Ok own up, who pre-makes their bottles??

[blondebaby111]

I've been a real stickler and make all my dd who's nearly 7 months bottles up from scratch. However I have friends who are on there 2nd and 3rd babies who pre make and store in fridge. I must admit after a 20 minute screaming match this morning because we got up Late and was then late getting bottle ready im really considering doing the same. I look back to the early days where I was bottle making from scratch at 3am and I really don't know how I did it and if we have another I may pre make, what's your views and what do u do??

Can it really be that harmful???

beany that's how I make mine now. Am I doing it wrong? I make up bottles of cooled down boiled water in sterilised bottles then add formula when needed, shake and feed. I've only bf before so confused! Ds's foster mum did as I am doing so I presumed it was fine?

beany that's how I make mine now. Am I doing it wrong? I make up bottles of cooled down boiled water in sterilised bottles then add formula when needed, shake and feed. I've only bf before so confused! Ds's foster mum did as I am doing so I presumed it was fine?

I suspect there is a lot of 'Defensive Instructions' about now. The companies and the NHS don't want to risk being held legally liable if their instructions/guidelines were less stringent, and a baby was harmed as a result.

I doubt that statistics exist, to show how many babies become ill when bottles were made and stored under the 90s guidelines, compared to how many get ill today. All I can say is that, when I was making bottles for my dses, I was following the guidelines as they existed then, and none of my boys ever got I'll from it. Nor were there lots of other babies being made ill by formula made up according to the then-current advice - not saying there were none, but I am sure that, if lots of babies had been getting ill and any of them had died, it would have hit the headlines - and as far as I recall, there were no such news stories.

Not statistically probative, I know - but relevant, I think.

It is my understanding that the current stringent guidelines were brought in after some deaths amongst babies in Special Care, that were apcaused by the bacterium E Sakazakii in formula powder - all the deaths were amongst babies who were already ill or weakened in some way - I am not aware of any deaths in otherwise healthy, full term babies.

I would like to pick the brains of those who are making up formula now, and know the current guidelines well. I was told not to level off the top,of the scoop of formula by scraping it up the side of the tin, as this could, compact more powder into the scoop, which could lead to over-rich formula. But a woman is shown doing exactly that (scraping up the side of the tin) in a formula advert (possibly Cow and Gate - the 'Take it from us, you're doing great!' one). Has that guideline changed, or is the advert showing bad practice?

beany they recommend that you add the powder to the water when the water is at 70C or higher (so, not leaving the water any longer than 30 mins before adding powder), to sterilise the powder because it isn't already sterile.

I mean BrightSunshineyDay

SDTG the C&G tubs have a specially-designed leveller on the rin of the tub

Ahh - that explains it - thank you Moomin - I shall stop tutting to myself at the ad now.

SDTG, some brands' tins include a little ledge thing to level off the scoop with, some don't. In the ones that don't you're supposed to use a clean table knife. That makes sense because it's a different motion - scraping off the top layer to make it flat rather than squashing it down (with a curved surface) to make it flat.

I think the microwave thing is just that some people are numpties and wouldn't think to shake properly and it can cause a really nasty burn to the baby's mouth, burns in the mouth being dangerous because they are prone to infection. So I think that's a bit of a case of a blanket ban being safer than instructions which could be misunderstood even though the vast majority of people would be fine.

xposted :)

Ah ok thanks moomin The HV didn't have any issue with how I make them up so I thought it was ok. So what do people do when going out for the day?

Ah ok thanks moomin The HV didn't have any issue with how I make them up so I thought it was ok. So what do people do when going out for the day?

Ah ok thanks moomin The HV didn't have any issue with how I make them up so I thought it was ok. So what do people do when going out for the day?

2 schools of thought on going out - either you make up full bottles, fridgify and then stick them in an insulated thingy to keep as cool as poss until needed, or carry around a thermos of water to make up bottles with. Or of course the more expensive but hassle free option is taking cartons.

I did with DS and would've with DD if I hadn't breastfed her.

I would sterilise bottles after the bedtime feed, boil the kettle, pour in water, add powder, shake, place in a basin of cold water for 10 minutes and Chuck in fridge then microwave for 30 seconds and shake out any heat spots.

I take powder, hot water and bottles when out and about. Would use pre-made cartons if I could

When mine were young, I made the daily batch once a day and kept in the fridge. used a jug of water to heat when needed as we did not have a microwave when they were babies. Everything was thoroughly sterilised in a steam steriliser and powder added to slightly cooled boiled water .

I always used cartons on holidays and if out and about and disposable bottles too.

I am sure this is probably all against the law now, but I have a healthy 25 and 23 year old

I made in advance, ds didn't have a stomach bug until he was nearly 2, stopped formula at 12 months.

When I had ds1 I made 24 hours worth of bottles in one go and kept them in the fridge. This was suggested by the MW and HV. Did the same for ds2.

When ds3 was born nearly 6 years later the "rules" had changed to what they are now. I bought ready made milk then though as was much more easier and they sold it in 1 litre cartons (not sure they do now).

They aren't rules, just recommendations on how to make formula safely. None of my DC were ill through drinking milk the way I made it, that's not to say the rules are rubbish.

Those of you making with 70 degree water, genuine question, how do you get ALL of the powder out of the scoop? I was told by my hv (11yrs ago) to let the water cool because when the water was hot the steam made the owner stick to the scoop and therefore not the right measurement went in the bottle.

I used powder containers that tommee tippee manufactured, that held the measured amount of powder and went in the bottle with the pre-measured water. You screwed the container in with the ring of the bottle. Then when the bottle was needed you just emptied the powder into the water and shook to mix.

Was hoping to do the same this time but sounds like guidelines have changed, which probably will mean I can't get the powder containers.

iirc I used to put the powder in first, then measure the water & add it to the powder

But it was a loooong time ago

Nope they still sell powder containers.

See I was advised NOT to put powder in first. Funny how different people do it differently. Thanks for the reply tho!

I measure the scoops into a container, then put the boiling water in the bottle, then tip the container into the bottle.

I used to make a day's up in advance. Ff my babies from 2 or 3 weeks. They are 3ish and 6ish.