Bottle-Feeding: Pre-preparing bottle feeds!

[eb455]

Hello!

I'm currently 6 months pregnant and think I want to bottle feed, although I know this may change in the next couple of months and after birth! I'm researching into formula feeding and it states that you should make bottles as and when you need them, and use them immediately.

I wondered if it was safe to pour boiling water into a sterilised bottle, cool it down in the fridge, or pop it straight into an insulated bag with an ice pack that would be kept in the room for night feeds. I would then add the formula to the cooled water and then heat it in my 'Tommee Tippee' bottle warmer.
This is the same for when we're on the go, but the cooled bottles would be heated with a flask instead.

I wondered if this would be ok, as I'm not adding the powder until it is needed and by keeping the bottles cooled would mean little chance for germs multiplying quickly?

Obviously it would be fine to make up bottles the 'normal' way in the daytime, this would only be apparent for night time and feeds on the go. Also, if anyone knows, is 'Cow & Gate' really that different to 'Aptamil'?

Would love to know peoples opinions! x

Once the nightfeeds start tailing off you could use the small, pre-made bottles - I've heard people putting them under their pillow to keep them warm. Pricey, but handy.

Having ebf and then weaned onto bottles when I started working, I must say breastfeeding was much easier than bottles after the first week (had tongue ties and lots of other issues). I'm too lazy to get out of bed, and all that washing up was a lot of work. At least it could be outsourced to DH

I used to put boiling water in the bottles, let them cool then add the formula when needed. I know the powder is not meant to be sterile but DS never had any tummy upset or problems at all. I realise we may just have been lucky but when they are on the floor/car seat etc and hands in mouths all the time, you've got to wonder at the amount of germs they are picking up anyway. You can't sterilise everything.

That said, I do have a Perfect Prep this time round.

Here's a link to concerns about the Perfect Prep machine:

<a class="break-all" href="https://www.google.ie/url?sa=t&source=web&rct=j&url=www.firststepsnutrition.org/pdfs/Statement_on_making_up_formula%2520safely_Mar_2015_final.pdf&ved=0ahUKEwjI0LvDyO3KAhUHng4KHbMIBP8QFggaMAA&usg=AFQjCNFvD-ezBQR12dDqZCbG7yqws9luFQ" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">www.google.ie/url?sa=t&source=web&rct=j&url=www.firststepsnutrition.org/pdfs/Statement_on_making_up_formula%2520safely_Mar_2015_final.pdf&ved=0ahUKEwjI0LvDyO3KAhUHng4KHbMIBP8QFggaMAA&usg=AFQjCNFvD-ezBQR12dDqZCbG7yqws9luFQ

The manufacturer hasn't been forthcoming with data validating that thee is enough water to kill all bacteria in the formula

I used to do this:

boil kettle and leave for 30 minutes
make up bottles (I'd do 3 or 4 at a time)
rapid cool in a bowl of cold water
store at the back of the fridge
warm up in the microwave and shake in a bowl of warm water

I did it to kill the nasties in the formula.

I used cartons when out and about.

I would be a tommee tippee perfect prep if I was FF now. www.boots.com/en/Tommee-Tippee-Closer-to-Nature-Perfect-Prep-Machine_1349742/

The way I have described above is how to WHO tell you do it www.who.int/foodsafety/publications/micro/PIF_Bottle_en.pdf

When my first child was born 15 years ago the advice was different - we were told we could use cooled boiled water to make feeds or make them in advance and refrigerate until needed. The advice is different now and makes more sense but is more hassle so I can see why the perfect prep is so popular. I'm just glad I decided to ebf this time around as I am far too lazy to be making up bottles under current guidelines.

That research into the perfect prep linked to by scandichick is quite interesting and I think a better response is needed from tommee tippee especially given the price of the perfect prep.

Boiling water on the powder will kill off the proteins in the milk. It needs to be 70 degrees to kill the bugs, but not so hot that it kills the good stuff the baby actually needs!

DiddlyDokey has linked to the current advice.

In summary, formula powder, which is made in factories, is NOT sterile and contains bugs that can make your baby ill. The hot water is not for the sake of the water, but for the formula.

