Powdered Formula

[Letsallscreamatthesistene]

Im hoping someone can help me out with some advice.

My 3mo has been on ready made formula which has caused no problems until now. Hes just started point blank refusing it. He gets so angry and screams when I try I give him it. He'll take powdered formula no problem though, which makes me think its a taste things rather than an actual problem with feeding. Since ive never used powdered formula before, can I ask for some tips? Can you make the bottles up ahead of time? Im thinking mainly about making up bottles for night feeds. At the moment im boiling the water, letting it cool for a bit, adding the powder then holding the bottle under a cold tap to cool it down enough. Is this right? Is there a quicker way I can do it? Is there anything else I should be doing/could be doing? Anyone found any handy tips along the way that might help out? Ive heard about Tommee Tippee Perfect Prep machines, are they worth it?

Thanks everyone!

Hello. Just me again it's a nightmare making up bottles in the night isnt it? When we were in hospital I bought loads of the cow and gate formula ready made stuff and he struggled with it too. I think it was because it was cold from the cupboard. Every night I fill a flask full of hot water, poor the ready made formula in the bottle and stand it in the hot water. It literally only needs minutes. I found by time I did nappy change it was warm enough.

I have a tommee tippee pre prep but it made my baby have upset tummy so I've stopped using it. I know absolutely loads of people who use them with no problems x

Perfect prep machines are amazing!

If you can buy a perfect prep machine & leave a ready powdered bottle in it then in the middle of the night you only have to press the buttons. So much easier!

Hi @laylor! Hows things with you and your LO now? He wont take the ready made stuff anymore. Literally point blank refuses.

Im thinking of storing boiled water in sterilsed bottles in the fridge over night, then adding the powder when we need it, then heating it up? Does that sound like a good idea?

Ok, looks like ill get a perfect prep machine. Until that arrives, can I store boiled water in sterilised bottles in a fridge over night?

You can but I would make the bottles from fresh then flash cool and put in the fridge. The powder isn't sterile so you need boiling water to kill anything off.

Yes we are okay - can you private message in here? X

The machines are amazing. Takes about 2 mins to make a bottle x

Ive ordered one and asked for next day delivery! Honestly if he now decides he doesnt like powdered stuff anymore and goes back to ready made.....

You can private message!

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.

It doesn't take any longer to make a bottle without a perfect prep keep cooled boiled water in fridge in a sterilised bottle
When you need a bottle add water to bottle eg 5 oz but add powder for 8oz, mix and top with 3oz of cool water

Thats such a good idea! Thank you

@happymummy12345 laziness? Never heard that one before - what a weird thing to get all superior over. No you don’t need a machine to make bottles but if it makes things easier, why not? Also surely the truly ‘old fashioned’ way is straight up breastfeeding, so I’m not sure how old fashioned you really think you’re being

Im not sure id call a perfect prep machine lazy. I think id call it convenient.

The water when it hits the powder NEEDS to be over 70 degrees in order to kill the bugs in the powder. Making boiled water and keeping it cool in the fridge doesn't do the job. Yes 'most babies' will be fine, but others get very poorly.

I used to measure out about a third of the amount of hot water needed to add to the powder and shake it up, then add the rest cold (previously cooled boiled water) to bring it back to drinkable temperature quickly. This is basically what a perfect prep does.

Yes sorry should have clarified the initial 5oz needs to be from a fresh kettle so hot , add powder and top up with cooled