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Original poster

Has/does anyone use a bottle prep machine?

84 replies

Meeting · 30/09/2023 18:21

I'm pregnant with my first and really stuck on this decision. I've got friends who swear by them and say they couldn't do without them but the advice online seems to be that they aren't recommended.

Has anyone had any experience with them?

I was thinking if I don't get one can I use ready made milk for night feeds? It just seems a long process to boil the kettle and wait for bottle to cool etc in the middle of the night!

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WandaWonder · 01/10/2023 06:06

We had a steam steriliser, I did the dishes and dh handled the sterilisation so no idea how he did it but says it didn't take long to put all the bottles in them

Noicant · 01/10/2023 06:11

We had one, it’s brilliant when you have a baby howling at you at 3 in the morning.

OhDoh · 01/10/2023 06:21

it saved my sanity. Honesty the best purchase we could have made. Interesting enough the NHS don't recommend them (as they are all for ready feeding) but I know two friends who are health visitors and a family member who is a midwife who all used them for their kids. My thoughts where if use it then i definitely am.

we used tommee tippee prep machine. It gives a hot shot to kill bacteria.

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OhDoh · 01/10/2023 06:22

Breast* not ready 🤦‍♀️

Original poster
Meeting · 01/10/2023 07:59

Those who have mentioned the loud beeping, I imagine that was a common complaint as a feature of the newest model is that you can change the beep volume!

I think I'll order the machine, 2 of the packs of 6 bottles (most cost effective) and some spare filters so I have them ready. I feel confident about it now!

@OhDoh that's why I've avoided asking my MW about it as I knew she would try and make me ashamed for choosing not to breastfeed

OP posts:
Blanketpolicy · 01/10/2023 14:37

WandaWonder · 01/10/2023 06:04

Dh made up 6 bottles of cool boiled water on an evening which lasted 24 hoirs we added formula divided into 2 x 3 divider containers at feed time and fed room temp

Tips from our health visitor, once the initial thing dh did took 2 seconds at feed time

Sorry if I am picking this up wrong - you had bottles of cooled boiled water at room temp and added the power to this at feed time and fed at room temp?

When was the powder and hot water mixed to ensure any bacteria in the powder was killed by the heat?

WandaWonder · 02/10/2023 00:11

Blanketpolicy · 01/10/2023 14:37

Sorry if I am picking this up wrong - you had bottles of cooled boiled water at room temp and added the power to this at feed time and fed at room temp?

When was the powder and hot water mixed to ensure any bacteria in the powder was killed by the heat?

Show quote history

No Idea, my hv suggested we did this when she knew I was using formula

flowergirl2020 · 02/10/2023 00:17

They are fab! My husband has been married before and his son from 1st marriage is 12 years older than the son we have together. He was against a prep machine as he felt fridge method used first time he had a baby worked fine. Our baby has an undiagnosed tongue tie/reflux so Fred's took a long while along with winding and clearing up reflux etc. within a week he wanted try a prep machine Grin and says it was the best thing ever ha ha. We had it upstairs so could make feeds during night wake ups. As long as you clean regularly and change the filter there are no issues to worry about xx

Anyday · 02/10/2023 00:30

Yes this, people over complicate so much due to weird ever changing guidance, make up 6 bottles, straight in back of fridge, take out as needed, 30.secs in microwave to take edge off, swirl to avoid 'hotspots' et voila, happy baby. I have a change bag with insulated bottle section, shove small freezer block in and can take three bottles out and they stay fridge cold all day (my baby will take them cold if out). Zero faff.

LucyS190 · 02/10/2023 00:34

Hi I used a prep machine to begin with and don’t get me wrong it was so handy quick and easy but then my step dad actually tested the water as if we would his fish tank water (new one of corse) and the water that comes out was actually more dirty than what his fish swim in! I was so disgusted I chucked it (it was also broke anyway) and I just started pre boiling water and then if it was cold I would heat the water back up for 20/30 seconds in the microwave then add the milk and i found it just as easy❤️

Simonjt · 02/10/2023 00:35

We used a baby breza, brilliant very easy to use, also very quick and easy to clean, worth every penny.

elm26 · 02/10/2023 01:26

Best baby purchase ever! Make sure you clean and change filter regularly, we change filter every 3 months.

We have the perfect prep day and night machine. It's a lifesaver. The temperature of the hot shot is the recommended temperature to kill bacteria. My health visitor actually said they're great if looked after properly.

elm26 · 02/10/2023 01:29

Meeting · 30/09/2023 18:35

@Lizzieregina that's really interesting. I feel stressed already about feeding trying to make it easier if possible. I wonder why the UK is so much stricter?

I was planning on getting the Milton cold water steriliser as I've heard nothing but positive about that

We use the Mam bottles which are self sterilising in the microwave and so are the dummies but also bought a Milton cold water steriliser (the bucket one) for teethers, hard plastic toys etc.

