Premaking bottles?

[Mummaof2beauts]

Hi everyone.

So i make my babies bottle there and then I don't premake them I do them fresh and cool down just like the NHS and health visitor says too.

Today my partner has been sick all day, which obviously he's kept away from baby. So I will be doing the night feeds tonight now I know I'm going to get eye rolls but I'm considering premaking 2 bottles and keeping them in the fridge for to do the nightfeed. Me and my parter are a great team and have done it so that I look after the kids during the day and he does the night feeds. And it works for us!

She has a physio appointment tomorrow and it's a fair bit of travel and looking after a baby, a 10 year old and a 31 year old sick male is hard work 😂 so looking for a easy ride tonight!

Would you do it for just one night? And if people do premake bottles for the fridge. Can someone tell me how you do it, the safest and hygienic way to do them?!

Thank you :)

The other thing I was thinking was to make a extra bottle at her 12 o'clock feed. And keep it in the tommee tippee travel bottle warmer for the 3am feed?

Just to add... Might that be better?

Do you have a thermos? I would boil the kettle, and fill the thermos, then put some boiled water into a empty bottle or something with a lid that will allow the water to cool down. Then when baby needs a feed, add a small quantity of hot boiled water (thermos) to the formula and mix, then top up with the cooled down water. That's how I do it when we're out and about. Done with both kids and never had an issue, it's also basically how the prep machines work

The NHS website says that if you can't make up bottles as needed, they can be kept in the fridge for up to 24 hours:

www.nhs.uk/conditions/baby/breastfeeding-and-bottle-feeding/bottle-feeding/formula-milk-questions/

Keeping the bottle in a warmer for 3 hours is not a good idea - it would be just the right temperature for bacteria.

The other option (and one I've used) is to have the little cartons of premade formula and use those - then then milk is already at room temperature, and your baby might well be happy to drink them without being warmed. I confess I persuaded DD to drink formula straight from the fridge, which was a win for all of us - she never had to wait, and I could make it at my convenience! She was about 6 months old by this point - I wouldn't give cold formula to an newborn.

Unfortunately I don't have a thermos! My friend keeps telling me to get a prep machine but I've just heard so much negative things about them and told they aren't safe, I'm a very paranoid momma so I'm worried about doing anything out of the NHS "rules" xx

We were told we could make up bottles and store them in the fridge but it was a pain reheating them. We found it easier to get a flask and keep the water hot in that for when it was needed.

@furballfun ohhhhh! I didn't know this!!!!! So basically me premaking her bottles for the day ahead is OK then?! Game changer!

How would I do them? Do I make the bottle as normal and let them all cool down fully before putting them in the fridge?

I left all the bottles with the powder ready and then boiled and added the water as needed

I would invest in a prep machine!

From the NHS website:

What if I need to transport a made-up feed?
If it is not possible to follow the advice above, or if you need to transport a feed (for example, to a nursery), prepare the feed at home, cool under a running tap or in a bowl of cold water, and cool it for at least 1 hour in the back of the fridge.

Take it out of the fridge just before you leave and carry it in a cool bag with an ice pack, and use it within 4 hours. If you do not have an ice pack, or access to a fridge, the made-up infant formula must be used within 2 hours.

If made-up formula is stored:

in a fridge – use within 24 hours
in a cool bag with an ice pack – use within 4 hours
at room temperature – use within 2 hours

www.nhs.uk/conditions/baby/breastfeeding-and-bottle-feeding/bottle-feeding/formula-milk-questions/

We used to make up my sons bottles for the next day and store them in the fridge. When we got one out we just warmed it up in a jug of hot water :) It made our lives so much easier and feeds were far less stressful.

My son needed prescription formula under the direction of a dietician. Our instructions were to make up a days worth, cool it and store in the fridge for up to 24 hours. As long as you cool it down quickly it’s perfectly fine. just like with any other food the problem is when it’s allowed to sit for a long time at a warm temperature - it needs to be either too hot or too cold for bacteria to multiply.

I put them in the fridge hot - probably not very good for the fridge but you want them to cool down as quickly as possibly.

I also reheat in the microwave - 20seconds with the lid off. But the time might be different on your microwave and you MUST shake it very thoroughly with the lid on and then check it isn’t too hot. The milk inside can be a lot hotter than the bottle feels on the outside.

That's fine, I do it if baby is due a feed and I won't be home.