Formula out and about - flaks and cool boiled water

[Ginandtonic31]

Just looking for some advice if we are ever able to get out again in the next year. Just trying to be prepared! My 6 week old is on anti reflux formula so can't take out the ore made stuff I always just thought I would. So I'm thinking ahead to getting a flask etc ready so I can imitate the Perfect Prep machine when out. I'm going to order a flask for the hot water so that's fine (looked into it and looks like a thermos will hold the heat long enough). Or can anyone recommend a better flask you've used? My main question though is what do people use for doll boiled water? Just any bottle but only keep it for that purpose (like a drinking bottle)?

Thanks. Let's hope I can get out and about with baby soon and get my confidence up!

Hi, also have a reflux baby, 4mo now, we use the milk travel containers (can get them from amazon) & fill them with however many scoops (7 scoops for 7oz of water) I also add the baby Gaviscon to the mixture, then fill a baby bottle full of boiling water & pop it in a thermo bottle bag, means by the time we are out & time to feed, just add the milk & Gaviscon mixture to the water & ready to give baby

We just use a Tesco own brand insulated bottle, similar to a Chilly's. DS is on 6oz bottles at the moment so we fill the bottles with 5oz and top one up from the flask. However, if we are out for a long time, one of the bottles will be filled with 4 and topped up with two because by the end of the day one oz of hot water wasn't making it warm enough for him.

Now is almost the perfect time to build up your confidence, you can't go too far so you won't be caught short of anything hopefully. Good luck, you will be absolutely fine.

You can put your cooled boiled water in another bottle? You'll need to measure it out anyway so that seems the easiest way (if you're out for more than one feed you can then use the now empty cool water bottle for the next feed, so you'd only ever have to take one empty bottle out with you, rather than an empty and cool water filled one for each feed).

Not sure I entirely follow the PP's suggestion, but just a reminder that the powder must always be added to water that's over 70 degrees Celsius. Adding the powder to cooled water won't kill the bacteria in it.

Thank you everyone.

@Mummy43026 I didn't even know these Thermo bsgs existed. That's an idea to consider too. I've got a little powder holder ready too 😊

@Spam88 Never thought of another bottle ready measured out! That's a great idea. This is why I just needed another perspective I was thinking of a bigger bottle of cooled water and then a separate thing to measure it out. But this sounds the best option and a flask. With reflux powder it is meant to go in less than 70 degrees but I've still been putting in 70 degrees using perfect prep. I'm not sure if it ruins the reflux formula!

Also in terms of cooled water, if I want to cool some and keep it at home in a bigger bottle to measure out in smaller bottles in case I go out unplanned, can I just fill any large bottle and leave on the side to cool? If I know I'm going out the next day I can fill actual feeding bottles the night before and leave to cool overnight (lid on?) but just want a back up big bottle at home. Is it 24hours the max you can leave a bottle of cooled water?

Yes I use a small insulated bottle for the hot water and a plastic bottle which I fill with boiled water the night before and then it is cooled by the morning. Then take out bottles and powder in small measured pots.

Put 2oz hot water in clean bottle, add powder and mix, then top up with cooled boiled.

Thanks @bookgirl1982 this was what I originally thought to do. What type of bottle do you keep the cooled water in?

@Spam88 do the bottles stay sterile once opened and water removed if fastened ready for a feed later?

I intended to breast feed so never really thought about all this. At least I've time to figure it out. By the time I get out she will probably be fully weaned anyway 🤦🏼‍♀️

@Ginandtonic31 I have one of these
www.johnlewis.com/joseph-joseph-dot-hydration-tracker-water-bottle-600ml/p3218778
But any leak proof non insulated bottle would do.

And the smaller bottles from the Medela breastpumps are good for quick trips as they hold enough for one bottle.

I used to use a flask for hot water and a sterilised baby bottle or milk storage bottle (with the lid rather than teat) for cooked boiled water. If you need a few feeds then I'd take separate sterilised containers with the correct amount of cooled bouled water (so when ds had 5oz I'd measure out 3oz boiling water from the flask in the bottle I was going to use to feed, add powder, shake well then add pre measured 2oz cooled boiled water from one of the other bottles).

