Do you make up a feed or add powder to water later?

[Kte]

Originally we were making up bottles with formula ready for when we were out and about (I have hear & read of others doing this also) but the MW today said that really we should fill the bottle with water and then add the powder to the bottle just before we were going to feed LO. She said that once LO has stared to drink that feed then if there were any left after 30mins we should chuck it away and start again.



I'm confused, obviously I don't want to put my LO at risk to some kind of bacteria problem. I just find all this conflicting information confusing.

We have been given a travel dispenser so I can just fill bottles with water before a feed but I was just wondering how other people go about it and what they have been recommended?

Thanks

 

[Vici]

I make the bottles up with water that has been cooling for 30 mins. Any longer than this and it won't kill the bacteria in the powder. I then quick cool and refridgerate. When I go out i use cartons as I don't want to risk bottles getting to room temp and then sitting in the changing bag

 

[xTaylorsMummy]

i make 6 bottles up in the morning and 6 at night.

HV have to say all this stuff

1, to scare us and 2, because "its the guidelines".. My midwife wouldnt give me a sweep when the consultant BEGGED for one because i was 38 weeks and not over due! My HV is the same one as i had when i had DD and she used to let slip what we should do rather then what they say we should do. She also used to agree with my mum about stuff they did when we were younger like weaning at 4mth ect

 

[Kte]

Thanks

I did get a scare when she said it, the look on her face when we said how we made up bottles ~ she was horrified. I had spoken to a few people before her and that's just why we did it, it's much more reassuring to see other people are doing the same thing now as well.

 

[Pink_Witch]

with all my other 5 and i have done this with Ern i made the bottles up enough for the day and put them in the fridge and heat them in a jug of boiled water when i need them......but ern wont wait that long so we just make them up as we need them as it saves on him screaming!!

 

[faille]

We make up bottles of water and leave on the side at room temp.

When she needs feeding we heat the water in a jug of boiling water and then add the powder. Water's hot enough to kill bacteria in the powder, the milk doesn't have time to grow bacteria in the bottle and it's at a nice drinkable temp.

When we go out, we make the whole bottle up with water, quickly cool, put in fridge and then in a bottle warmer thing to keep it cool. Bacteria can't grow in the fridge or below a certain temp.

I think it's only "dangerous" when full feeds are made up and left at room temp as that is when bacteria can grow in the bottle.

 

[lexy604]

I was using ready made as per hospital advice for a month well i waited 3 weeks but the cost was getting rediculous so now im on powder. I make 5 bottles at a time like the package says boil water cool to room temp and mix bottles. Than i put them in the fridge and i have my feedings for all day or night. When we go out i plan on just adding the powder to the bottles than carrying room temp water with me seeing as its good for 24 hours. If Carter doesnt finish his bottle within an hour i throw it out. If we have a bottle made when we go out (which we wouldnt) than i keep it max 2 hours if he doesnt drink it i chuck it.

 

[purple_socks]

i know people who completely make up feeds in advance...i've always added formula to pre filled bottles of water when i needed the feed.

i know there r risks with bacteria which increase once the formula is mixed with the water but i personally am not too worried. I know i'm using clean, previously boiled water and clean bottles etc and i know short of testing the formula powder in my own home made lab (obviously i don't really have one of these!) then i can't avoid every germ that might b in there!

I personally am happy to use feeds which were made up longer than 30 mins b4 hand so if LO doesn't drink one that i've made i dont mind leaving it and trying it again later.

so far he's not been ill because of it/suffered any kind of tummy bug so i haven't found a reason to stop doing things this way

do b aware tho that they advise these things because formula powder is not 'sterile' and once added to water it becomes an idea breeding ground for bacteria...Its like rice! bacteria breeds well on that too which is y u shouldn't leave it out/reheat it etc but i still reheat rice! I think u need to do what ur comfortable with.

 

[moomin_troll]

i obviously made life difficult for myself and feed on demand so i always made bottles fresh. but after afew weeks i could kind of guess when he would want a bottle and would boile the kettle 1 hour before so the temp would be perfect for him.

saying that ive mainly heard that u shud make the bottle up with the powder then cool and store in the fridge

 

[Mary Jo]

I started off making each bottle as Adam needed it, then as the feeds got bigger and it took longer to cool, I decided to make a few up at a time and refrigerate. Then I got panicked and figured out a new way. Now, I prepare about half the water in advance, pour boiling water into a small sterile bottle (120ml) and chill (it's ok to add boiling water to bottles that don't contain BPA). And I have already prepared the powder, I do 6 at a time of the Tommee Tippee little containers. At feeding time I boil fresh water and add 90ml to a big bottle, then add a little of the chilled water to cool slightly and add the powder. Mix, then add the rest of the water - this is a 210ml feed. It sounds faffy but it's all in the prep, as it makes it very quick at feeding time; I feel better that the powder is always added to hot enough water, but Adam doesn't have to wait. I've found it takes ages for a 210ml bottle to cool.

