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

[weejenb]

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!

Did your HV tell you this was ok to do? I'm still mostly breastfeeding but he gets a bottle before bed, and would love to give him a bottle during the night also but can't bear the thought of having to make up a fresh bottle at half 3 in the morning with a hungry baby!

Your wee boy looks gorgeous btw

 

[JaneyScot]

i followed the World Health Organisation guidelines when making up batch feeds.

I used water hotter than 70 degrees, added formula, rapid cooled then stored in back of fridge for up to 24 hours. Once taken out bottles were warmed for no more than 15 mins and then discarded after 2 hours.

https://www.who.int/foodsafety/publications/micro/PIF_Bottle_en.pdf

 

[JaneyScot]

and page 19 of this link gives more info on why it is recommended to use water no cooler than 70 degrees,

https://www.who.int/foodsafety/publications/micro/pif_guidelines.pdf

3.2.3 Temperature of water for reconstitution
According to the FAO/WHO risk assessment, risk is dramatically reduced when PIF is reconstituted with water that is no less than 70 °C, as this temperature will kill any E. sakazakii in the powder. This level of risk reduction holds even if feeding times are extended (i.e. up to two hours), and even if ambient room temperature reaches
35 °C. Consequently, reconstituting PIF with water no less than 70 °C dramatically reduces the risk to all infants, even slow feeding infants and infants in warm climates where refrigeration may not be readily available (e.g. developing countries).
When PIF is prepared with water cooler than 70 °C, it does not reach a high enough temperature to completely inactivate E. sakazakii present in the powder. This is a concern for two reasons: a) a small number of cells may cause illness, therefore it is important that cells present in the PIF are destroyed; and b) the potential for
surviving cells to multiply in the reconstituted formula. This risk is increased when the reconstituted formula is held for extended periods above refrigeration temperature.

 

[Indi84]

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!

This!
People seem to get confused by saying the water is sterile because it's boiled so it's fine to use cold. While the water is completely fine, it's the powder that isn't! But my hv was fine with the above method, or the one were you add it to boiled water, then cool boiled water to make the rest of the feed.

I use hipp organic and that needs to be added to cooler water though, 50° not 70° so just follow the pack instructions! I make them fresh in the day with the use it a flask, then pre make any nights ones. I don't mind getting it if bed though, I live in a flat lol.

 

[pink_rulez]

For both of mine iv pre made the days worth and kept in the fridge, they both seem fine n worked for us, but my friend used ur method add powerd to cooled boiled water n her lo is fine two, thing is guidelines change all of the time (they have even changed since I've had Sophie) so I just do what I think is best xx

 

[L.A Mommy]

All I do is add warm water from the tap and a scoop of formula and whaalaa his bottle is ready! Takes less than 2mins.

 

[Jennbear]

I used to take up a flask of boiled water and a measure of formula and make it when LO woke to be fed

 

[beth_terri]

All formulas have different instructions. Sma you have to boil water and NOT let it cool for longer than half an hour before adding the formula. Hipp organic and some toddler milks (I think) you use cooled boiler water and add formula to this. Cow and gate I think you have to leave to cool for 30 mins before adding the formula.

And your supposed to make each bottle fresh each time.

I however use sma. I make 5 bottles in one go. Leave them to cool then store them in the fridge. We heat them up when needed.

I would have gone mad if I'd been making a fresh bottle each time and waiting for it to cool with a baby screaming for food!

We used to take a flask up to bed with boiling water up to heat it in but dont bother anymore as he has 3 bottles a night!

 

[beth_terri]

All I do is add warm water from the tap and a scoop of formula and whaalaa his bottle is ready! Takes less than 2mins.

Yeh you can't do that in England though. Especially not with warm water as its not filtered as cautiously as cold ( and even then we boil it first to kill off any bacteria) x

 

[biliboi2]

Also the reason they say to let kettle cool for 30 mins (but not more than 30 mins), is that water straight from boiled kettle is too hot and may kill off some of the vitamins in the formula powder.

 

[CarliCareBear]

I can't wait to heat or cool a bottle in the night- I just put pre-filtered water in a water bottle and let it sit at rom temperature. I also make sure all her bottles are washed and set to dry.

 

[SillyMoo1983]

I used to pre make bottles. I'd do 3 at a time. I know it isn't recommended but it never did my LO any harm. I wouldn't have been able to handle the crying if she had to wait. The other thing you could do is use the little cartons of pre-made formula if they do them for the formula you use.

 

[Keyval]

I boil bottled water and put in bottles and pop in fridge . But LO drinks at room temp so I usually have to take it out of fridge a bit before she is due then add formula , I have to use bottled water as we have a water softener installed in the house and that wate can't be used . Awkward

 

[NicholaP]

I use the ready to pour 1ltr bottles. Just pour in and heat! Never used powder once! Seemed too much faffing about! Xx

 

[CoffeePuffin]

At night I do the same thing as I do in the day - prepare feeds as she needs them using hot water from thermos flask. I take the flask, bottles, powder and a cup of cold water to cool the bottle down up with me. Bit of a faff but means I don't have to keep coming downstairs.