Formula feeding when out

[blowyernose]

Hey folks I just wonder how you formula feed when you're out and about? ATM I bring a big flask and a formula dispenser. But it takes ages to cool and my baby goes from zero to 100 when she's hungry. Plus because of covid a lot of cafes are closed so I'm often preparing bottles in the car trying not to scold myself. It's very stressful! My first born was BF (this one never took to it) and I would top her up with ready mixed milk when out but this baby doesn't like them and refuses to have them even if she is starving. I hope this makes sense as I am extremely sleep deprived 🥱. Thanks.

Depending on how long you're out of the house for, can you make the bottle up hot before you go, keep in an insulator and adjust the temp (either a bit more cooling or a bit of a reheat) when she is hungry? That's what I did with my first.

Obviously not an ideal solution if you're out for more than a couple of hours before she'll need feeding.

I know they're expensive, but the ready made bottles you just remove the foil from and go?

I used to bring formula powder in the bottle and a flask of hot water that would have cooled slightly by the time I needed it. If you pour the milk over and back a few times it helps it to cool (not sure if that makes sense!)

Either ready made bottles or take an extra bottle with cooled boiled water. Smaller amount of hot water, add formula so it's covered/mixed with the hot water, then top up with cooled boiled water.

You either take hot water or cold milk, not hot milk.

You could mimic the perfect prep by adding some hot water to the bottle, add powder and shake to mix then top up with premeasured cool boiled water to cool the feed down. Or take a premade chilled bottle of milk and use the flask hot water to heat it

If you know you are going to use the bottle in the next two hours, you can make it up with boiled water and use it within that time. You can also make up your bottles as normal, chill them then store in an insulated bag with an ice pack, they are ok for a good few hours as long as they are fridge cold. Reheating in a jug of hot water might not solve the "scalding yourself in the car problem" though!
The other solution is to recreate the perfect prep method, measure out 1/4 of the water, boiled from a flask, add the formula powder and shake well then top up with a measured quantity of cold water (cooled, boiled water for small babies).

I had two flasks. One boiling water , one with cooled boiled water. I would boil it in the morning when I had my coffee, stick the water in a jug, and then let it cool and put it in the flask before leaving. I knew from my prep machine how much hot and cold water to put in to make the bottle so I just used a formula holder and replicated it out. It took 2 mins. I never found it a faff or anything. Just took organisation in the morning to remember to cool the water.

Take 2 flasks, one hot boiling water and one boiled cool water.
Make the bottle with half hot water (kill bacteria) let it stand a minute. Top up with the boiled cool water.
Ready to feed

I pre make and chill in the fridge then pack in one of these koo-di.com/products/cooler

While it’s been hot I’ve just taken out 15 mins before hand to take the chill off but I also have a tommee tippee travel bottle warmer now it’s colder.

Hi OP, my DD was on Hipp organic and we used to just take a bottle of the premade formula out with us along with a clean, sterilised bottle. She was fine with room temp milk so you could just sanitise your hands, pour into the bottle and feed.

I know it works out a bit pricy if you go out and about a lot but it was so worth it for us. We always made sure to take the empty home and put it in recycling too.

I used to make all bottles night before and store in fridge. So next day, take bottle you nerd and put in baby warmer/cooler thing to keep it cold, and make sure to use it within about 2hours. Any longer and i'd take pre made for ease

I just take the aptamil ready made formula! It’s so easy, I know it’s more on the expensive side but I just do it because of how easy it is. DS isn’t bothered about wether it’s warmed up - I just pour it straight into a sterilized bottle and we’re good to go in 2 mins, no faff xx

OP says her baby won't drink the ready made stuff

I used to make one up just as I left as I knew I could use that in 2 hours, I also had a few ready mades which lived in my changing bag and I would put in however many empty bottles I thought I may need in, it worked for us, I soon realised I use to over pack and wouldn't need 3 ready mades and an already made powder formula for a 2 hour shopping trip.

Sorry just spotted your little one doesn't like the ready made

I've got a teeny little flask that I put hot water in. I take a small tub of powder, do a bit of hot water (like perfect prep) and then top up with sterilised water.

It's a right bloody ball ache, but it is what it is! So I have a flask, tub of powder, bottle of boiled cooled water and then an empty baby bottle.

Can't wait until we can ditch it! On last baby and so done with the faffing about with formula and sterilising!

😖 So sorry op I missed that your little one won’t take pre-made formula.

As op suggested we also used to make up a bottle with recently boiled water, put in an insulated bottle bag and then just let it cool as we were out and about until baby needed a feed. Obv not much help if you’re going to be out all day - some friends of mine also did the perfect prep method

I just put the powder in sterilised bottles premeasured. Then carry two flasks, hot and cooled boiled. Ratio of 1:3 hot first and
shake then top up with cooled. Takes 2 mins and perfect temp.

@vixb1

I've got a teeny little flask that I put hot water in. I take a small tub of powder, do a bit of hot water (like perfect prep) and then top up with sterilised water.

It's a right bloody ball ache, but it is what it is! So I have a flask, tub of powder, bottle of boiled cooled water and then an empty baby bottle.

Can't wait until we can ditch it! On last baby and so done with the faffing about with formula and sterilising!

I hear ya! It truly is ball ache! I wish she would take the ready made bottles! 🙄

@greenemerald

I just put the powder in sterilised bottles premeasured. Then carry two flasks, hot and cooled boiled. Ratio of 1:3 hot first and shake then top up with cooled. Takes 2 mins and perfect temp.

Thanks I think I'll do this. Urgh going out with 2 flasks is a real pain! But needs must I suppose! Thanks for your help

Thanks for your help folks! I think I'll do the two flasks option, adding hot water the shake and add boiled and cooled water to top up. I'll do it 50/50 and see how it works. Might try it at home first and see how it goes. Mind you I'm off out tomorrow.... well today now if my wee one lets me sleep! Meanwhile I might try offering the prepare bottles at home to see if she will get used to them. Could be wasting my only though! 😬

Money not only*

@WishMyNameWasWittyNotShitty that made me laugh. I used to be the same. The panic that they may be hungry and I don't have enough so pack 4 bottles extra than what I will probably need 😂