Formula feeding what do I need to buy?! Help

[choccychipcookies1988]

second dc here but bf is agony and considering substituting some feeds to bottle - maybe all

what do I need?! My first dc was ebf and I don’t own a bottle

any recommendations on what to buy? Theres a lot out there and its a minefield for me

I love mam bottles as great if do carry on bf as babies seem to happily swap with this brand I find - I’m a maternity nurse

plus don’t need a separate steriliser as self sterilising

basic equipment

bottles
steriliser - micro - steam - cold water /tablets
bottle brush
formula
breast pump

above depending if going to express or formula

some use perfect prep machine - or flasks to do own perfect prep - or kettle to make bottles

or can buy ready made formula

if formula the more basic the brand the better as less extra added into it - and less for baby to digest ie I avoid aptimil

so sma - cow and gate or hipp organic are my fav 3

Bf shouldn’t be painful so check latch. If you want to carry on bf then try and book an app for breast feeding consultant or talk to umbrella

if you want to stop bf that’s fine as well and go to formula

I always support the mums decision and what they want matters

I used a kettle to make up the feeds and it had to be left 30 mins after boiling so I bought a cheap one just to make bottles. I also used a flask when out and about and during the night so I had hot water when I needed it. I had 6 bottles and a steriliser. I also had a large cup and had another flask for cold water and when out and about I used to cool the bottle by putting it in the cup of cold water.

When my son was little you had to make bottles fresh (I'm not sure if it is still the same now) and I always did this but I never fed on demand, I fed by time. I knew when he needed to be fed so if at home so it was either every 2 hours, 3 hours or 4 hours depending on age. I did drop back to 3 hours from 4 when he went through a growth spurt. Yes I did have to wake him at times but his little body soon got into the feeding routine.

I boiled the kettle 35 mins before he needed feeding so it would be ready and if out and about I used the flask and his bottle took 5 mins to cool in the cold water so I would make it up 5 mins before feeding time and put it under the pram in the cold water to cool. You might want a little snack pot to put your formula in already measured so you can just add it to your hot water from the flask. I never saved bottles either so he was always ready for his next feed and it made life so much easier. It took me a while to get something that worked when out and about but this seemed to be the easiest for me and whether out walking or at a cafe I could easily make a bottle and cool it.

At night I had the bottles on a small table by my bed already sterilised with the formula and the flask of hot water. I would make the bottle up and shove it in a sink of cold water in the bathroom and then by the time I had changed his nappy it was the right temp to feed him.

My sister just made bottles and warmed them up in the microwave but it's whatever guidelines you want to follow and also to make it as easy as you can for yourself.

I hope this helps.

I used a perfect prep with my twins and it was an absolute godsend. No boiling kettles or waiting around when you've got a hungry baby it's great. Also i didn't bother with microwave sterilisers - big tub of water with the milton sterilizer tablets meant we always had sterile bottles ready to go. It was 8 years ago now but i think we used the dr browns anti colic bottles, they were better than the tommee tippee ones. I used to use the ready mixed formula in the little room temp bottles if we were out and about so i could just pour it straight in when they needed feeding.

Thanks all really appreciate the replies.

@Blondeshavemorefun I think I am panicking as it’s the weekend but I am seeing a midwife Sunday lunch time. The pain is horrific so must be my latch. Didn’t have this with dc1. Minefield.

We have a Milton steriliser already that I liked so sounds like I’d need to just get to grips with heating / whether we wanted a perfect prep etc

Tbh a breast feeding consultant would be better then a midwife is having issues with bf

yes there is a little bit of pain at the initial latch but should go so the fact you have constant pain and have bf before so you know what you are doing , so some kind of issue

does your baby have tongue tie ?

Thank you and agree. It’s weird I saw a feeding consultant in hospital several times who were helpful and they said latch was good.
Agree I need to find a feeding consultant asap for the working week - will ask my midwife about the closest contact available on Monday tomorrow. I really don’t want to stop but panicking as you can tell given weekend plus don’t help that I don’t understand bottles / sterilising. Plus juggling with a toddler it is chaotic 😂

We got a perfect prep machine and a tommee tippee bundle that had bottles, sterliser, bottle warmer, everything all in one set.
Sometimes used MAM bottles too as you can steralise them in the microwave so were good for taking away but really the TT set was great!

Which area are you in and will see if can recommend one

We are borough of Redbridge or Waltham Forest in London. Thank you 🙈

Off the top of my head

Laura Crane tel:07841 291 148

or

Petra Hoehfurtner tel:0775 740 7075

or

Hannah Croft tel:07732 090102 she is more local to me Canterbury but travels and is good

Thank you very much. I will get on google tonight when the toddler is in bed. Thanks for your replies

@Blondeshavemorefun thanks again for your help. I managed to get hold of a local infant feeding consultant Monday morning and rectified my latch and position. Wow the difference is crazy. Thank you.

Oh I’m so pleased @choccychipcookies1988

the right latch and position makes all the difference

You can buy ready mix formula that come in mini bottles to try out then get the rest of the kit later

I breastfed for 2 years, it was so much stress. Bottle feeding with formula this time around. Thanks for this thread some great advice

Hi just want to let you know that baby is now just over 3 weeks old and BF has clicked after seeing a feeding consultant a few times. I feel we have now settled into a routine of BF well and my DH giving baby one formula bottle (ready made to avoid any stress over preparing - can afford the extra ££ given it’s just one feed a day) around 11pm to allow me to sleep. Feeling happy and relieved and hopeful we can continue like this. Thank you for your help @Blondeshavemorefun

ah fab. Glad all worked out in the end 🥰