Formula feeding - flask method - help

[LaceyLou42]

Hi, DS1 is on comfort milk and we are planning on going for a full day out. Obviously as he’s on comfort milk I can’t give him the ready made cartons. I’ve read about people taking out flasks of boiled water and then bottles of cooled boiled water which sounds like a bit of a faff. I think I’d be spilling water everywhere (I’m rather clumsy) so would prefer to get by just with flask only. What I would like to know is how long does it take for the bottle to cool down to a suitable drinking temperature once the bottle has been made up with boiled water from a flask? I currently use a prep machine so I’m not very clued up. I know that once a bottle is made it has to be consumed within 2 hours, so say baby is due a bottle at 2pm (he goes every 3 hours) could I put the boiled water from the flask into a bottle at say 12:30, then add the formula then let it cool down on its own, then would it be drinkable by 2pm? Baby is used to room temp as that’s what the prep machine does it to. Thanks!

You need boiling water to add to the formula to kill any bacteria in the formula, if you let the boiling water cool it wont do this when you add it- hence why the prep does a shot of boiling to kill and then filtered room temp to top up.
I take 2 flasks and it's really no hassle, I take 1 with boiling & 1 with the filtered water out of my prep, then make the bottle up like the prep does!

@BeautyAndTheBump1 I understand that, I would be using boiled water from the flask to make the full bottle. So I’d just be using boiled water only and no cooled. I’d put the powder in immediately but was just wondering how long it would take to cool on it’s own (once made up) as I’d prefer to kind of make in advance as I’m going, if that makes any sense!

The water used has to be over 70degrees. Not boiling.

When I'm out and use a flask I then get a jug/container and sit the hot made up bottle in the container with some cold water in it. Speeds up the process. Usually can get it the right temp within 10 mins tops

But I've also made up a bottle at home using the Prep machine and used it up to an hour later having kept in in one of those keep warm bottle bag things. Works well. It just depends how long you're going to be out for and when the bottle is due

I would wait for the kettle to cool 30 mins before putting into the flask @PrayingandHoping

I wouldn't wait 30 mins as that's the time they say it takes roughly for the water to drop under 70 degrees which is the temperature it needs to be and it will cool further in the flask

The water is just not meant to be actually boiling. Just boil the kettle as you are packing your bag and getting everything together and then when you're ready fill the flask. It will be fine

The problem with just using water over 70 degrees is depending on the bottles you use, you can distort them so they don't last as long. Also if you are clumsy you are more likely to burn yourself.

Surely if you can pour boiling water from a flask into a bottle, you're more than able to pour cooled boiled/or filtered water from a flask too?

I used to use comfort milk for my LO and used to use my prep machine to make a bottle and put it in the fridge - needs to be in at least 2 hours. Then put it in an insulated bottle bag when I went out and you have a 2 hour life on it. I'm not sure if they still say this is ok but it worked for us.

From NHS website.

Depending on your sons age, I'd be inclined to fill your bottles with hot water which will cool throughout the day and add you formula powder to that.

We always took a flask with water poured straight from the kettle after boiling. We would make it before our DC were due to be fed so it cooled in time for them to have it.

For me this really was very simple and quick. I just mimicked the prep machine, so I would make a mental note of how much boiling water the prep machine put in the bottle and put the same amount in myself from the flask. Then I would pop the formula in and top up with cooled boiled water from a second flask. I had a bottle ready in about 40 seconds. Yes it involved boiling water and letting it cool in a jug in the morning before I went anywhere but it just became part of my morning routine. I did it when I made my coffee. It was never complicated or faffy for me

@Letsallscreamatthesistene yeah probably but it’s a lot of water to carry around, if I can get away with just the flask of boiled water I’d be happier

@hauntedvagina he’s 14 weeks, I know of people that do this but the hot water sterilises the powder, id be mortified if he got poorly because I decided to do it the easy way

@YourStarlessEyes that’s basically what I wanna do, how long would you say it took to cool down?

@hauntedvagina

Depending on your sons age, I'd be inclined to fill your bottles with hot water which will cool throughout the day and add you formula powder to that.

This won’t keep the water above 70c for long. Remember you need to use hot water to kill the bacteria in the powder.

Perfect prep makes the milk to 37c which is body temperature and room temperature is about 18 - 22 c. My first was ff and on specialist formula so I did the home made perfect prep out and about. It is a faff as if you want to make 2 bottles out and about you will need 2 separate cooled pre-measured bottles of water to make sure you get the water ratio correct.

Can you just do an experiment and make a bottle at home using the method you want when your out and about and time how long it takes to cool?

@Lockdownseperation I think that’s what I’ll do!

@LaceyLou42 we have this flask https://www.boots.com/tommee-tippee-closer-to-nature-travel-bottle-warmer-10095970?cmmmc=bmm-buk-google-ppccPLAsAsHeroCompareareTommee+Tippee--Boots+Shopping+-+Category+-+Baby+-+High+Margin+-+Mobile&gclid=Cj0KCQjw-O35BRDVARIsAJU5mQXbQ4xw7MdKKsceykX9BREIVMmn2sZwUQxF7nk7ffEyqOxje4hSod8aAuhDEALwwcB&gclsrc=aw.ds

Then you pour some normal water or just tap water into the outer bit place the bottle in and it takes about 10 mins to cool down

@Lockdownseperation most countries actually don't recommend using water cooled to 70°. The WHO also advise that where no boiling water is available you can use water at room temperature and consume the feed immediately.

I have also FF a child specialist formula and that specifically recommended not using water warmer than 40°.

@Lockdownseperation I live in the UK, formula instructions say to use boiled water after 30 mins and no longer, so surely if I got a Thermos flask (supposed to keep water at temp for 24 hours) and put boiled water in just before 30 mins that would be okay? Surely this is safer than not sterilising the powder at all?
Why is this getting so complicated!

@PrayingandHoping that looks interesting thank you

The WHO still say it’s better to use water at above 70c. Lots of countries have lower standards for a range of different safety measures that doesn’t mean it’s a good idea to follow them. Some allergy formulas do say don’t use water about 40c because on the balance of probability the risk of serious infection is deemed to be less than potential deficiencies which would be caused by using water above 70c with those formulas. The OP is using comfort milk which isn’t one of those formulas.

@LaceyLou42 I dont know why it's so complicated either. I FF fed from day one. I went out every day. I promise it isnt that complicated. Putting it straight into the flask will be fine. If you just use boiling water it just means making the bottle maybe 45 mins before its needed and then letting it cool.

Is it not up to 30 mins? It’s been a while since I’ve used formula. I wouldn’t leave it 30 mins as the hot water will continue to cool in the flask.

I just need someone to say what I want to do is perfectly safe and fine! Lol

@Lockdownseperation the instructions on the formula I use says “leave kettle to cool for 30 mins”