Making a bottle with a hot water tap

[Journey2022]

Sorry! May seem like a stupid question... I have a hot water tap and no kettle. My tap goes up to 98c.

I understand to make a bottle you need to use boiling water followed by cold water not sure 98c is deemed boiling?

So basically does anyone use a hot water tap to make bottles and is 98c enough to sterlise the milk powder?

Secondly does the cold water shot after the boiling water is added need to be pre boiled then cooled to make it sterilised, or can I use cold tap water or maybe buy a filter and use cold filtered water?

I understand some people also make up bottles in the morning and keep in the fridge and microwaved and shaked well when wanting to use - how long can they be kept for? Is this safe for a newborn?

Sorry I'm pregnant with my first baby, I can't find guides online that are clear and I want to ensure I am prepped!

Thanks!

OP, I'm not going to tell you how to make bottles. What I will say is the WHO guidelines are the most cautious out there, mainly because they have to provide information for the whole of the world population and the different hygiene standards you would find across the globe.

I would encourage you to have a look at the formula prep guidelines for other countries (start with the US and Australia) to give you an idea of what's recommended there, it's wildly different and quite reassuring.

I have two DC with a reasonable age gap between them. DC1 I would boil the kettle, fill six bottles with hot water, stick them in the fridge and then add the powder and reheat as and when required.

DC2 I used a Perfect Prep. Following medical issues, they ended up on a prescription formula that had to be made with water no hotter than 40 degrees which made things much easier!

I've got a hot water dispenser set at 65 degrees specially for bottles. Saves the hassle of waiting for the water to cool down

@hauntedvagina gives good advice. I think the WHO have to have really stringent guidelines as they cover the whole world, including countries where sanitation standards aren’t great and formula isn’t made to the same regulations as here. I actually read an Australian study some years back that suggested that using hot water (like the NHS guidelines) actually risked contaminating the powder as the steam can condense on your scoop as your tip it in, then you put back into the powder except it’s now wet. I like the perfect because it makes a drinking temp bottle but I really wouldn’t stress over the hot water tap when France are saying you can just use Evian straight from the bottle.

what happens if you’re going out for the day? Do you just put the cooled boiled water in the bottles and add the formula as and when baby wants a feed?

or am I able to make up 2/3 feeds and take them out with me?

I make a few feeds up, rapid cool them and store them at the back of the fridge (not the door) for no more than 24hrs. The NHS says made up formula can be stored for up to 24 hrs if you cannot make a feed fresh.

As long as you use within 24hr.

I'd put the cooled boiled water in a bottle and then add the formula powder. Using readymade formula is also a good option when out and about, either to decant into your own bottle or by using a disposable teat that you can fits straight onto the formula bottle.

Yes I think the uk rules are barmy. If you look at the main brands like aptimal online in other countries you will see the rules are completely different.
Ie aptimal Germany says use water at 40 degree. Nothing about 70+ degree etc.

where I live, it’s boil water, let cool.
Make bottle and either feed cold or warm bottle in bottle warmer or jug with hot water.

You can pre fill two flasks if you want ease. One boiling hot, one boiled but gone cold. Then add hot 3oz, add powder, pour 2oz cold ontop

https://www.aptaclub.at/aptamil-produkte/milchnahrung/aptamil-1-pronutra-anfangsmilch.html#accordion-57d319025c-item-3653a55bce

this is aptimal Austria instructions. Which also don’t seem bothered by adding water after powder. No mention of 70 degree. They only suggest 40 degree as then it’s warm drinkable temperature instantly but you could do colder.

1. boil water, leave to cool to around 40 degree
2. add 2/3 water to bottle, add powder, shake.
3. add remaining water.
4. check temperature on hand, should be no warmer than 37c or body temp.

@Journey2022, you could use a pan of water on the job rather than buying a kettle. Someone I worked with did this, because they had a hot water tap. Her DH forgot about boiling the water when DC2 came along and made two bottles with the hot water tap. DC was fine, they did go back to following the guidelines. People find their own way with what works for them and their babies, it is a minefield but try not to be overwhelmed. Your baby clearly had a very caring mummy already so you’re halfway there.

On the hob not job. Stupid autocorrect.

I used to replicate the Perfect Prep, so I'd take a flask of hot water (stayed hot enough for about six hours) and a larger flask of cooled boiled water, powder in as many bottles as I needed ready to add the 'hot shot ' and then fill up with cool.

It was a faff but ready made was too watery for my refluxy child, so had to be done.

You can only have a made up bottle out of the fridge for two hours.

Prep machine saved my life. Dont know how people did it without one😂

I've been away on holiday and was worried about making up formula as until recently I EBF so wasn't used to using bottles.

I've just taken formula pre scooped into sterilized formula pots and a flask with boiling water - I then made the bottles up when needed and placed into cold water to cool down - takes a matter of minutes!

I found the method of making a bottle and cooling it down is actually really quick. Just boil kettle add correct amount of water then formula, shake/swirl then place in cold water to cool down.

Is this hot enough to sterilise the powder?

That's how we did it here when mine were little. Boil the water, fill a days worth of bottles, leave them at room temperature, then add the powder to the bottle as needed. Good shake and ready to feed. I'm going to need a refresher course when the grandkids arrive!

Yeah, the NHS guidance says 70 is perfect but ours only got 65 and it hasn't hurt baby in any way

My midwife recommended the Tommy Tippee prep machine. The controversy over it was people using cheap knock off filters. If you clean it as directed and change the filters it's fine. I got mine second hand off gumtree. Absolutely no issues whatsoever, I just cleaned it and bought new filter before using it. You've got to remember another baby was drinking the milk from it right before yours and they were fine!

You're always going to find conflicting info - just go with what works for you. I use a flask of hot water and a flask of cooled boiled water when I'm out and about. It costs 25p a bottle that way, where the pre made is 70p a bottle (4oz) so it depends how much money you have I guess! I take the powder with me in a sterifeed bottle from when I was pumping.

I make up my night bottles before bed and put them in the fridge. During the day I make them up as I need them. That's the compromise I came up with and it works for me.

Generally you don't need to buy a load of fancy kit - you probably already have a flask at home, and a water bottle. And you can use any tupperware/baggie/container for powder on the go.

Be careful if you're standing chilled bottles in hot water - you can't do that with the MAM bottles as they suck up the cold unsterilised water into the bottle.