Formula fed baby - Bottle prep advice 🤍

[Izzie94x]

Hi lovely ladies,

I’m currently undecided on bottle or breast, but I also like to be prepared!

I’ve been Googling so much, and I know everyone does it different and I’ve read what the NHS recommend, which is quite straight forward for when I’m at home all day. I’ll have a flask of cooled boiled water, and then can use boiled water. But it’s still making me anxious for days out lol!

What do you do for days out? And how do prepare? Is it easiest to take 2 flasks, 1 x hot 1 x cooled boiled. Or maybe just 1 x hot, then a nuby rapid cool. And I guess it depends how long you’re going to be out for, as maybe it’ll just be easier to get a few ready made - which I know can be expensive!!

If anyones happy to share what makes it easy for them I’d really appreciate it 😊 x

I’ve always just used ready made. At least then you know it’s safe and much easier than messing around with flasks.

I highly recommend pre-made bottles whilst out, yes is more expensive but takes away any stresses so worth the monies! Literally tip into sterilised bottle and feed away :) Also you mentioned “flask cooled boiled water” I always got told water had to be at least 70c when making up powder so to kill bacteria.

It is going to depend on part on how long you are out for and how fussy your baby is about milk temperature and also how warm it is outside. You can take a thermos of boiling hot water and a bottle of cooled water if you have a bunch of space. We had a little tupperware container to measure into and take formula in. Like this: https://www.amazon.co.uk/MAM-Powder-Dispenser-Green-Designs/dp/B00BV2VLT0/ref=asc_df_B00BV2VLT0/?tag=googshopuk-21&linkCode=df0&hvadid=310843171112&hvpos=&hvnetw=g&hvrand=2646415556786976138&hvpone=&hvptwo=&hvqmt=&hvdev=m&hvdvcmdl=&hvlocint=&hvlocphy=9046001&hvtargid=pla-565646407337&psc=1&th=1&psc=1

But I also really liked the little premade bottles if I was packing light.

If you end up formula feeding a lot, grab a new thermos. The technology has improved significantly recently? maybe not recently and I have not used a thermos in decades prior?) And it kept the water easily upwards of 70° for the bulk of a day.

I used to take a few bottles out with me. A flask of boiling and a flask of cool and basically make the bottle the way the prep machine would when I was out :) worked for me

I always used the little ready made cartons. Pour into sterilised bottles, minimal fuss. Never bothered warming the bottles, fed them at room temp, baby didn’t mind. Cost the same as my daily lunches at work before maternity leave, so no big deal.

If I only needed to make one bottle while out, I’d put the cooled water into a second bottle as my nappy bag had two bottle slots, saved having to lug a whole second flask around.

Why don't you mix feed? Give boob when out as its so much easier and formula when home x

You'll save money. Cause the ready made ones ain't cheap and soon add up x

I tried the nuby rapid cool - hated it. Too much faff.

if I was only out for 1-2 hours I’d make up a normal bottle with powder in the prep machine, pop it in a bottle bag and in my change bag upright in the bottle holder. They are fine for up to two hours at room temp but once used and if it wasn’t finished I’d throw the rest away where as you can usually keep a bottle for up to an hour at home if having breaks between feeds. If that makes sense.

if our longer, take sterilised bottles and pre made bottles to pour in and go - much easier /no faff esp if in small space/with a bunch of other people/kids.

Thanks so much everyone, really appreciate all the advice 🥰 think I’ll go with the ready made bottles for if we’re out for a longer period of time, definitely sounds like less faff and worth the money over feeling stressed lol x

I've formula fed my boy all the way up until next week I used to hate the thought of going out n how I would do bottles but I just filled my babas bottles up with boiled water and then there's some really good tommee tippee insulated bottle bags so your babas bottles stay warmer for longer I still use them to this day there great or I would just fill my babas bottle up with boiled water and if it was cold by the time he needed it you can ask almost any shop while your out can I have a cup of hot water to warm my baby's bottle up 9/10 they give it and it's free! I managed it and my baby's still fine and healthy I didn't buy no thermal flasks I did get the pre made milks now and then but it's just extra money ontop of the already expensive formula

I used ready made for going out & when we were at our caravan, used sterilising bags in the microwave & kept the bottle in the bag until I needed it. It's a lot easier now as you can buy ready made in bottles instead of cartons, there is less waste.

You do know you have to use very hot water, recently boiled to mix the feed? You can't make it with cool water because you need to kill the bacteria in the powder.

Psst I know a way of getting free milk, always the right temperature, always ready to feed ... 😁

@Redebs what if op decides she doesn't want to breastfeed? Or can't?

Op - ready made is a god send. However I have a baby with CMPA so I can't use them annoyingly!

I use a flask for boiled and a flask for cooked boiled like you said. The flask i have at home keeps the boiled water above 70'c for quite a long time too

@Redebs i always took a boiling hot flask and a cool boiled flask. I made my bottles by poring in the powder then a shot of the hot flask, small mix and then topped up with cook boiled. Worked for my daughter no problem. If I had been out all day then I would usually ask a cafe to refill the boiling hot one but usually it was fine for a few hours.
I did breast feed at first but then I combination fed and she got used to the faster flow of the bottle.

@febbabies2023 yes, I had to bottle feed one of mine because of a severe cleft. It was such a pain, not being able to just stick her up my t-shirt for a feed anywhere, anytime.

Ready made bottles are sooooo much easier. I have never faffed around with the flasks.

There is formula carrier tub you can get that stores the powedered forumula in the three compartments. Then I would take just boiled water in the bottles out with me (already at the OZ level I wanted) and chuck in the powder and shake on the go.

Agree with pp that an insulated bottle holder is ideal if you’re going to be giving the feed within 2 hours. Otherwise ready made are worth paying a little more for to save faffing about! Easy for me to say though as I breastfed for a while and by the time we switched to formula DC wasn’t having too many milk feeds anyway.