Bottles in Advance - It's a Minefield!

[flamingpanda]

Hi everyone, we switched over to formula on Friday due to breastfeeding just not working for us and we're settling into formula really well. However we've been reading about preparing some bottles in advance and wow - what a minefield! The advice seems very dependent on when the person giving it had their baby as it seems the guidelines change quite frequently.

My understanding is the advice now is prepare all bottles as needed but then I had my mum tell me all my bottles were kept in the fridge for the day and I'm fine.

So from what I can gather the real answer to this question is - do what you feel is right based on the information you have. However I have a question regarding the two methods I've read about.

The way we'd like to do it is prepare about 3 in advance for the night feeds. We'd make up the bottles using the water from the kettle (before it has cooled beyond 30 mins as recommended to kill any bacteria in the formula), then cool and keep in the back of the fridge. Then use a bottle warmer as needed for each feed.

However I have a friend that boils the water and stores that in a container until needed and mixes the formula in with that for individual feeds. She says she did this with her last and I can attest to the fact he is fine and healthy. I've also read a few people on here do it this way. The reason I'm not too keen on this method is that people say the formula isn't sterile so that it needs to be mixed with water at 70 degrees to ensure it is. Am I missing a step to this method?

I'm at a loss, I just feel there has to be a faster way than we are doing things now but I'm so scared of being a "bad mum" . The problem is it takes so long to cool her feeds back down after it's been made that occasionally she gets into a frenzy. I feel it's our fault for not predicting it well but she doesn't seem to be on a set amount at a set time yet, I was told this is fine by the midwife and just to give her what she needs. Any advice would be greatly appreciated. I'm just relieved she's finally gaining weight on the formula and seems happier, I just wonder if there is an easier way to prepare.

Thanks for reading, and any help would be greatly appreciated.

 

[Ktothema]

Its totally your own choice whether you premake, use room temperature or whatever. I believe there is guidance for where making fresh isnt practical (the fridge method you described) so it can't be that bad.

If you are worried though you could always use the double flask method. One flask of hot water, one of cold boiled water. Make a 4oz (for instance) bottle by adding 2oz hot water, add all the formula, mix it up then add another 2oz cold water. Nice warm bottle for baby ready instantly.

 

[skunkpixie]

I agree with PP. Its realy up to you.

As long as hands and surfaces are clean before prep, equipment is clean and sterilised, and water is boiled (whether cool or hot) then I would say go with what you feel comfortable with.
Premaking fully, using 70c+ water and storing in the fridge for no longer than 24 hours is what is recommended by the WHO if you cant make from fresh.
We use the cooled boiled water method though, and just add the powder when baby needs a feed. This is mainly due to the fact that we are using Hipp Combiotic formula which contains live good bacteria cultures which are killed at temperatures of over 50c, so needs to be made with cooler water than usual. xxx

 

[mommy0629]

One thing I've learned from BaB is that how it's done and even what the guidlines are varies by country too. In the US, no one is concerned that powdered formula isn't sterile. Unless you have a preemie (who's still younger than due date) or a baby that's immune system compromised, no pediatrician that I've ever heard says you need to make powdered formula with hot water to kill bacteria. The containers of formula give instructions for making bottles with room temperature water for immediate feeding, or any temp. water for storage in the frig for up to 24 hours.

I make 24 hours worth of bottles every day. They're made with room temperature Gerber or BRU water and go directly into the frig. I use a bottle warmer or cup of very hot water to heat them.

Idk why it's so different and to be perfectly honest idk why you'd have to sterilize powdered formula It's not like our babies in the US are getting sick from unsterillized formula lol. Just do what's easiest for you. As long as a prepared bottle that's out of the frig is used within 1 hour and leftovers are discarded, and any pre-made, frig stored bottles are used within 24 hours, you're fine.

 

[time]

I am planning to ff and so have done an awful lot of research on formula and the best methods of feeding/making bottles.

I know the best recommended way is to make as baby needs them, but waiting about 20 mins for a boiling hot bottle to cool is just not practical with a screaming, hungry baby! Especially until you learn their feeding times etc and can start to know when baby will want a feed once they're in a routine.

In the mean time I really, really believe making a few feeds in advance completely with boiling water, leaving to cool then placing at the back of the fridge is definitely the safest method of advanced bottle making.

