Can I do this?

[eldar]

so many of you think it's ok to add powder to cooled previously boiled water? (I'm aware some don't - this is because of the idea of hot water killing bacteria in the powder right?)

My reason for questioning this is sometimes it would be easier for me to have bottles of water ready to just add the powder to when she needs them, rather than trying to keep the bottle of mixed/made formula chilled.

I don't always have access to a fridge and I have noticed that the although the insulated bags keep it cool for 4 hours they don't keep a bottle of water hot for 4 hours - and we are often out for over 4 hours. So on the occasion I tried to add powder to the hot water it had already cooled down!

I know I can (and do) use cartons but it is the expensive way to do things when you need several a day.

 

[loopy loulou]

so many of you think it's ok to add powder to cooled previously boiled water? (I'm aware some don't - this is because of the idea of hot water killing bacteria in the powder right?)

My reason for questioning this is sometimes it would be easier for me to have bottles of water ready to just add the powder to when she needs them, rather than trying to keep the bottle of mixed/made formula chilled.

I don't always have access to a fridge and I have noticed that the although the insulated bags keep it cool for 4 hours they don't keep a bottle of water hot for 4 hours - and we are often out for over 4 hours. So on the occasion I tried to add powder to the hot water it had already cooled down!

I know I can (and do) use cartons but it is the expensive way to do things when you need several a day.

I'm fairly new to the whole FF thing (I breastfed until about 3 weeks ago..) but after doing LOTS of research I seemed to come to the conclusion that if you are STORING pre-prepared bottles of formula you have to make it within water over 70degs and fast cool it and it can be stored for 24 hours. Just heat it up when required. BUT if you want to make them as you need them then the water doesn't need to be so hot because you are making it up just before feeding so any bacteria doesn't have a chance to grow.

As long as, when you are preparing, you pour freshly boiled water into a sterilised bottle and seal immediately you can keep that at whatever temperature you want for 24 hours, as there is nothing in there to grow! Then add the powder when you want to feed and heat if required.

Does that make sense??

It does make logical sense to me which is why I'm ok with the method, and is much easier.

 

[Sarah+]

so many of you think it's ok to add powder to cooled previously boiled water? (I'm aware some don't - this is because of the idea of hot water killing bacteria in the powder right?)

My reason for questioning this is sometimes it would be easier for me to have bottles of water ready to just add the powder to when she needs them, rather than trying to keep the bottle of mixed/made formula chilled.

I don't always have access to a fridge and I have noticed that the although the insulated bags keep it cool for 4 hours they don't keep a bottle of water hot for 4 hours - and we are often out for over 4 hours. So on the occasion I tried to add powder to the hot water it had already cooled down!

I know I can (and do) use cartons but it is the expensive way to do things when you need several a day.

I'm fairly new to the whole FF thing (I breastfed until about 3 weeks ago..) but after doing LOTS of research I seemed to come to the conclusion that if you are STORING pre-prepared bottles of formula you have to make it within water over 70degs and fast cool it and it can be stored for 24 hours. Just heat it up when required. BUT if you want to make them as you need them then the water doesn't need to be so hot because you are making it up just before feeding so any bacteria doesn't have a chance to grow.

As long as, when you are preparing, you pour freshly boiled water into a sterilised bottle and seal immediately you can keep that at whatever temperature you want for 24 hours, as there is nothing in there to grow! Then add the powder when you want to feed and heat if required.

Does that make sense??

It does make logical sense to me which is why I'm ok with the method, and is much easier.

Completely agree. We also have just moved to full time ff and just boil the water every night, fill the bottles with water and leave them out (to cool to room temp), measure the power into our little containers, and just add the power to the room temp bottles as needed. I don't heat at all - just serve.

(If I had ff when LO was a newborn - below 3 months - I might have done things differently, not sure. And by the way - different formulas have different instructions re what temp to mix at - some must be mixed cold).

 

[xpinkness87x]

I steralise all DD's bottles, make up the water, then use tommee tippee milk pots to store ready measured amounts of milk...just leaving me to put the powder in, ready to warm up! So much easier and organised, it makes feeding easier and if I have to rush out the door, I have bottles ready to go. I don't have to spend 3 hours getting ready!!

BM xx

This is excatly how i do it as well x

 

[maddiwatts19]

I have always made the bottles up with water then added powder when needed...

me too!! and josh is absolutely fine!
when i go out, i make up the water with the milk in and just heat it up! HV said it was fine! Riley was breast fed till 6 months so didnt have to go thru this with him!

 

[Jay_x]

Thanks for the advice ladies. I have started making up bottles in the morning with boiling water & leaving them on the side for room temp & then adding the powder when she wants feeding, but I think I'm going to start doing what a couple of you have said that sounds like a good idea. Brooke takes around 6oz so maybe just making up 4oz & then boiling the kettle when she wants feeding and adding the extra 2oz to make it warm xx

 

[loopy loulou]

Thanks for the advice ladies. I have started making up bottles in the morning with boiling water & leaving them on the side for room temp & then adding the powder when she wants feeding, but I think I'm going to start doing what a couple of you have said that sounds like a good idea. Brooke takes around 6oz so maybe just making up 4oz & then boiling the kettle when she wants feeding and adding the extra 2oz to make it warm xx

This is what I do and it works brilliantly! Just wanted to add though, just experiment with the proportions of hot and cold water as I have found that you really only do need a tiny drop of boiling water to bring it up to the right feeding temp. I do 7oz bottles and find that 5.5oz of room temp to 1.5oz of boiling is perfect! If your doing 6oz you may find that 5oz of cold and 1oz of boiling is enough. Give it a try... Glad you've found your way. xx

 

[WW1]

It's not recommneded as the idea of using boiling water (over 70 degrees) is to kill and bacteria that is in the milk powder.

I make 3 at a time, I boil the water and add the powder then shake and leave to cool and I just heat them up hen I need them. My HV said that that was fine to do.

That's exactly what I do as well.

 

[lardy_bum]

I'm fairly new to the whole FF thing (I breastfed until about 3 weeks ago..) but after doing LOTS of research I seemed to come to the conclusion that if you are STORING pre-prepared bottles of formula you have to make it within water over 70degs and fast cool it and it can be stored for 24 hours. Just heat it up when required. BUT if you want to make them as you need them then the water doesn't need to be so hot because you are making it up just before feeding so any bacteria doesn't have a chance to grow.

As long as, when you are preparing, you pour freshly boiled water into a sterilised bottle and seal immediately you can keep that at whatever temperature you want for 24 hours, as there is nothing in there to grow! Then add the powder when you want to feed and heat if required.

Does that make sense??

It does make logical sense to me which is why I'm ok with the method, and is much easier.

Thank you! That's the best explanation I've seen. That's what I've kind of been thinking in my head but I couldn't work out how to say it. Now I can tell people what I mean and why I don't need to use hot water!

 

[jellymo]

I have always made the bottles up with water then added powder when needed...

Me too

me three

 

[Mynx]

I have always made the bottles up with water then added powder when needed...

Me too

Same here

 

[katrina1987]

I prepare bottles first thing in morning with boiling water, add the formula and leave in the back of the fridge. So they are done for the day. They just advise not to use after 12 hours. And only to reheat once x

 

[WW1]

I found these whilst searching google. They are from the food standards agency. You may find them useful:

https://www.food.gov.uk/news/newsarchive/2010/feb/formulaadvice

https://www.food.gov.uk/multimedia/pdfs/formulaguidance.pdf



Please don't take it that I am advocating this way in particular - I just found the links and thought I'd pass them on! Do with them what you wish