Out and about we use cartons. I've once taken a bottle with me that Adam had had one sip of and fed him the rest, oh, maybe an hour and a half later... I didn't chill it in my bag. He was fine but I'd not do that again!

 

[tinkabells]

I make up four bottles at a time, 4 in morning, then 4 evening bottles, i told my HV and she said, they have been told to tell parents this, but she used to make bottles up, but just dont give thme bottles that are over 12 hours old xxx

 

[xkirstyx]

I make up four bottles at a time, 4 in morning, then 4 evening bottles, i told my HV and she said, they have been told to tell parents this, but she used to make bottles up, but just dont give thme bottles that are over 12 hours old xxx

im the same i make up 4bottles in morning and 4 at night to get us through the day xxx

 

[suzib76]

there never used to be a problem with making bottles up in advance, i always made them upo in the evening for the next day, the reason they changed the guidlines is mainly to do with the fact that they are left fpr ages to cool down before being put in the fridge

i always made the bottles up then put them in a pot in the sink and run the cold tap for about 5 mins, cool bottles in fridge and ready to feed when needed

and i have to say i will prob do the same thing again

 

[angelstardust]

I make up bottles of boiled water and add powder to it at room temp when needed (so use the dispenser when out).

Personally I am more concerned about the risks of milk that has been sitting too long (because I know that it will go bad) than the potential risk of their being a bacterium present in the milk powder that will take time to multiply in the milk (when made up with water). The bacteria in question only really poses a risk to newborns (upto 4 weeks), pre term or babies with other health problems. And at that there have been very few cases.

As for making them up and keeping them in the fridge, I'm too lazy to heat them back up plus there is also a risk that you don't cool them down quickly enough (so milk spoilage) or that they are too hot to go in the fridge (which then poses a risk of food poisoning to the rest of the family).

Each to their own, it's upto you as the mother (or father) of your baby to decide what is best for them, not what a HV tells you, they are there to advise not order.

 

[andbabymakes3]

I make the bottles up with boiling water so I know it kills any icky stuff in the powder - I then cool them down in cold water and whack em in the fridge!

My munchkin is a bit random with her bottle demands (her latest trick is to refuse it so I bf her...) so its hard to know how many to make up - so we do four bottles at night before we go to bed (which covers the dreamfeed, the middle of night feed and one for the following morning/afternoon - and a spare!).

If we go out I tend to use the ready made cartons, when she is hungry I will put the whole carton into a pre-steri bottle, if she doesnt finish it I will keep it for an hour (ish).

My sister used to put boiled water into the obttles and leave it to cool then just add powder as needed.

I think you can go too far with obsessing about this - how much bacteria can grow in boiled water in a sterilised bottle??!!

The thing which also confused me - I combination feed - I dont sterilise my nipples - they are in my bra, or against a pad...

 

[Kte]

Thanks all

We have gone down the route of boiling the water, letting it cool, add the powder, let the feeds cool a bit more then pop them in the fridge and Chloe seems fine on them.

 

[angelstardust]

Andbabymakes3, you reminded about my MIL telling me when I had DS1 and was BF in hospital, that I had to wash my breasts before feeding him because that's what she had to do after having her boys! She had to wash them with a clean flannel, then dry them with a clean towel and then feed the baby!

Makes you wonder if they would have then made you wash babies mouth out too!

no chance...

 

[roxie78]

We boil the water and let it cool then fill the bottles. Then add the powder just before he has a feed. I have to say the HVs etc really worry you over stuff like this I know we were really confused as to what was correct/safe etc in the early days! Pleased to say though that I only have 6 days left of using the steriliser! woo hoo!

 

[lexy604]

I have now grown lazy of reheating lol that was quick plus my formula says not to add to boiled water because of the cultures in it so i cool to room temp and make bottles as i go super easy. I believe you can keep boiled water at room temp for 24 hours and its still good im not 100 percent on this but i have been doing it for a few days and Carter seems just fine.

 

[baby.love]

I make 6 up every evening let them cool and then pop them in the fridge, I have done this for all 3 of my kids and they are all fine!