It seems like a scientific process at first but you get used to it!

I used to use a flask for hot water and a sterilised baby bottle or milk storage bottle (with the lid rather than teat) for cooked boiled water. If you need a few feeds then I'd take separate sterilised containers with the correct amount of cooled bouled water (so when ds had 5oz I'd measure out 3oz boiling water from the flask in the bottle I was going to use to feed, add powder, shake well then add pre measured 2oz cooled boiled water from one of the other bottles).

We would also keep premeasurd cooled boiled water in fridge at home as we didn't have perfect prep. Changed and resterilised every 24 hours if not used.

It seems like a scientific process at first but you get used to it!

Thanks @meow1989 my MAM bottles don't have a lid just teats. Or do you mean the kid over the test? Where did you keep the test. Once I get my head around it I know it will be fine it's just getting the process in place so I don't unknowingly put baby at risk using something not properly sterilised.

Good question re whether the bottles will still be sterile...I have no idea sorry!

Sorry I didn't explain it very well. I used something like this www.amazon.co.uk/gp/aw/d/B00S5T5DLO/ref=mp_s_a_1_11?ie=UTF8&qid=1587542881&sr=1-11&pi=AC_SX236_SY340_FMwebp_QL65

The water needs to be hot to kill the bugs in the formula powder, so you shouldn't add it to cooled water.

@HavelockVetinari no I don't intend to. That's why I'm asking about a flask. Although her anti reflux formula should actually be added to not boiling water. But I still do.

Ah @meow1989 that completely makes sense. That's a good idea too with everything measured out and the bottles would stay sterile. I'm ordering a flask so I will think about the cooled water storage too. With those did you put the boiling water in, put the lid on and just leave on the side to cool or in the fridge?

Any recommendations for a flask that keeps water over 70 degrees for a while? Thinking of a thermos 500ml one. The light and compact one.

I used to tie myself in knots over this for the first few months of DD's life. I would get so stressed about making the bottle out & about with boiling water then messing about having to cool it down quickly. I used to avoid going out if a feed would be due! But i finally worked out a method that works fine for us.

I bought a tommee tippee flask from amazon. Before leaving home, i boil my kettle and leave it for 30 minutes, then pour the water into the flask. Then when shes ready for a bottle when we are out, i pour the correct amount of water from the flask into the bottle (eg 6oz) then add the powder, then shake to mix. The temperature has always been absolutely fine for her and not had any issues at all. Hope this helps you!

@ginandtonic31 I'd boil the water, pop in and leave to cool before putting in fridge as didn't want to put something hot or warm in the fridge. I usually had 3 in the go so there was some for home and some available to take out straight away. When I took one to go out I'd fill another with boiling water and leave on the side (with lid on obvs) in the kitchen so it was fridge ready when I came back and one still in the fridge.

I just bought a flask in sainsburys that said it would keep hot things hot for 12 hours, though never left ot it for that long!

Dont worry, you'll have it down to an art then worry all over again when you start weaning

I just used a normal bogstandard flask from supermarket. Worked well and restaurants would refill it if I was out for too long. I used sistema screw cap bottles for the cooled boiled water.

@meow1989 that will be just about as we can go out again so all this planning will be pointless 😂

Did you just take the cool boiled water in the change bag as is? Doesn't require a cooler bag?

No cool bag, as long as you dont open it till you use it it will be sterile and will work to cool down the milk nicely.

As for making them up I know it's not recommended now but I did it the old fashioned way. Emptied and refilled kettle, boiled it and left it to cool for 30 minutes to reach the correct temperature to make bottles, added the water then equivalent number of flat scoops of powder. Shook them well, then left to cool naturally at room temperature. When cool I stored them in the fridge, they can be kept for up to 24 hours. To warm up I used boiling water and a plastic jug (we had a flask that we filled with boiling water for going out).
I think it's so much easier than messing about making them as needed. And I know most people use the perfect prep machine but sorry to me that's laziness, you don't need a machine to make bottles in my opinion. I'd only ever make them the old fashioned way, regardless of what's recommended.

@happymummy12345 with the type of formula she's currently on that wouldn't really work as it would get to thick if left to take out. It needs to be prepared and then left for 7 minutes then fed.