Cooling boiled water

[indianorchi]

When using the powder formula, how long should I let the boiled water cool for? Everywhere says 'no more than half an hour' but I have no idea how long to do it for!
I've been using the cartons of ready to use stuff but they work out pretty expensive.

 

[Vickie]

I usually put my kettle in cold water in the sink for 5-10 minutes and than make up the bottles.

 

[JayleighAnn]

When ever I've made bottles up for friends babies, I've always left it for half an hour in the kettle, then gone back and made up the bottles.

 

[Pyrrhic]

I read the information regarding FFing on the Department of Healths website which recommends that you make up the feeds using freshly boiled water that has not been allowed to cool for more than 30mins. Ideally make the feed with boiling water as soon as it's ready (this allows the milk formula to be dissolved properly) THEN cooling it to drinking temperature by running the bottle under cool water or living the bottle in a bowl of cooled water. Then feed it to your LO, or refrigerate.

You can read more here:

https://www.dh.gov.uk/en/Healthcare/Maternity/Maternalandinfantnutrition/index.htm

 

[indianorchi]

Oh right. I was under the impression that the water should not be boiling when you add the formula. For night feeds it's been horrible setting alarms for 30 minutes before his feed is due, should I not have been bothering?
If I do have to wait half an hour I'll stick with the cartons but if not it would be much better

 

[Vickie]

I tried doing the water right after and it was just way too hot (for me) and I got burned sooooooooooooo many times

 

[Vickie]

And make up your bottles 24 hours worth in advance! There's nothing wrong with that. Just store them in the fridge and reheat as needed. You'll save yourself a lot of hassle that way. Especially when they go through a growth spurt and throw another feed or two at you when you least expect it!

 

[Pyrrhic]

The point of using boiling water, then cooling it is that the water needs to be boiling to steralise the formula. Formula isn't sterile. If you cool the water then make the feed, you aren't killing any germs that may be in the formula. Hence why they say to use it within 30mins, as after that point the water becomes useless.

When I was FFing I'd make up 8 bottles at a time so I'd have enough through the night.

 

[Vickie]

But as long as you don't let the water get to cool than it's fine. My kettle traps heat like no other, if I left it as is and used it, even after 30 minutes it would be boiling hot (which I did for 3 months!!) From what I've read and been told you just can't let the water cool too much and we've never had any problems with Hannah getting a sour stomach from her formula One of the few problems we haven't had yet

 

[candeur]

Oh right. I was under the impression that the water should not be boiling when you add the formula. For night feeds it's been horrible setting alarms for 30 minutes before his feed is due, should I not have been bothering?
If I do have to wait half an hour I'll stick with the cartons but if not it would be much better

I take the boiled water upstairs in a thermos with me, it is soo much easier for night feeds, just have to keep an eye on the temperature because it doesnt stay boiling through til morning. We use the Fisher Price Flask, probably one of the best things that I bought!
https://www.johnlewis.com/230229463/Product.aspx?source=14798

 

[indianorchi]

From what everyone's said I now have two more questions just to be annoying...
Do I not need to sterilise the bottles again every time I open the lid?
And making up bottles for the night...is that really ok? Because the leaflet I got from hospital said never ever do that.

 

[Vickie]

I've always made up bottles in advance. It's what's done here, maybe it's not common elsewhere? Hannah's never had an issue though. Not sure about the second question. In the beginning we were very careful and only added milk immediately after her bottles were sterilized.

 

[EmziMoo]

We always made enough feeds for 24hrs. We'd usually do them before we went to bed each night & never had a problem.

 

[jenstar]

What i do for bottles is sterilise them then pour in the correct amount of water (just boiled maybe left in kettle 5 mins so as not to burn myself!) then I measure out my scoops of powder into a container. I got mine in tesco, avent also do a similar one. It has compartments for 3 feeds. Then if he needs a bottle I pour the milk powder in and shake. It needs a good shake to dissolve when the water is cool, more than warm water. My baby drinks bottles at room temp but you could heat up if you want. I wouldn't like to make them up in advance esp for such young baby, germ worries and all that!

not sure about steam sterilisers as I have cold water one.

 

[malpal]

Hey honey,
I did get caught out with the whole how long should the water be cooled for thing! I had to change to Cow & Gate Comfort due to LO having probs with reflux. I was letting the water cool for 30mins however this formula wants water no more than 15mins cooled!! Double check with the instructions as i'd assumed all were the same!!
As for night feeds I am using the Tommee Tippee bottles which you can get the little jars that fit inside the bottle and allows the lid to be screwed shut. This means i measure out the scoops into the jars beforehand. I then use a thermos flask and take everything upstairs. This works so well for me as i don't have to come downstairs. I bought a small travel kettle which i fill up before bed and keep in the nursery. Then when LO wakes for her feed i boil the kettle ready for her next one!! The thermos doesn't seem to keep the water at the right temperature all night and for the early morning feed, hence why i replace the water.
Works great for me and it means i don't have to set any alarms!!!
Hope you find some of this helpful!!
xxxxxxxxxxxxx

 

[chelly100]

I don't make up my feeds in advance but according to the ff guidelines I'm still doing it wrong... I wash and sterilise the bottles, boil the kettle, let it cool and then fill up all bottles with water only. I then use each bottle as it's needed over the next 24 hours, add the scoops when she's ready for a feed and then heat it up... I guess that's wrong? How can you sterilise the bottles and only use one each time with freshly boiled water? I don't get it!!!!!

 

[princess_bump]

I don't make up my feeds in advance but according to the ff guidelines I'm still doing it wrong... I wash and sterilise the bottles, boil the kettle, let it cool and then fill up all bottles with water only. I then use each bottle as it's needed over the next 24 hours, add the scoops when she's ready for a feed and then heat it up... I guess that's wrong? How can you sterilise the bottles and only use one each time with freshly boiled water? I don't get it!!!!!

we do exactly the same! maddi has always been fine x

 

[chelly100]

Oh good, thanks, that makes me feel better! I think it's easy to become obsessed over these things. The guidelines are always changing! Think back to when we were babies..., the advice then!!!!!

 

[charliebear]

I don't make up my feeds in advance but according to the ff guidelines I'm still doing it wrong... I wash and sterilise the bottles, boil the kettle, let it cool and then fill up all bottles with water only. I then use each bottle as it's needed over the next 24 hours, add the scoops when she's ready for a feed and then heat it up... I guess that's wrong? How can you sterilise the bottles and only use one each time with freshly boiled water? I don't get it!!!!!

we do exactly the same! maddi has always been fine x

We do the same too!! x

 

[bambino]

Harry takes 5oz -
I sterilize bottles
add 3 oz boiled water to bottles and put in fridge
when he is ready for bottle, I boil kettle and add the furthr 2oz to the bottle
add formula
bottle is at right temperature to drink
really quick and my health visitor advised it

I usually make fresh feeds in day and use this method for night times.