How are you making up bottles?

[Erlouise]

Hi ladies
just wondering how everyone is making up bottles for their FF babies?
since I had DD 5 weeks ago now I’ve been making bottles up with a hot shot in a flask and then cooled boiled water which I keep in a sterile TT bottle.
this was pretty easy and good when DD was taking small feeds but now she’s bigger and taking 4-5oz I’m struggling to get it cooled down quickly enough in the night. Also using more cooled water so having to use multiple bottles which means even more sterilising!
I have the nuby rapid cool so was using that for a bit but it needs sterilising after each use… so started to use just to cool the water after I’d put in the hot shot but like I say, the bottle is still too hot so at night it’s a killer having to stand there with cold water running on the bottle.

I do have a prep machine but I’ve heard so many horror stories from all midwives and health visitors that I’ve chose not to use it. I feel like I’m making life super super hard for myself so just wanted to see how everyone else is making up feeds ? The way I do it is fine in the day but at night it’s just not working! …

I used a prep machine for 2 kids with no issues at all.

I use the prep machine, we clean it regularly and check the hot shot temperature. It has changed my life when a baby is screaming in my ear at 3am!
It has been a life changer, the Nuby rapidcool we had was unreliable to whether it wanted to work or not so that went in the bin.

used the prep machine, clean it and keep filters renewed. also held the bottle up while the hot shot goes in to stop any additional heat loss. I checked with a thermometer and the bottles were always above the required temperature so haven't had any issues.

Thanks ladies. My issue with the prep machine is that the hot shot comes out at 70+ but by the time the water has stopped and I need to add the formula, the water has gone down to 67…
If I add the formula first then the water cools down to quickly again to kill off the bacteria. Just feel like I’m trying to hard to do it all perfect and it’s knackering me!

We've been using the prep machine for over 6 months now. Formula in first, hot shot, shake and then the cold water top up. Absolutely no issues here - as others have said just make sure to regularly clean and replace filter when prompted.

Hot shot boiling water, add formula, shake. Then rest oz cooled boiled water.
Night before I make 3 bottles and out in fridge. Then if baby needs one in the night it's ready. And even if so, first 2 bottles of the day are ready

Feed to her cold straight out of the fridge

Formula kettle, wouldn't be without it now. I got mine from Amazon, you boil the water, then set the temp you want it at (ie 70 degrees) it then stays at this temp for 24 hours. So all you need to do is cool the bottle down in some cold water (I keep a jug in the fridge so it takes no more than 2 mins to get to drinking temp)

We used a prep machine. If it eases your worries, allergy formula has to specifically be made with cooled water never boiling so we’d add the hot shot, then the cold water and then the formula. I even emailed the formula company about it to double check and they said never boiling so the temp of the hot shot can’t be the biggest concern because there must be thousands of babies on allergy and reflux formula that specifically says make with cooled boiled water as the concern is more about the cleanliness of the water. In other countries they don’t use boiling water either, just bottled water.

Yes we used anti reflux formula with DC1 and added the hot and cold water together and then added the formula. DC never got sick from it.

I never understood how it was ok for reflux formula but normal formula had to be over 70 degrees 🤔

That’s so interesting about the anti reflux formula like you say definitely makes you question about the temp! Almost everyone I talk to with a baby tells me that they use the prep machine with no problems I think I’ve just been trying my hardest to do things the ‘right way’ in the eyes of the NHS but it’s just making my life extremely difficult and even worse when baby is screaming and I’m trying to cool a bottle down half asleep!

I'd say carry on as you are with the hot shot method but keep cooled boiled water in a flask instead. So when you head up to bed take 2 flasks (hot and cold), however many bottles you need and pre measured formula.
I wish I'd done it that way from the start!!

We also had a prep machine but we also struggled with the temp being on the lower side. Our baby always preferred a hotter bottle as well.

I put the freshly prepared bottle in a jug of cold water and add ice cubes around the side (but don’t let the water or ice cubes go above the lid). My baby was sick after using perfect prep so never used it again