If you boil water alone, cool it then add the formula then (unless you are using hipp which is completely different) the powder is not sterile and it isn't safe in my eyes.

The flask way is also a very good idea! As long as the formula is added to the boiling water and then the cold added.

I know it's a lot more expensive but I am mainly using pre made formula for night feeds as it is just so much easier (62p a carton which is 2 feeds, works out quite a bit more than powder) but I know what I am like on a night time haha

 

[overcomer79]

I'd say it is up to you. Here, daycares require their bottles to be made up. With my son, we would date and time the bottle and use it up to 24 hours. He wanted his bottle room temp or below. My dd requires warm bottles. We send her feeds separate with the amount of water in a bottle so all they have to do is pour, mix and heat. At home we use filtered water and warm the it in the microwave (5 seconds to warm then 5 per ounce is the way she likes it) and we mix and give. She loves her warm bottles.

 

[mrsbeano]

We do the fridge thing and it works fine for us. Out and about I'll make up a feed before I leave if I know he's due in the next short while or use a carton.

We also use a bit of ready made formula in either the bottles or cartons. If I was FFing when he was really young and having lots of night feeds, I would have used the bottles for ease.

 

[MoonShadow14]

I think it depends on each person. I FF DS who is now 4 and prepared bottles in advance and he is fine! DS 2 is also being fed exact same way. I always made them up using boiling water and let them cool but itwould depend on the day, if I was going out I do a boiling hot bottle, wrap it in a blanket or towel I changing bag then by the time he was due a feed it had cooled enough to sto he warm and so didn't have to mess I finding so where to reheat or carrying bottle warmers. If I was in the house i prepare when I need them.

Nighttime feeds consist at the min of 2 bottles made up before going to bed, a flask if boiling water and jug too. That way we can warm them up in bedroom without having to trudge downstairs etc.

I think it's what suits you best, personally though I was never keen on the bottle of water then the formula added when needed but that just me, I liked them made up ready. My DS has stomach of steel and so far DS has had no probs.

 

[dgirllamius]

I pre-make mine. If I didn't I think I'd go insane.

The milk I use needs to have boiled water at at least 50 degrees c so I boil my kettle, once boiled I put the water into the bottles (that I've previously sterilised) and then I put them in a bowl of cold water and rapid cool them until they're about 50 degrees c. I check with a baby food thermometer just to be sure.

I then cool them right down and stick them in the back of the fridge. In the beginning I made them fresh but I literally wanted to pull my hair out because it was so irritating. Didn't help with LO screaming in the background.

I've never had any problems this way and it works very well for us. When out and about I put the bottles in a coolbag with an iceblock. Any other way I think I would have gone insane.

 

[MrsEngland]

Its whatever works for you really, the only thing with pre making and storing in the fridge is keeping them cool if your out for longer than the 2 hours before you can no longer use the milk.

Personally we boil the kettle and fill the bottles with the right amount of water once sterilised and keep them out then we warm the water when she wants a feed and add the formula then so its being added to warm water and that's what works for us. That way if you go out you take the bottle and just warm as needed and add formula.

 

[LilOopsy]

We started off feeling as overwhelmed and in a minefield too. It's taken us 3 weeks to figure out what works best for us.


Here's how we do it:


Day feeds:
Pre measure formula into little pots
Boil kettle 30 mins before feed is due
Stick steriliser on at same time
When ready, make up bottle, shake and rapid cool in cold water to desired temperature.


Night feeds:
Do as above but for two/three bottles depending on night needs (be sure to still rapid cool)
Invest in a mini fridge and a bottle warmer for your bedroom
Store bottles in mini fridge and heat when required


Travel feeds:
Trip to town - Take however many bottles you need (usually I'm only out for one feed) of pre-made formula, Ask restaurant/cafe for a container (mug/bowl) of boiled water and place bottle in till its warm enough. (Usually takes a few minutes just to bring it to just above room temp


Long weekends - (little bit trickier) Invest in a Milton cold water steriliser, Use kettle in hotel rooms/friends houses, make up for day if you're going out as above


None of my methods are essentially 'easy' or less chaotic, however they work for us... thats the key to it... play around with methods and you will soon find the one that works most for you


Good luck hehe