Need advice switching from breast to formula!

[Kate93x]

I've breast fed for the first 6 months and now want to start formula feeding.

I've been trying to work out the best way to make up the bottles and just want everyone's advice...

So I want to do it so that after the bottles have been sterilised, I'll fill the bottles with boiling water, leave out of fridge and keep at room temp, then just add the formula powder when needed.

Have many people done it this way?

I do this but then tip out a bit of water and fill with boiling so its hot enough to dissolve the formula (in room temp water is just kind of sits on top)

Then just run bottle under a cold tap to cool down. Best practice guild lines are to make up each bottle as required with boiling water but easier said than done with a hungry screaming baby!

You'd be safer making up the bottles for the day properly (70 degree water) and putting them straight in the back of the fridge. I did do it the way you are suggesting but that was before I knew it was risky.

You need hot water to kill off possible bugs in the formula. You are meant to make them up as needed which is possible at home by using hot watet from kettle and cooled boiled water stored in the fridge so it is a drinkable temp.

Personally, we made several bottles (enough for 24 hours) with recently boiled water then cooled rapidly in a sink of cold water, then kept in the fridge (put in cool bag to take out). Ds took his cold but we had to warm dds.

I did what fruitpastille says. Boil water, add half of total water quantity to bottle, add a bit (not much) of cold, add powder, shake, and then top up with cold water to make it drinking temperature.

The guidance is not to add powder to cold water (not even boiled cooled water) because this won't sterilize the non-sterile milk powder. The chances of a baby catching anything from powdered milk is really small, and your baby is not teeny any more, but it's still probably better to be safe than sorry.

Check the instructions on the formula can.
I boil the kettle.

Leave to cool for 30 mins.
Put water in the bottles, add formula-1 scoop for every 30mls.
Cool by holding bottle under running tap.
Can be stored in the back of the fridge for up to 24 hours.

The water should be roughly 70 degrees when mixed with the powder. This kills bacteria but doesn't destroy nutrients.

You need hot water to kill off possible bugs in the formula. You are meant to make them up as needed which is possible at home by using hot watet from kettle and cooled boiled water stored in the fridge so it is a drinkable temp.

Personally, we made several bottles (enough for 24 hours) with recently boiled water then cooled rapidly in a sink of cold water, then kept in the fridge (put in cool bag to take out). Ds took his cold but we had to warm dds.

Why are you switching to formula now? Do you know the guidelines are to breastfeed up to 2, not just 6 months? You will find they need alot less milk after weaning onto food at 6 months. And if you are going back to work you can still feed in the morning and evening, your milk supply will adjust fine.

And if you do switch then the water needs to be at 70 degrees to kill the bacteria in the formula, not the water.

Have you considered the impact the cessation of bf will have on your baby?

We used to make the bottles up and store in fridge then re hear when needed. Heard this was wrong and told people said to make bottles with boiling water and store at room temp then heat bottle up when needed and add formula. This is how we did it for dd2 and now DS. Guidelines say to make up half hr before feed but we've always made them up in advance as easier when going out and taking bottles with us. We had one of those pots you store the powder in which has a few sections so you can take 3 lots of formula in it.

Just, this really isn't the place to be judgemental. OP isn't asking whether she should switch to formula, she's made her decision.

OP, I think I did it wrong, but I used cool boiled water and then microwaved for 30s and added the powder.

Justgotosleepnow - that is a particularly unhelpful and judgmental comment! The OP wasn't asking for people's opinions on whether she should stop breastfeeding, just the practicalities of preparing formula. Why she has chosen to turn to formula feed at this stage is a matter for her and her alone.

To respond to the OP - we put boiled water into bottles up to an oz or below the amount we need then top up with boiling water when baby is ready for the bottle and then add the formula. My understanding has always been that the formula should be added just before feeding so that bacteria don't get the chance to multiply/ develop. When out and about we had the bottle with cooled boiled water, flask of boiling water and little tub of formula. Always worked ok for us. Important thing is that any undrunk milk is discarded after an hour.

Just to reiterate, formula should be added to the hot water to kill bacteria in the formula which isn't sterile, not because of bugs in the water (in the uk).

You can buy premixed formula in sterile bottles and these are very useful for night feeds or individual ones for taking out and about if managing hot water could be problematic. These can be kept unopened at room temperature, so can just be carried in a change bag.

And do agree Just, not helpful. Op has bf for 6 months which is amazing, and the nhs guidelines. We know nothing of her circumstances, and she specifically did not ask for opinions on changing to formula. Surely better to focus on ensuring formula is used safely rather than alienating someone unnecessarily?

Thanks everyone for all your advice, been a big help