Tommee Tippee, perfect prep machines, Yay or nay??

[staydazzling]

Ive heard they are not recommended by midwives, after buying one 🙈.
But so many people seem to use them? so im assuming there must be some benefits.
seeking the wisdom of the mumsnet jury

Probably my favourite bit of baby kit. I'd buy a new one immediately if it broke.

Our no.1 buy for our baby!! Xx

I absolutely love our prep machine.
I was dead against them after reading some horror stories but after proper investigation and getting a relative to look into it (they work in a lab so knows their way around safe hygiene and sterilization practices) I concluded it was safe, or at least safer than me and DH making bottles in a sleep deprived state.
Some people will be on to say things like mould and their babies having diarrhoea but I haven't seen any of this. I clean it regularly and only use the tommee tippee branded filters

It's a no from me, but I realise I'll be in the minority and I absolutely do not judge anyone who uses one.

The reason I didn't get on with it was only partially to do with safety aspect of using tap water. I mainly just didn't see the point and found it more convenient to make a batch from boiling water and flash cooling to keep in the fridge.

Loved it, wouldn't have been without it!

I just made sure that filters were changed regularly and I checked for any mould.

Amazing baby kit. We have one for DS and also had one for DD, makes life so much easier especially any night feeding.

You'll hear loads of opinions about them being "dirty" or "full of black mould once cut open.

We have always made sure to use authentic filters and run a clean cycle every 2 weeks as advised in the instructions and have never had any problems. 👍

Absolutely brilliant piece of kit, I wouldn't be without it. You just need to clean it regularly (set a reminder, you won't remember) and use the proper TT filters.

Twins. God send. Those early months were so much harder making up bottles constantly

@whatswithtodaytoday

Absolutely brilliant piece of kit, I wouldn't be without it. You just need to clean it regularly (set a reminder, you won't remember) and use the proper TT filters.

Why do you need a reminder? It literally flashes at you when it needs cleaning

https://static1.squarespace.com/static/59f75004f09ca48694070f3b/t/5f58858c11457f399bae4a61/1599636878436/Bacterialcontaminationn_Aug20.pdf

Pages 37-38

I don't understand how they're 'safe' when they don't boil the water - or am I missing something?

I batch made my bottles and refrigerated - which is also frowned upon now, so I suppose its no worse than that!

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's a yay from me, my sister, sister in law and 2 friends 😀

@SleepingStandingUp I think it flashes when it needs the filter changing, but needs cleaning once a month? It's a year since I used it though so am a bit hazy...

If you plan to use formula they are the absolute best thing you will buy. Having a bottle ready at the right temperature within 2 minutes of needing one is a bloody miracle especially in the early days when they feed little and often

They bought these out when my daughter was about 18 months old, when she would still have 2 bottles a day but the money it cost wouldn’t have been justified. I was absolutely green with envy! I cannot imagine how useful it must be.

[quote whatswithtodaytoday]@SleepingStandingUp I think it flashes when it needs the filter changing, but needs cleaning once a month? It's a year since I used it though so am a bit hazy...[/quote]
Ours flashed for the white vinegar wash, which we'd do when it flashed rather than when it stopped operating, possibly depends how much is used I guess. At one point ours was doing 16 bottles a day so nothing was ever sitting around in it for long

Loved it. Our number 1 essential baby purchase by far. Had one for upstairs and downstairs! Just change the filter when required and it’s fine.

Have it, love it.

@happymummy12345

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.

Thats not the old fashioned way. Thats exactly what my midwife recommended 7months ago, although recommended cooling them down quickly, not leaving them at room temp for long. Making them fresh is the gold standard but when your baby is feeding every 2/3hours and you need to sleep at some point, its just not feasible to make them from scratch every single time. The prep machine allows that and is far from lazy, more like practical.

I love ours and thoroughly recommend it, particularly for the early days with a newborn. When I got home from the hospital I struggled to feel hot and cold properly, sounds a bit strange but it was almost like the sensations had been deadened by my epidural. As an example I stuck my hand in a bowl of freshly boiled water by accident and couldn’t feel it. So it was really reassuring to know I was giving DS bottles at the correct temperature as I couldn’t test them on my wrist in the usual way. It’s also so quick and easy to use for making up night feeds when you’re half asleep!

As others have said just make sure to clean regularly, change the filter when needed and only use TT branded filters.

100% yes. Best thing we bought, did two DC. I was seriously considering buying a second one when we had DC2, so we could have one upstairs and one downstairs!

I batch made my bottles and refrigerated - which is also frowned upon now, so I suppose its no worse than that!

We still do this at work. And it's what I will do if I have my own children.

It's an essential for me. I ve a condition affecting my co ordination so pouring the kettle into a small bottle when I m very short on sleep is a bit dangerous for me.

Essential for us too. Midwives are in a tricky position because they're not really allowed to advocate for anything that encourages FF. there are some small risks which you can mitigate by keeping it clean and only using the proper filters. I felt it was much more risky to make formula myself because there's no way that I would have made every single bottle with the correct amounts when exhausted and it's 3am and you have a screaming baby and you've already made 8 bottles that day.