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Pregnancy

Talk about every stage of pregnancy, from early symptoms to preparing for birth.

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Original poster

Preparing bottles in advance

20 replies

sammylouise56 · 09/10/2019 11:39

I've just had my health visitor come and see me for my check before baby is born. She was asking about how I'm planning on making bottles, she stated that you can't pre make bottles and to make them as and when baby needs. However, it's going to be so difficult if he needs a bottle in the middle of the night and I've got to try and cool down this bottle ASAP..

A few of my friends have said they put boiled water in the bottle and when it's cooled keep them in the fridge so that they only have to add the formula and heat it up. Do I just ignore what the health visitor thinks and do it how everyone else seems to?
What's everyone's thoughts on making bottles/prepping them in advance?

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mumderland · 09/10/2019 11:43

Don't do what your friends suggested. The formula needs to be added to boiling water to kill any bacteria. I have 2 DC and have never pre made bottles. I kept a jug of water in the fridge so the bottle can be cooled down quickly, it only takes a few minutes especially when newborns only drink around 30ml

dementedpixie · 09/10/2019 11:44

Ideally they should be made fresh as required. It is also accepted that you can make them up with hot water over 70 degrees and then cool quickly and put them in the main part of the fridge for up to 24 hours.

What your friends did is not advised as it is the powder that can contain bacteria, not the water, so the water needs to be hot when it meets the powder to kill bacteria in the formula.

Alternatively you could use premade cartons at night

Adelais · 09/10/2019 11:51

What about using one of those Tommee Tippee Perfect Prep machines that makes the bottle for you? That is what I plan on using with this baby.
With my first child they weren’t around so I used to make up several bottles at a time fresh with boiled water and then stick them in the fridge and use when needed over the next 24 hours and rehear in the microwave. I think HVs and Midwives can only recommend making them fresh though.

meow1989 · 09/10/2019 11:57

The water needs to be boiling in order to kill any bacteria in the powder so dont do what friends said.

I used premade for the first 6 weeks as per local hospital advice.

After that I kept a few oz of cooled boiled water in the fridge (in sterile bottles and replaced every 24 hiurs). When baby needed a bottle I put 2-3 oz boiling water in a new bottle, added the correct number of scoops per feed, shook then topped up with cool water. Basically a do it yourself perfect prep (which I didnt buy due to concerns over safety). So if I was making a 4oz bottle I would do 2oz boiling, 4 scoops, then add preneasured 2 oz cooled boiled water from fridge.

smartcarnotsosmartdriver · 09/10/2019 12:15

Still pregnant with DS at the moment but at my antenatal class the midwife suggested using premixed cartons formula at night. Before they've been opened you can keep them on the side in your room so all you need to do is pour them into a bottle to feed? Also told us the perfect prep machines are no longer recommended as the temperature that the formula gets up to is unknown but almost definitely not correct and babies have been sick as a result. It's all such a minefield.

Winterfellismyhome · 09/10/2019 12:21

A prefect prep machine 100%

thismeansnothing · 09/10/2019 12:31

Perfect prep machine is an absolute godsend. You don't have to use the TT bottles for it either. There are susually loads on fbook market place.

Cherry85 · 09/10/2019 17:32

I asked my cousin about this the other day as she has three.

She said she got the pre-made bottles for nights as you also dont need to keep them in the fridge. All you do is pop a sterilised teet on.

She bought a spare bottle warmer and kept them by the bed.

Hedgehogblues · 09/10/2019 17:35

My Dc is 6 months. Honestly I was talking about this with my HV and she just said "I'm not supposed to recommend this but just make them in advance and put them in the fridge, just make sure you throw them away if they don't get used"

Wellie89 · 09/10/2019 17:41

For new borns I'd definitely do it the 'proper' way with boiling hot water! Far too much risk of causing something nasty. Of course a hundred people may say they did it and it was fine, but there's a reason they tell you to use boiling hot water - to kill the bacteria in the powder!
I used premade cartons at night which were room temperature and DC took no problem. I've also heard amazing things about perfect preps.

I'll admit when DC was older - 6months plus I did make up, keep in the fridge and then warm up in the bottle warm to take chill off. I also tried using a flask of hot water to powder, but was too much mess and faff in the semi darkness in middle of the night!

Expressedways · 09/10/2019 17:47

Perfect Prep. Ready made at room temp is also easy for night feeds or when out.

thenightfury · 09/10/2019 17:54

I used a perfect prep machine for DS.
My mum used to make 6 up as normal with a kettle, leave them to cool and then pop them in the fridge, any not used after by end of the day were chucked and fresh ones made, her youngest child is 8. My friend also does this for her DC.
Prep machine is amazing but run regular cleaning cycles on it and take it apart every now and again to check tubes are clean, and always change the filter as soon as the light comes on

thenightfury · 09/10/2019 17:56

My HV did say they couldn't recommend the prep machine but it would be fine as long as I ensured it was clean etc, alternatively you can use an oz or so of boiling water, pop the formula in and then top up with cooled boiled water

unamullian · 09/10/2019 22:41

I've always pre made my babies bottles in the mornings and put it in the fridge when cooled, then reheat when he needed it. Never did him any harm and he's now 3

MyDcAreMarvel · 09/10/2019 22:43

WHO says it’s fine to keep in fridge for 24 hours as long as made up with 70 degree water. Just make them up for the day, flash cool and fridge.

Rememberallball · 10/10/2019 04:16

Have got 7 week old twins who were 6 weeks prem, one of them is on a prescription formula that I cannot buy premade bottles of. Outreach nurses asked me about this before I was discharged home and I said my plan was to measure out 2/3 volume of boiling water and allow to cool then, when needing to make up a bottle, measure 1/3 volume of boiling water into another bottle, add powder then add remaining cool water. This fulfils the need to make up bottles with boiling water while also allowing me to feed the babies as soon as I make the bottles up.

asmv · 10/10/2019 07:42

I took a flask, formula tubs and bottles to bed with me so didnt even have to get up for night feeds! Like everyone says, its so quick to cool down a newborn bottle as they have little amounts... also dont agree with prep machine, they never fully boil and therefore could have bacteria in them... would you wash dishes with luke warm water??

There are ways around it, a flask with hot water was my favourite! Take a jug of cold next to you and put the hot bottle in and swirl it around, cools very quickly x

Sleepycat91 · 10/10/2019 08:20

Planning on doing the same as with my 1st. I made the days bottles up with boiling water, allowed them to cool and put them in the fridge. Then did the same for the night feed bottles. Took the chill off with a bottle warmer x

Shaunieh95 · 11/10/2019 08:06

I had a perfect prep with DS1 it was an absolute godsend! This time I have bought another so that I can keep one upstairs (lazy but I'm on the 3rd floor). You wouldn't even believe how easy they make life! X

BarleyG · 14/10/2019 20:55

With my daughter I always made up 8 bottles each evening and put them in the fridge, then I would use them over the next 24 hours. I’ve bought w prep machine this time but to be honest I think I might just end up pre-making the bottles again and microwaving them as needed

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