Does contain bugs or may contain bugs?

Perfect prep all the way! We keep it upstairs in DS's bedroom so it's handy for the night feeds. But if I'm going to be out of the house I put boiled water straight into a bottle, zip it into one of those insulated pouches and take the powder separately. It stays really hot for a couple of hours so kills the germs in the powder when you add it (figuring out how to cool it down enough is a bit of a problem!) DS is now 1 year old so only bedtime bottle now - but we had no problems with tummy upsets.

Of course it's may contain bugs - but knowing it may contain them, why would you ignore the instructions to sterilise the powder with 70° water just because it's a bit more inconvenient??

The factories in which formula in prepared are not sterile, therefore I would go so far as to say does contain bugs, which may make your baby ill.

In any case, as soon as the tin is opened, the bacteria start to multiply. The water must hit the powder at 70 degrees C to kill the pathogens.

The other way to make up the bottles, which is how the PP machines work, is to have half the amount of water at 70 degrees, add it to the powder, thus killing the bacteria, then make up to the full amount with cold water. That way, it will cool down much quicker.

I would always kill any potential bugs by using water at least 75 degrees. However, to state that all formula contains bugs seems alarmist to me. It seems like another way to try and make formula feeding parents feel shite 'oh, you're giving your baby food riddled with bugs.'

I just don't understand why people think the guidelines don't apply to them though. Like they know and understand why the hot water needs to go onto the powder but despite diligently sterilising their bottles they still dump non sterile powder onto cooled water just because it's easier / everyone else does / xyz has and their baby has never had a tummy bug / the guidelines were different for their last child etc etc

We did exactly as per diddlydokey post 16:03 with DS. Made up few bottle twice a day fresh. Cooled quickly and stored in the fridge. Warmed as needed.
Pregnant with DC2 and we're getting a perfect prep this time.
As majority of posters have said key is ensuring formula is added to water over 70 degrees to kill bugs. Prefect prep does this with a shot of boiling water and then the remaining volume of liquid is made up with boiled cooled water to bring the temperature down to a safe level.

Info on why here:

http://boycottnestle.blogspot.co.uk/2007/10/ruling-in-belgium.html?m=1

I don't think it is alarmist. I think the guidelines are there for a reason.

Processed food of all kinds has "allowed levels" of pathogens that can cause sickness. It makes sense that formula does, too. It's not a way to make parents feel shite, it's a way to make sure they make up their baby's milk safely!

I agree with mrsmugoo 100%

FWIW, for DD1, her bottles were made with cooled, boiled water (room temp or from fridge) and then heated up. I'd imagine that is a pretty good way to grow lots of nasty bugs, but that was how I was told to do it at the time.

Like pokamoo the guidelines were to make feeds with cooled boiled water when my oldest was a baby but I am well aware that the guidelines have changed and if I was bottle feeding I would follow the current guidelines of using water above 70c. I did contemplate buying a perfect prep before I decided to EBF by new baby but looking at the research linked to above in not sure that even that is a totally safe method.

Boiled water at 70 degrees to kill any nasties in formula as it's obviously not sterile. Then we stuck them in the fridge or freezer to rapidly cool and warmed as needed, although DC1 actually didn't mind cold milk.

I've done both FF and BF, and BF is definitely easier from a milk-prepping point of view, obviously. Good luck and enjoy the rest of your pregnancy :)

Ha knittingbee BF is definitely the easiest prep method!

I personally ignored the advice about making bottles with 70 degree water because it had changed from when my dc1 and dc2 were babies and I'd made their bottles with cooled boiled water and never a problem! Therefore in my view it was good enough for my dc3 and she never had a tummy bug either.

The key is that there may be bugs in the formula. If a batch is found to be infected they pull it off the shelves immediately. So, yes you could be the unlucky mummy to use it first but the chance is so slim I was prepared to take the risk...

pookamoo easier in every way! I had two very different experiences feeding my DC...

Another vote for the perfect prep machine. Ready to drink bottle under two minutes -our Best Buy after bf didn't go well.