that you don't have to include it as hand luggage. You'll need to double check because some branches can order online and others you have to ring up and order over the phone

Thank you so much for all your replies.

I have the milton tablets and the milton sterilisers to so will just use this then..

I am pre ordering pre made formula air side at Gatwick and i am going to take some scoops of formula just incase for any reason the order goes wrong!

I have written down in the notes on my phone how much sodium etc in the water and also brands that are good!

maybe I am worrying to much! And hopefully by 7 months he will be eating more than he is drinking now!

I think my main concern was do i boil the water before putting it in the cold water sterilisers and do i use bottled water or tap water in the steriliser? I cant even imagine how awful it would be if he got an upset tummy on holiday. x

I was going to take two tins of Aptimal and then airside i was going to order 2x 1 litre pre made aptimal.

is this excessive lol? But like mentioned id rather have more!! Just incase! At the moment he has a tin of formula a week sometimes a little bit more, so i thought 2 tins would be ample!!

OP, not sure I'd be taking "some scoops of formula" with me, presuming this will translate as a bag of white powder in your luggage. What country are you travelling to?

Apologies as I've only BF, but what's the smallest size box / tub of powder you can get? I'd take that, sealed, rather than a few scoops of powder.

They make you taste the powder i believe!

if they make me remove it i will, but I think ive read somewhere you can pre scooped formula aslong as you are willing to taste it ar security.

has anybody had experience in taking pre scooped formula in little containers on a plane?

We did, it was fine. My DS couldnt have ready made so we had no choice. I wasn't asked to taste it :)

We used just normal unboiled water with sterilising tablets in the sink. We were in France and the water was drinkable.

Where are you going?

We are going to Menorca.

I am over thinking this entirely but just don't want to get stressed at the airport.

Looked on Gatwick website and states you can take cartons of formula through security and formula . just not sure if i had formula how i would add it to boiling water. I guess this is something i can do airside.

In France (not where you are going I know) they recommend Evian for babies, I think because of the mineral content. The tap water is obviously drinkable but never usually used for formula.

I always used Evian for making bottles. I used the milton tablets too but in my day, just took a tupperware container - easily stuffed with other things within a case.

I live in a Med resort and have formula fed both my dc. Over here all supermarkets sell baby water which I've used for making bottles when we have been away. I too have used Evian on the odd occasion and I always used Milton tablets.

You can buy sterilising bags in all the supermarkets but the tablets are just as easy.

My dc were slightly older when we flew with them for the first time. We didn't need half of the stuff we took for them. They slept through the flight and the crew were much more helpful and accommodating than we thought. Changing nappies on board was no fun so avoid that if you can.