What do I need to buy for bottle feeding?

[googietheegg]

I'm 34 weeks and not sure how long I'll breast feed for as I'm self-employed and need to start back to work pretty quickly. DH and I will share the feeding so I want to make sure I've bought whatever we need this week. Any tips on what to buy?

Just the essentials and then we'll work the rest out as we go along.

TIA!

Are you planning on expressing into bottles or transferring to formula?
I have breast pump
6 bottles
Steriliser
Bottle brush
can't think of anything else after buying so much rubbish that we never used with jack were sticking to the essentials this time. X

Thanks karina - I think I'll just go onto formula after breast feeding for maybe a couple of weeks.

If you are FF'ing you need ...

A couple of bottles - don't get too many as the baby may take to one kind or another, you can always buy more. I like the Advent bottles myself.

Formula - once again, only buy one 'tub' or it may be wasted. You could even try some of the small cartons to see if the baby seems to have a preference.

Bottle brush.

You don't need to sterilise bottles at all IF you wash them thoroughly, if you are worried that one of you wont do that properly then get a steriliser (or you can use the dishwasher, but frankly, I wouldn't. I've used lots of different sterilisers and I like the Advent ones (I'm not on commission I promise!!)

One of the things you need to be aware of if you are using formula is making it up safely. It needs to be mixed with water at 70 deg (colder and it wont kill the bacteria that can be present in the powder and hotter and it's not good for the nutritional value of the powder). You can now get kettles that boil water then take it to 70 deg and keep it there - I'd buy one if I was bottle feeding now! It's not what you asked about, so I wont bang on about it, but feel free to PM me if you have any questions.

Bottles - bottle brush and a £1 odd bottle of Milton to use in a pan / pot of water.

Bought 2 electric sterilisers which both refused to turn off. Much easier with Milton - 15 mins in cold water and takes up no room!

Oooh - Chipping do you know which kettles? LO is on prescription milk which comes in 'milk form' and doesn't need making up - been looking into making up formula for when he's off it!

Sorry to hijack but wanted to say thanks to chipping for posting about temperature of water for FFs. I mixed fed DD1 and will probably do the same with imminent DD2. I saw a relative making bottles with totally cooled water and said that I thought it unsafe, but was quickly told 'the rules had changed since I had DD1 (only 3 years ago) and the water was supposed to be completely cooled to prevent scolding the baby. I bloomin' knew I was right! Thanks.

Get a steriliser that matches your bottles so they fit in the steriliser efficiently. I was v happy with my Avent microwave steriliser. Handy because it lived in the microwave instead of taking up work top space.

babycameearly - no sorry, I don't know, I saw them when I was in Comet/Curry's the other week. I guess if you google, it will through something up. There were about 3 of them - looked to be different brands. However, it wasn't what I went in for so I didn't linger too long :)

Justlemonade - people seem to be reading the 'boxes' incorrectly. It says allow the water to cool (they mean to 70 deg) but people are reading it as cool to cold :( ... and as for 'prevent scolding the baby'

I've never had an issue with the electric sterilisers, but you can also use the microwave one (by Advent)... hmm maybe I should see if they need a rep

BizzeeBee - they are great aren't they! The only thing is that I don't trust the 4 minutes - so I always put them on for 6!!

I had an electric advent steriliser for jack but he constantly got thrush from me not reading how to use it properly ! Bad mum I know. I will use it properly this time though I also used to make up feeds with boiled then cooled water and used to keep in fridge and reheat? Was this wrong midwife never said anything! Im going to attempt bf this time should be much easier!

I used Milton with jack after 3 month but found it ruined the bottles and teats quicker !

I've ended up formula feeding after struggling with breastfeeding, if you are planning to breastfeed and formula feed, it is probably worth investing in an electric breast pump although they are quite pricey.

Here's what I use for formula feeding:

Milk formula powder
3 9oz bottles
3 teats
Philips Avent microwave steriliser
Bottle brush
Thermos flask (to take hot water to make up feeds whilst out)
Milk powder dispenser (to make up feeds whilst out)

HTH

Another vote for the avent microwave steriliser. Quick, easy and convenient. I'm not on commission either

avent microwave steriliser was fab
6 avent bottles
I had a littke 4oz avent bottle for cooled boiled water
formula (there all pretty good iv started stocking up on ready made cow and gate.cartons for ease in the begining and for when.im out I have been buying a couple a week with my food shop)

OK it sounds like the avent microwave steriliser is the way forward!

Definitely need one of those milk dispensers, so that you can put the powder in, in advance - i found I was incapable of counting in the middle of the night!

Microwave steriliser was great but get the same brand as the bottles you buy, they just fit better in their own make!

To be honest, in the early days, give yourself a break and use pre-made stuff - especially at night!

Thermos flask think mine was fisher price, is v handy for warming when out or at night.