Confusion over preparation of bottles Cow and Gate.

[hellywelly]

OK so Harry is on Cow and Gate. We use the cartons of the ready mixed and sometimes I make up a formula from the powder/boiled water.

My friend came to me yesterday and this is what she does:

Boils kettle - leaves it 30 minutes - then puts in the appropriate measurement of the cooled boiled water in 6 sterilised bottles.

She then measures out the amount of powder formula and puts it into one of those plastic cups where the lid turns to reveal an opening (hope this makes sense).

Then that is my friend done for the day - everytime her bubba needs feeding she just adds the powder to the cooled boiled water - which could now be at least 12 hours old.

I very much liked the idea of this and in talking to my mum about it my mum said that this is what my SIL use to do.

I thought I would double check this with cow and gate online chat services. They came back to me and advised against it. What they were stating is that the powder would not dissolve as good as the cooled boiled water.

Can you let me know what you do or whether you think that my friend and SIL are ok doing this or whether you agree with Cow and Gate?

Thank you ladies xxx

 

[babyhopesxx]

Hiya, the packets of powder formula tell you to boil the kettle and let it cool for half an hour before adding the powder and this has to be done at each feed. This is to apparently kill any bacteria that is present in the powder so you need to add the formula to hot water at each feed. Hope this makes sense.

 

[midori1999]

Formula powder is not sterile and contains bacteria. This is why you need to use water cooled in a kettle for approx. 30 mins as it will then be about 70 degrees and hot enough to kill any bacteria in the formula powder. It's extremely important, your SIL was lucky, babies have died from formula not being made up with hot enough water to kill the bacteria, hence the new guidelines.

 

[summer rain]

What the two above posters said. In addition to that the lady on the cow and gate line is correct about the dissolving issue; most formula companies in the UK have now reformulated their product specifically so it is designed to be mixed with 70 degrees c water; if mixed with anything cooler it will not mix properly and this can cause constipation and other problems. The only exception is SMA staydown as it needs to be mixed with cold water to work xx

 

[fairygirl]

There is guidelines for health professionals that I found on World Health Organisation website. I follow those. I boil kettle, leave to cool for up to 30 mins, then make up bottles like normal, fast cool in sink of cold water for 10mins then put at back of fridge. They are good for 24 hours in fridge as long as in cold part no more than 6 degrees if I remember rightly and 2 hours out.

 

[babyhopes2010]

u always need to add powder to water thats 70 degrees or just above to kill bateria alternativey make up bottles then stick in fridge and when baby wants feeding boil water and but bottle in to heat up x

 

[kanga]

I don't use this method myself as I like to add powder to 70 degree c or hotter water, to kill the bacteria. But I do know people who do it on the basis if the feed is consumed straight away, then there is no time for bacteria to multiply. I guess the risk is if ou have a slow/fussy drinker and the milk sits out for an hour or so before all being drunk ..