Not sure if I used boiled water for baby feed?

[JC1989]

Hey all

First night home with baby who is 2 days old. On the second feed of the night I can't recall if I used recently boiled water from the kettle or tap water. I remember warming up the formula in a mug with hot water so not sure if that warmed up the milk?

If it was tap water that was then warmed up, should I be worried?

Don't give it any head space, it doesn't matter.

Use boiled water going forward - it should be hot enough to kill any bacteria in the powder.

@nutellamagnet

Don't give it any head space, it doesn't matter.

Use boiled water going forward - it should be hot enough to kill any bacteria in the powder.

Thank you. I can't help but worry.

On the first feed I recall I did go from boiled kettle to bottle but I was so tired at 5:30 after a few days no sleep I think I just put in the cold water and submerged the bottle in fairly hot water

Hopefully one off won't cause him any issues

No, don't worry about it.

The water supply in this country is very safe (assuming you are in UK or elsewhere in Europe or Aus/Can/NZ/US and similar)

@EdithWeston

No, don't worry about it.

The water supply in this country is very safe (assuming you are in UK or elsewhere in Europe or Aus/Can/NZ/US and similar)

Okay thank you

I am in the UK. I'm a first time dad so can't help but worry over every mistake I make. My DW has had a tough few days so I'm trying to do the heavy lifting during this first week so she can recover

It's vanishingly rare for babies in developed countries to have issues with this.

Best time you'll remember.

Next

(In this country) it’s not about the water being safe it’s about killing any bacteria that might be contaminating the formula. The chances of the formula being contaminated are really low though so I wouldn’t let it worry you on this occasion.

The dry formula powder needs mixing into boiling water to kill the bacteria it might contain.

Honestly just make up bottles with boiling water and leave them in the fridge until you need them. The make up as you go every single time advice isn't realistic and with human error probably less safe.

The brief contact with actually boiling water is unlikely to kill pathogens in dried formula, though of course more prolonged boiling would.

It's all to do with minimising possible routes for transmission - and in some places the water isn't safe and really does need to be well-boiled (or bottled used). It's a geopolitical health decision to have the instructions the same on all labelling in all countries, so that wherever the formula ends up there is a chance it will be made up,safely.

The big risk from possible pathogens in the formula powder itself is from making up bottles in advance and leaving them standing around (especially if warm) as warm milk is an ideal growth medium. It doesn't sound as though OP did that.

Not sure about the risk from formula as I never used it, but I do remember speaking to another mum when we were on maternity leave who worked for Severn Trent. She said she wasn’t boiling her little one’s drinking water as water quality is really really good in the U.K.

Also, I had a tough birth and recovery and my husband’s support was invaluable during the early weeks - not just with baby but cooking nourishing meals and doing all the housework/life admin. Keep on doing what you’re doing, it makes a huge difference.

@MoreAloneTime

The dry formula powder needs mixing into boiling water to kill the bacteria it might contain.

Honestly just make up bottles with boiling water and leave them in the fridge until you need them. The make up as you go every single time advice isn't realistic and with human error probably less safe.

This. I know it goes against the official advice but I always felt the risks were much less than attempting to make bottles from fresh with a screaming baby.

I always made my bottles with water straight from the tap. The powder is extremely safe, and boiling water to kill any "bacteria" is hysterical. People need a better understanding of risk.

P.S. It's great to hear that you guys are bottle feeding and that this means you can take the load off your wife - an excellent decision.

Maybe look into one of those bottle prep machines? I wish they had been around 10 years ago! That way you won't have to worry about doing it right.

As a one off it doesn't matter. Try to use just-boiled water normally :)

Another vote here for making them up in advance in future. Although it’s not advised, if you read the NHS website carefully you can find advice where you do just that:

‘What if I need to transport a made-up feed?

If it is not possible to follow the advice above, or if you need to transport a feed (for example, to a nursery), prepare the feed at home, cool under a running tap or in a bowl of cold water, and cool it for at least 1 hour in the back of the fridge.

Take it out of the fridge just before you leave and carry it in a cool bag with an ice pack, and use it within 4 hours. If you do not have an ice pack, or access to a fridge, the made-up infant formula must be used within 2 hours.

If made-up formula is stored:

in a fridge – use within 24 hours
in a cool bag with an ice pack – use within 4 hours
at room temperature – use within 2 hours’

We just did that without the transporting bit.

Either that or buy the pre made formula. It’s expensive but SO much easier, especially in the first couple of months when you are getting the hang of things and the feeds are constant.

In France, and I believe in other European countries, the MWs, HVs, Drs and the formula packaging itself tells you to make up the formula with cold or room temperature water. Everyone does it there so don't panic. Your little one will be fine.

Yes but 18 French babies were hospitalised a few years ago when there was a salmonella outbreak at a formula factory.

www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-42747002

It's rare but it happens. I don't think making up with hot water (whether you do so in advance or immediately before feeding) is that terrible of a hassle to take when it can potentially save a life. No need to panic overly if you forget as a one off, but I wouldn't be using tap water routinely.

Off topic but I transport cold (back of fridge) milk in a thermos- much easier than ice packs etc. Or use pre mixed tetra packs

Thank you all for your responses. I think the risks/chances of anything is very low.

I will just to be safe boil water on demand going forward

@ScissorsBike

P.S. It's great to hear that you guys are bottle feeding and that this means you can take the load off your wife - an excellent decision.

DW has a tumour which means she cannot produce milk herself. Otherwise we would do a mix of bottles and expressing.

Unfortunately the labour of our DS meant a C section so she is limited to what she can do for a while and is generally knackered from everything so makes sense I take over... Even though I've not slept properly for a number of days

Ha! Having kids means you won't sleep properly for years! 🙂

We all make mistakes, we all exist in a haze those first few weeks, we all have moments where we somehow escape disaster without knowing how. As I said, don't give it headspace. Just look forward.

And enjoy the new baby!

I’d recommend getting a tommee tippee prep machine - it was an absolute God send when we had our second baby.

@MoreAloneTime

The dry formula powder needs mixing into boiling water to kill the bacteria it might contain.

Honestly just make up bottles with boiling water and leave them in the fridge until you need them. The make up as you go every single time advice isn't realistic and with human error probably less safe.

think you will be ok OP - just remember for next time

think you can do the above when they are older but nhs advice says not to refrigerate made up formula whilst they babies are very young - as any bacteria can grow slowly even whilst in the fridge (although still low risk)

we actually used the tommee tippee machine for formula - found it very helpful dealing with early morning feeds as takes two mins rather than needing to boil and wait

Yeah don't worry about it - these things happen. You probably did but just don't remember. I'll get jumped on for this because MN hates them but a perfect Prep is a fantastic buy for formula feeding. I'd highly recommend.

Hope your wife makes a quick recovery and you can get some sleep during nap time.