How do you prepare?

[Char&Bump-x]

I have no idea how to prepare bottles. Surely when you have a screaming baby washing, sterilising, boiling/cooling water and adding powder takes aaaages!

Can you prepare them all in the morning? Or a few in the morning at least? If so how?

Its all so confusing and scary!

 

[polo_princess]

They recommend that you dont make feeds in advance but tbh i dont know anyone that makes them up one at a time lol.

I make Brookes bottles up twice a day and just store them in the fridge and heat them up as and when.

You can do it several ways, put the water in the bottles and store them in the fridge and add formula as and when, or just make the bottles up with formula ...

 

[Laura--x]

Had this discussion with my midwife yesterday as i was like you and just so confused, as i was being told to make bottles up when needed, then told you can make up a days worth and so on so i was a bit like ?!

What my midwife told me is that you shouldn't make up bottles and putting them in the fridge, they really advise against that. That they used to say make up bottles as and when needed,but obviously this is pretty impossible when you have a screaming baby! SO what she said is the best thing to do is in the morning, wash and sterilise enough bottles for the day, boil and cool the water then add the water to the bottles then leave the bottles on the side then just add the formula when needed and give at room temperature.

Sounds the best and easiest thing to do imo so it's what ill be doing x

 

[Char&Bump-x]

Thanks, i think il do the getting it all ready and adding formula when needed. Sounds so much simpler than one at a time!

I'l probably leave them on the side too, ive heard not to put them in the fridge, even though everyone does anyway x

 

[Laura--x]

Yeah. Well if you put them in the fridge you have to warm them up im pretty sure? Whereas if you leave it on the side, it's at room temperature which is safe for them to have, so it's easier x

 

[Char&Bump-x]

Yea, plus if its used to bottles at room temp, i dont have to worry about getting out of bed at night lol x

 

[keelykat]

i used to make elliots bottles up and put in fridge, no longer then a day. i couldn't make when needed-elliot would have screamed the place down lol.

now i still put the bottles in fridge, but add formula when needed and warm it up. not sure why i started doing this.

keely.

ps elliot likes his milk warm, so obviously i warm it up to required temp as its been in fridge.

 

[claire1978]

I make Jaydens bottles in the morning when hes asleep before I take my son to school, I wash and sterilize all the bottles, then make all bottles up and leave them on the side, when he needs one I just grab it from the side and feed him, easy peasy. Makes it easier at night time and also when out and about, I did this with my other 2 children aswell and they were fine.

Theres so many views on this, I would go with what works for you, in my opinion making each bottle up when needed isnt very practical when ur baby is crying for a feed

 

[mummymadness]

I make them up about 4 bottles at a time wait till they cool then fridge same as most other people i think .

Can i just point out one small problem of the other method of leaving water to cool and then adding powder later .
I did this wth layla and i had some problems then hv went crazy .

Firstly i got told off , Because the hot boiling water is what kills the bacteria if the water isnt hot enough when you add the powder and theres some bacteria around it will not kill off.

And the problem i found was ... The powder doesnt disolve well !!! It seperates and doesnt mix well at all .

But thats just my opinion . Good luck . xxx .

 

[Char&Bump-x]

Good points! I didnt think of that!

 

[xXDonnaXx]

I make 3 up in the morning when I do my steriliser. And leave them on the side. When she has had those I make another 3 up and leave them on the side.

 

[Vickie]

I don't understand why they shouldn't be stored in the refrigerator as you would think it inhibited bacteria growth. Plus the powder should be added when the water is hot so that the boiled water kills any bacteria.

But people make the bottles all different ways.

We make 24 hours worth at a time...boil the water, cool it a bit (just enough so that we don't burn our hands ) and add water and than powder and mix and put straight into the fridge. We reheat as needed throughout the day

 

[candeur]

I make up Seren's bottles fresh.
At first when she was pretty much feeding on demand, we used a thermos flask to store the cooled boiled water and changed it every few hours so it didnt cool down too much.
I use a cold water steriliser which is dead easy, I just change the water and add the tablets at the same time every night when seren has gone to sleep, and then wash and add the bottles and they stay sterile until used for 24 hours.
Now that serens in more of a routine I know when her bottle is due, and boil the kettle 30mins before hand, and just get it ready on time. I then let the bottle cool in a jug of cold water which takes a few mins. I just make sure that I never leave it too late so that she is screaming, however I know that's not the same for everyone.
I don't know why but I didn't feel happy about storing her feeds with so many people telling me not too, but it's whatever is easier for you.
I was in the same position as you though, I just could not get my head around how the bottles were made but it surprised me how quickly you get in a routine, and how simple it all becomes!

 

[sam*~*louize]

And the problem i found was ... The powder doesnt disolve well !!! It seperates and doesnt mix well at all .
.

Yeah I find this at work too, you open the lid after adding the powder to the cooled water (this little one has his heated) and it's all bitty everywhere :9

 

[polo_princess]

You'll soon find a way that works for you hun, as you can see well all do it slightly differently

 

[princess_bump]

i make up 6, everynight, wash them and sterilise them and add the boiling water, then just add the formula and warm when maddi is hungry. this is the way its always worked for us, and its fab, cos james does the bottles and i don't need to worry

 

[polo_princess]

i make up 6, everynight, wash them and sterilise them and add the boiling water, then just add the formula and warm when maddi is hungry. this is the way its always worked for us, and its fab, cos james does the bottles and i don't need to worry

Carl does ours 90% of the time ... though too often he nods off on the sofa and forgets to get them out of the steriliser

 

[princess_bump]

i make up 6, everynight, wash them and sterilise them and add the boiling water, then just add the formula and warm when maddi is hungry. this is the way its always worked for us, and its fab, cos james does the bottles and i don't need to worry

Carl does ours 90% of the time ... though too often he nods off on the sofa and forgets to get them out of the steriliser

love it!! james has done that too! the other sat night james jumped out of bed saying, gotta do the bottles, 10mins later he gets back into bed saying.... the babies at your mum's... i haven't got to do them so funny!

 

[nikky0907]

I don't understand why they shouldn't be stored in the refrigerator as you would think it inhibited bacteria growth. Plus the powder should be added when the water is hot so that the boiled water kills any bacteria.

But people make the bottles all different ways.

We make 24 hours worth at a time...boil the water, cool it a bit (just enough so that we don't burn our hands ) and add water and than powder and mix and put straight into the fridge. We reheat as needed throughout the day

I do exactly the same!

 

[Rachiebaby24]

I make them up as i go along through the day because i find it makes Maley less sicky.....she doesnt scream for a bottle because she is pretty routine at feeding every 4 hours still so i know really when to prepare the bottle....for example....if she had a bottle at 12pm, i know that she will be getting hungry next about 3/4pm....so at about 2.45 i make the bottle and leave it on the side....if she isnt that hungry, by the time its cooled down she wants it, if she starts moaning, i put it in a bowl of water and it doesnt take long to cool down....