How do you make up bottles?

[Madallie]

Is there any way to safely make up bottles other than just as they are needed? It seems like, as I understand it, this involves boiling water and then leaving it to cool to a certain temp then making bottles. Can they not be made in advance? I know my mum did this but am aware advice has changed.

With my bottle fed DS I boiled fresh water each evening, pour into 6 sterilised bottles add formula, shake and sit in a basin of cold water before keeping in the fridge. This was 24 hours worth of milk.

With my breast fed DD who has had the occasional bottle of formula I boil fresh water, pour in, add formula, sit in jug of cold water for 5 minutes and feed.

Why sit the bottles in cold water before putting them in the fridge? Can't they just go straight in the fridge??

With dc1&2 who are now 4&5 we would boil water, store in bottles and add powder when needed

However with dc3 I have followed new guidelines

Yes it is a pain every couple of hours during the night but it doesn't really take that long to cool milk if you keep changing the water, also with a young baby they probably only take a few oz so again cools quicker

Dd is now 9 months and still wakes for a night feed but just the one so I buy her cartons just for this feed

The rest of her bottles are made from scratch as and when needed

I would say boiling the kettle making up the feed and cooling takes about ten mins

If you put something boiling hot in your fridge it can raise the temperature of everything inside the fridge and make it not work as effectively, I think that's why you're meant to cool it first.

the new guidelines have been about since at least 2006 when ds was born. This nhs page gives info about keeping formula in the fridge:

www.nhs.uk/Conditions/pregnancy-and-baby/Pages/infant-formula-questions.aspx:

• If made-up formula is stored in a fridge, use within 24 hours.
• If made-up formula is stored in a cool bag with an ice pack, use within four hours.
• If made-up formula is stored at room temperature, use within two hours.

Oh blimey! I was not told this by any health professionals and DS is 21 months

Im pregnant again so this could be interesting!!!@

I'm sure the making up from scratch was later than 2006

The plastic in the bottle takes on the temperature of the boiling water inside and putting this straight into the fridge would mean the outside of the bottle is being exposed to a sudden drop in temp which could cause it to burst.

Mumof3 I was given that advice in 2006 (not that I listened }

Most people keep them in the fridge for 24 hours. Even health professionals will reluctantly admit that is safe to do.

Hmm I thought prior to about 2010 guidelines were that using previously boiled water was fine? But feeds should still be discarded within 2 hours etc

After looking it up it appears to have been around 07/08 that publications about this were produced

In 2008 & 2009 when I had dc 1&2 I was not told of this

Only when I had dc3 in 2013 was I made aware

No, I wasn't told of it in 2010 when DS was born (although I may have just relied on what my mum told me rather than look it up, can't remember).

The correct way to make it is on the formula packet, you don't need to ask anyone!

Wow, so many different ways to 'choose' to do it. I have to say nobody I know who ff does so by making them up as and when needed. With dd who is 2 I bf then she went onto formula. She was a very high needs baby, inconsistent with feeding times etc. there was just no way I could make bottles from scratch. She had colic, reflux and would never be out down. She would scream the second she wanted milk, it would happen been impossible to make feeds when needed. Because I was so worried about harming dd I bought cartons for all feeds. However, this really was so expensive and I don't think we can really afford to it this time.

I think what seems to be the most suggested method is, boil fresh water, leave until nit just boiled e.g 15-30mins, add required formula, quick cool in bowl of cold water/ice then stirs in coldest part of fridge e.g. Back of fridge. Warm when baby needs feed.

Just a couple of further questions - how long should the warm bottles be left to quick cool I.e. His cool should they be when they go in fridge?
Can the bottles from the fridge be taken out and left on the side to reach room Temp or should they be warmed in bottler warmer, hot water?

Thanks.

My last dc was born in 2008- no hcps even discussed how to make up formula.

How do you know when the water is the correct temperature? so you don't add the milk too late & not killing the bacteria in the formula?

TIA!

Writer - You flash cool in the sink (or under cold running water) to bring the temperature of the formula down as quickly as possible. The bacteria that can grow in formula do so best at warm temperatures, so getting it cold as fast as possible is helpful.

Also, as previously said, putting very hot things in the fridge can raise the temperature of the fridge, doubly slowing down the cooling of the formula and not great for the storage of other foods either. This second reason is the same reason you would cool leftover pie or whatever before putting it in the fridge.

Madallie - As cool as you can ideally, but they don't have to be totally cold. Don't know about leaving them to reach warm temperature, but personally I would put them in hot water as I'm not sure I'd like them hanging around outside the fridge any longer than necessary.

Shelly - they are aiming for around 70 degrees. This is the temperature for killing bugs. If you were worried, you could always get a little thermometer until you got the hang of your kettle/cooling.

I used to boil the kettle, wait 30 mins and then make up 6 bottles, then cool in pan of icy water for 20 minutes then into fridge, and use within 24 hours. As others have said, important thing is to add formula to hot water to kill bugs off.

But when DD was a few months old, they brought out the Tommee Tippee milk machine, I think it's called Perfect prep or something, and it's been brilliant! It means I can make a bottle up on the spot each time. (I do use cartons when out and about though).

You set the amount of milk you want to make on the machine and put a bottle under the spout, it adds a shot of hot water, you add formula powder and mix then put back under and it tops up with water so it's the perfect temperature to serve.

Think the RRP is £100 which is quite steep but I got mine for just under £50 from Amazon, think they are often discounted.

I don't work for them or anything, just love the machine so thought I'd mention it in case you haven't seen them. I have found it such a revelation!

the guidance was revised at the end of 2005 and they were certainly changed when ds was born at the end of 2006.

webarchive.nationalarchives.gov.uk/+/www.dh.gov.uk/en/Publicationsandstatistics/Publications/PublicationsPolicyAndGuidance/DH_100887

<a class="break-all" href="http://webarchive.nationalarchives.gov.uk/20130107105354/www.dh.gov.uk/prod_consum_dh/groups/dh_digitalassets/@dh/@en/documents/digitalasset/dh_063693.pdf" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">webarchive.nationalarchives.gov.uk/20130107105354/www.dh.gov.uk/prod_consum_dh/groups/dh_digitalassets/@dh/@en/documents/digitalasset/dh_063693.pdf - gives methods for safe preparation and some FAQs at the end too

All 3 dc I made 24 hours worth of milk, rapid cooled in sink then stored in fridge.
I had cartons out and about.

I was told by one hv to do the milk one way, then the next one I saw told me off and told me another to do it. It was very confusing in the end so I just stuck to what I knew.

Alibingo glad I saw your post! I purchased one in the sales for dc4 due april...I can't wait to try it out :)

Nahmate I will be using my miracle machine again for DC2 due April as well, you will love it I am sure! One of my best baby buys.

Alibingo that sounds amazing, am off to google!