Formula Feeders: How do you/did you prepare your night feeds?

[SmileyKez]

I have been pre preparing boiled water, letting it cool to room temp and making up bottles on demand, midwife was happy with this when we discussed it last week, but today the health visitor told me I have to change how I prepare my feeds!

She told me I have to mix powder with boiled water and cool, this is going to be a nightmare during the night, she suggested setting an alarm to make the bottle before baby wakes, but he doesn't have a set pattern yet, he's only 12 days old! There is no way once he wakes that he'll wait for me to make and cool a bottle!

She also suggested taking a flask to bed but this just doesn't seem practical either! I'm so confused and overwhelmed right now!

My neice is 6 month and has been fed bottles pre boiled then cooled and she is perfectly fine, which is why I started feeding this way!

Anyone got any advice!

 

[Happy_mama]

you need to make formula up with boiling water now so it kills the bacteria that is in formula. it has to be a certain temp to kill off the bacteria as formula is not sterile. what is recommended is (if you have to make feeds in advance) is to make up bottles of formula with boiling water, cool it down quickly in a jug of cold water/under cold tap and put it in the back of the fridge. you can keep them in the fridge for 24 hours max

https://www.unicef.org.uk/Documents/Baby_Friendly/Leaflets/4/guide_to_bottle_feeding.pdf

 

[Lissidoll123]

To be honest I'd ignore the health visitor I do the fridge way as the above poster has stated and have also done it your way.

If you're that worried about killing the bacteria in the milk formula then prep half and half, pour boiled water into bottle of half the amount you require then top up with boiled water out of your thermos flask to make up your full feed and then add formula, that way it'll be hot, but normally just the right temp to start feeding x

 

[Faythe]

we make it up with cooled boiled water then heat in a jug of hot water?

As per the instructiobs on formula packet :/

By cooled I mean from kettle after 20-30mins

 

[cat lover]

you could make from fresh then rapud cool and keep in fridge, then you only need to heat it at night (or any time)

 

[Skyy82]

Ive tried all the ways mentioned, we used to make all the days bottles and put into the fridge, then put in the bottle warmer at night, then when he moved into his own room we took up a flask with room temperature boiled water in a flask and make them when he needs them. Even at 13 weeks he doesn't have a routine so its the quickest way to make a bottle. I'd just go with what you feel is best, if you go off the formula pack then you are supposed to make them fresh every time, it'd take ages that way! Personally I don't see how much bacteria can actually make it into the formula in the first place

 

[Katy Bug]

How is what you were doing before wrong? Do what you feel is best.

 

[kmbabycrazy]

^^WSS. Everyone does it differently. Do what you feel is best xx

 

[Incubus]

I used to pre make then reheat in a jug of boiling water but now I can't as neocate can't be pre made!

So now I take a bottle up with me with a couple of oz of cooled boiled water in it, powder in a powder dispenser and hot water in a flask. Add the hot water into the bottle of cooled water, tip in powder and have a warm bottle made in seconds. I do this with every bottle now.

 

[Boo44]

I was told the same about making sure to add the powder to boiled water that has been cooling for no longer than 30 mins. This is to kill the bacteria in the formula powder. I was the same and didn't fancy making bottles up in the night! So I used to make them all fresh with just-boiled water, and then cool them. Then I'd place them in the back of the fridge and they last for 24hrs. When I needed a bottle I'd get one out of the fridge and it would take only a couple of mins to warm it nicely by standing it in hot water.

This has always worked well for us. We use SMA and they say on the tin to add the powder to hot water. However my friend uses cow&gate and they don't specify! So she has always done what you do, and made a few bottles of water and let them cool to room temp, then simply added the powder when the bottle is needed. Her baby is also fine!!

 

[W22KLB]

I pre-make 2 bottles for during the night. Freshly boiled water, add powder to kill bacteria, quickly cool in ice water and put in fridge. When needed put in hot water to heat which takes a few minutes whilst changing nappy.

I did used to do all my bottles this way as I was using colief but now taking her off it so in the day make up as I go.

 

[MrsMac5]

You are supposed to use water over 70 degrees because the powder isn't sterile and cold water doesn't kill any of the bacteria in it. Could you add the powder to an empty bottle(eg 5 scoops) measure 2 oz of boiling water in a separate bottle, mix with the powder, then measure the remaining 3 oz required from a bottle of cool previously boiled water that you have in the fridge and add to the hot mixture? Hopefully someone with more knowledge will correct me if this wouldn't work but this is how I make them and they're the perfect temp and only takes a minute.

 

[chrissbe17]

I used to pre make then reheat in a jug of boiling water but now I can't as neocate can't be pre made!

So now I take a bottle up with me with a couple of oz of cooled boiled water in it, powder in a powder dispenser and hot water in a flask. Add the hot water into the bottle of cooled water, tip in powder and have a warm bottle made in seconds. I do this with every bottle now.

We have done this since LO was born!

 

[Scottish mum]

You need to get ready prepared formula so all you have to do is take it to bed with you and pour it into a bottle!! The best thing I have ever dicovered!! I use sma gold first milk love it. I put it in bed with me lol to warm slightly and when he gets up it's perfect however you can also feed at room temperature. It saves so much faffin about!! Xx

 

[mrsrof]

we used to just bring the bottle of water up and put it in the warmer ready to turn on when needed!! Nothing can get into the bottle once it's closed anyway, so no risk of contamination and it's only a few hours...beats having to get up to go to the fridge in the night! We just added the powder when the bottle was warm (just don't fall back to sleep and let the bottle get too hot lol).

So basically I did it the same way as you...and my LO is fine. I really don't fancy having to get up to boil the blooming kettle in the wee hours!!

 

[Scottish mum]

I have to also add my lo is also impatient and it's a great time saver you get them for about 90p a bottle ! I keep going on but they are amaizing helped me get my sanity back when lo was new born for quickness xx

 

[Beccaboop]

I pre-make bottle then put them in the fridge and when baby is hungry (still demand feeding) we heat them up in the bottle warmer or a jug of hot water.

 

[Chezzz]

Boil water pour into bottle Add formula. Rapid cool in bowl of cold water in sink. Put in the fridge and heat as required.
I make up 24 hours worth of feeds (5 bottles) in the evening as store them all in fridge. LO screams if he isn't fed the second he wants it.
Health visitor told me as long as I'm adding formula to water over 70 degrees then I'm doing it fine - she didn't even have a problem with me storing them in fridge. I was scared to tell her haha!

 

[Chezzz]

I was told the same about making sure to add the powder to boiled water that has been cooling for no longer than 30 mins. This is to kill the bacteria in the formula powder. I was the same and didn't fancy making bottles up in the night! So I used to make them all fresh with just-boiled water, and then cool them. Then I'd place them in the back of the fridge and they last for 24hrs. When I needed a bottle I'd get one out of the fridge and it would take only a couple of mins to warm it nicely by standing it in hot water.

This has always worked well for us. We use SMA and they say on the tin to add the powder to hot water. However my friend uses cow&gate and they don't specify! So she has always done what you do, and made a few bottles of water and let them cool to room temp, then simply added the powder when the bottle is needed. Her baby is also fine!!

Sorry just to add. My cow and gate does specify on the tub. I thought all the brands do xx

 

[Sparrow85]

I make up all his bottles in the morning (6). I boil water, let it cool slightly and then add the formula. I then cool all bottles in basin of cold water and store them in the fridge. Bottles are then heated in bottle warmer when required. I've been told this is fine as long as they are used within 24 hours.

There is no way I could deal with making a bottle up every time; LO would be screaming the place down!