Newborn formula feeding hacks

[maw86]

We are having our second baby soon and I am expecting to formula feed from birth, as I had no supply last time due to various medical reasons. Last time, I think we went about night feeds in a really convoluted way - taking the baby to another room for each feed, heating up premixed carton formula with a kettle (remainder put in mini fridge), doing a nappy each time and holding the baby for a good 20 mins after each (slow) feed to be able to put her in the cot again. Obviously baby was wide awake each time from all of this. Each feed took about an hour, which was a pain. This time, we don't have use of the other room (eldest is in there and won't be moved out yet) and I'm convinced there must be a more efficient way of doing newborn formula feeds quickly and in bed, a bit more like you'd do BFing?! I'm not a very practical person so any hacks and tips would be much appreciated to get set up with a smoother process!!

I got pre made formula for night when I moved from breastfeeding to formula. I kept it very similar. Bottles and pre-made beside me. Poured in the milk so bottle was ready. Lifted baby onto my knee, fed and winded baby then let her fall asleep propped up on my knees for 20 mins as she had reflux. Then back to next to me. My baby never had formula heated up. It was always room temp and didn’t seem to bother them at all.

I agree with pp. Room temp ready to feed for those early days of multiple night feeds. I had sterile bottles at the ready and the small size ready to feed. Had a travel changing mat and a nappy caddy in the room for a quick change. Feed, change, sit up on knees in bed, settle back to sleep. For the first few nights I used the starter packs at night. Expensive but so convenient for the first few days.

In a slightly unrelated idea. This is baby no 2 and we bought a rapid cool this time for out and about but we've used it loads in the house too too quickly cool a feed. Wouldn't be without it

Yeah don't heat premade. And also for day to day highly recommend the perfect prep machine.
Rapid cool is brilliant for out and about

Also depends on the type of formula but u can get small 4oz bottles for night time and stop waste.

We had the perfect prep in our bedroom. Set a bottle to go, change nappy and the bottle was ready when you'd finished.

During the day we'd just go to the bedroom to make a bottle... our house is not that big!

There is so little information out there about a way to formula feed at night easily (and safely). It's so frustrating. When my baby was older, I did loads of research and wrote this blog post. It's got all the methods plus how easy they are and whether they are recommended by the NHS or not. Hope you find it helpful.

Oh and with a pp, put the formula in first, then the hot shot, mix and then the cold.
Putting the formula in after the hot shot makes the spoon all cloggy from the steam

I’d recommend a perfect prep machine. Get it set up in your bedroom and before bed every night make sure you’ve got a few sterilised bottles ready to go. I also used to pre fill 3 or 4 formula pots with however many oz baby was on at the time so I could just tip in straight in the bottle. They take literally two minutes to make bottle to the perfect temp.
Only change nappy overnight if baby has done a poo or it feels very soaked. I would always do nappy first while bottle was filling up.

Thanks so much everyone! I had no idea you could get 4oz premixed, hadn't heard of the cooler and didn't think about moving the pp upstairs (we had it in the kitchen much later on with the first). Feeling a bit more optimistic about it all now. . !

I loved our setup :-)

1. we premade bottles, cooled them quickly and stored them in the fridge.
2. at night one or two cold premade bottles were put into a insulated cool bag and put next to the bed.
3. we bought a secondhand microwave for £5 which went on my chest of drawers by the bed, within reach. Baby was also within reach in a next to me style crib.
4. when baby gave hunger signs (pre crying) we'd wake at the wriggling and slightly warm the milk in the microwave*.
5. give to baby before she wakes fully, quick wind and she'd usually go back down asleep within 15-20m all done.

• microwaves are 'not recommended ' because of some incredibly tragic accidents where parents literally boiled the milk, didn't check it amd gave it to baby. At the amount you'd be heating it (ensuring you swirl to dissipate any heat spots) the risk basically disappears. And always check it on your wrist obviously.

I had 2 pp machines when he was a newborn. One for the kitchen and one for upstairs, I also used the rapid cool when out and about or ready made formula.

Thank you! Insulated cool bag is a really good shout and 15-20 mind is much more like it :-)

We had a baby brezza, worth every single penny

Sorry, question on the not heating pre-made:

I'm taking in the starter packs with pre-sterilised tests to hospital with me (breastfed my first in hospital so not done this before).
There are heating instructions on the back - does it absolutely need to be heated? I'd rather get baby used to room temperature bottles and not need to heat at all if I can, and post-c section, not having to get up to get hot water would be a god send!

@hdbs17 i never heated them from the get go and my little one never complained. I was also breastfeeding and I presume that is warm but I swapped between the two without issue.

Amazing - thanks!

I do have a bottle warmer and have pre-heated with my first but I'd much rather just see if this one will take room temp for convenience in the night.

@hdbs17 both of mine have had it at room temp - lifesaver in those early days when they're suddenly really screaming for a feed!