Feeding advice

[Jmcd2020]

I am undecided about feeding ie want to try bf but also keen to introduce a bottle early on so I can have help / can leave my baby for a few hours after a while. Should I buy a steriliser / bottles / prep machine now or wait until baby arrives and go from there?

I would buy before so it’s all ready and you can make sure you know how it all works before you’re sleep deprived. Fwiw the mws at hospital told me not to touch a prep machine with a barge pole as it wasn’t safe to use and they hated them. Apparently formula powder isn’t sterile so the water to make bottles needs to be a certain heat to kill and potentia, bacteria in it and prep machines dontyget the water hot enough,

You can buy pre-made pre-sterilised small bottles of aptimil formula milk. Personally, I'd say get a box or 2 of them and try breast feeding to begin with. Then if you want to continue then you can get a pump and a couple of bottles and if you want to go the formula route then you can order everything you need from amazon (prime for next day delivery) or a supermarket.

If you're definitely going to be introducing formula then I would say yes to getting bottles/prep machine now or wait until they're in the sale. I was the opposite and was determined to BF. I had even spent £200 on an electric pump that I only used for a few days before giving up.

We had the prep machine and it was the best thing we bought! It adds the 'hot shot' of water directly onto the powder before it adds the cold water so it should treat most if not all of the bacteria. Our DD was fed formula using the machine and she's very happy and healthy. Never had tummy troubles. We also bought the self sterilising MAM bottles so we didn't need a steriliser.

I’m the same as you. I want to try BF but would like to use some bottles because of work etc eventually. I’ve only bought an electric steriliser and in the set was some bottles etc. As I know even if I pump or use formula I’ll want some bottles. I’m holding off on the perfect prep and/or a breast pump until I know which way I’m going with it. The shops will still be open and amazon do next day so I’m feeling pretty relaxed. I haven’t bought any formula yet as I want to give BF a good shot to start with but again will just go buy some if needed ! Good luck 😊😊

I’ve bought a newborn starter kit of bottles and will buy a steriliser a bit nearer to my due date. Like you I really want to try and BF but want my husband to be able to feed baby sometimes too! I’m going to buy some formula but in an ideal world I would express milk and save it.