Laserbeam24 · 02/10/2023 01:48

I planned to breastfeed but I produced no milk, I had NO idea about bottle feeding. The prep machine was my saviour!!! So so so simple. Tommee tippee all the way 💪🏼 I have the older version and the newer version, I can't say the newer version is worth the extra I payed for it.

You mentioned the cold water Milton steriliser - they're great and cheap but you need to have a decent space to dry the bottles. I also found that they didn't fit 6 tommee tippee bottles in at a time, which was a pain.

I changed to an electric steriliser dryer and it's been revolutionary. I don't know how I managed without it.

onebornsecibd · 02/10/2023 01:54

TakeMe2Insanity · 30/09/2023 18:24

I was told by a health visitor, a hospital nutritionist and a couple of other health professionals they aren’t good as they don’t kill the bacteria in powdered formula. They all insisted that the powder should be hit with boiling water to kill any bacteria then you can take to temperature with cooled boiled water. Plenty will tell you their children are fine etc.

Why is there bacteria in baby formula? And why is this not killed at 70 degrees.

EarlofShrewsbury · 02/10/2023 02:06

I put tape over the speaker to muffle the beep.

SnapdragonToadflax · 02/10/2023 09:18

LucyS190 · 02/10/2023 00:34

Hi I used a prep machine to begin with and don’t get me wrong it was so handy quick and easy but then my step dad actually tested the water as if we would his fish tank water (new one of corse) and the water that comes out was actually more dirty than what his fish swim in! I was so disgusted I chucked it (it was also broke anyway) and I just started pre boiling water and then if it was cold I would heat the water back up for 20/30 seconds in the microwave then add the milk and i found it just as easy❤️

But how was the water dirty? You're supposed to change it every day.

Mrsmch123 · 02/10/2023 10:08

I loved mine. Infact I had two🙈one up and one down. We were gifted one and bought the other. Bottle was ready in about a minute, which as a ftm with a screaming baby felt like an eternity😂

Original poster
Meeting · 02/10/2023 10:10

LucyS190 · 02/10/2023 00:34

Hi I used a prep machine to begin with and don’t get me wrong it was so handy quick and easy but then my step dad actually tested the water as if we would his fish tank water (new one of corse) and the water that comes out was actually more dirty than what his fish swim in! I was so disgusted I chucked it (it was also broke anyway) and I just started pre boiling water and then if it was cold I would heat the water back up for 20/30 seconds in the microwave then add the milk and i found it just as easy❤️

I struggle to understand this? Surely if the machine is cleaned daily (I'm a clean freak so likely to do this) and filter changed regularly then that's really not possible?

OP posts:
Badseedmum · 02/10/2023 11:08

I absolutely loved my prep machine and it was a complete sanity saver. Everyone I knew who FF had one. There's a lot of scaremongering about them but if you clean them properly and use the correct filter there's no issue. If babies have become ill using them then it's very rare.

For sterilising, I just used the milton tub. Would take me 5 mins max to was bottles and then dump them in there. Between that and the perfect prep, making bottles was minimal effort and stress!

onebornsecibd · 02/10/2023 11:15

@Meeting the milk powder isn't being heated to 100 degrees

Sxp842 · 07/10/2023 19:45

does anyone know if you can use tap water (or bottled water) to make up formula feeds once baby is 6 months old? When doing feeds out and about I’m using boiled water for the ‘hot shot’ and then topping with cooled boiled water I’ve previously prepared. However, my understanding is that babies can drink tap water after 6 months old. So can I replace the cooler boiled water with tap water / bottled water (but still use boiling water for the ‘hot shot’)?

choccyholic1 · 08/10/2023 22:57

onebornsecibd · 02/10/2023 11:15

@Meeting the milk powder isn't being heated to 100 degrees

NHS guidance says 70°c to kill bacteria in formula so doesn't need to be 100.

choccyholic1 · 08/10/2023 23:01

Sxp842 · 07/10/2023 19:45

does anyone know if you can use tap water (or bottled water) to make up formula feeds once baby is 6 months old? When doing feeds out and about I’m using boiled water for the ‘hot shot’ and then topping with cooled boiled water I’ve previously prepared. However, my understanding is that babies can drink tap water after 6 months old. So can I replace the cooler boiled water with tap water / bottled water (but still use boiling water for the ‘hot shot’)?

Tap water is fine after 6 months, bottled water isn't recommended as they usually contain quite high levels of sodium and fluoride.

excited18 · 08/10/2023 23:27

We had one with DS and it made his reflux so bad. We got rid of it after a few months and noticed a different instantly. Definitely will not be using one with this next baby.

There's also been a lot of research in the last week or so that a huge percentage of the machines do not heat the water to the temperature necessary to kill the bacteria.

It's just not worth it in my opinion.