Formula in insulation bag

[Nothisispatrick]

I’ve just bought a new steriliser that came with two insulation bags. My idea is to pour out a bottle of formula before bed (from one of the big liquid bottles not powder) and keep it in the insulation bag next to the bed for DD’s first night feed around 3am. DD doesn’t mind cold formula so we don’t need to warm it.

Do you think a bottle will stay fresh in the insulation bag from about 10pm to 3am? The bags came with no instructions, and everything on google is about warm feeds.

Thanks!

No I don’t. The milk would need to be cooled and stay at below 5c if you wanted to keep the premade formula for that long.

The milk would be a large bottle of premade from the fridge, so would be starting off cold.

Measure the powder into the bottle and keep the water on a flask..... Add to the bottle when needed.

Sorry just seen it isn't a powder..... Forget anything I said😀

We don’t use powder at night! Too much faff.

My question really is how long does an insulation bag keep it at a safe level of cold?

I wouldn’t . I’d use a Small carton instead.

I'll get flamed for this but I make DD a bottle of formula every night at 10pm and put it into the insulation bag, she has it at 2am-ish. Been doing this since she was 8 weeks old and she's absolutely fine, more than fine.

Your plan is perfectly fine.

It probably depends how hot the air temp is.

Maybe try checking the milk temperature at 3am.

Could you not just take a fresh unopened bottle of premade up with you and pour it when required (although you'd then need to put the remainder in the fridge)

The only way to know would be to use a thermometer. I imagine the answer would hugely vary based on the amount of milk and the room temp. I would doubt that it would stay below 5c for 5 hours though.

Get a mini fridge for the bedroom? Or use a small carton

I put mine in insulated bottle holder and used it in the middle of the night about the times you are suggesting
I might get flamed, but both DC fine on this with no thermometer

About 120ml in the bottle and room temperature is around 17c. I could use the small bottles of premade just seems a bit wasteful of the plastic bottle and feel like I’m constantly buying formula enough as it is.

If it’s not an option I’ll continue getting up and pouring out the bottle! Only takes 2 minutes and I’m just looking for ways to be extra lazy!

If you're using pre made bottles they are sterile. However, that's an expensive way of making bottles up.
The absolutely best way of faff free bottle making is using a Tommie Tippee prep. My DD got a second hand one off a friend, and it's brilliant! Every bottle made fresh. Takes 2 mins.

A coolbag with ice packs would keep it cooler for longer

Fridge is 10 steps from the bedroom so not buying another fridge!!

Can I ask what the point of the insulation bags is? Surely keeping formula warm for a long time is a breeding ground for bacteria, unless you’re keeping it at boiling temp, and you can just take premade little bottles for cold formula. What should I be using them for?

I never used the ones I got free tbh op, they seem a bit pointless

You use them for cold formula or hot water. They will only keep them cold/hot for 2-3 hours I imagine

I've re read - I actually heated mine up, put in insulated case warm so it was still warm enough to feed in the middle of the night
I thought that was what they are for? To keep milk warm when out and about?

I thought warm formula only had a life of 2 hours. She sleeps until 3 so 2 hours wouldn’t be enough.

Once formula has been made up it needs to be discarded after 2 hours unless it has been stored at less than 5c.

I really don’t understand why people would take this risk with little babies. They are much more like to become ill than adults - it’s like you eating last night’s leftovers for breakfast if they have been on the kitchen bench all night.

No it's for cold formula or hot water, not to keep formula warm

As I said a cool bag with ice packs would keep them cooler for longer

Another vote for ice pack. I always assumed the insulated bag was to keep formula or expressed milk cold!