how long did you all use the pre-made milk for?

[lauralou25]

Hi ladies the midwifes etc say to use the pre made milk for 4-6 weeks I know they say because its sterile etc but its bloody expensive how long did u use them for? I used the tin for my son and he turned out fine???

 

[skunkpixie]

As long as your baby was full term and has no health issues I would say its fine to use powder from day one as long as it is prepared correctly. Pre-made cartons are sterile and are the better choice over powder if your baby was pre-term or prone to infections xx

 

[summer rain]

^WSS

 

[lauralou25]

Thank you guys yes he was 40 weeks exactly and a healthy 9lbs lol

 

[jenfen]

I went onto powdered after about a week. As you say, its way too expensive to use cartons regularly, I just keep a few for days out etc.

J x

 

[CLH_X3]

I used powder from about 4 days old, I only used per made bottles from the hospital til then that they gave me and a couple cartoons, tbh I used aptimal an they don't do big cartons if they did I would of used it for longer

 

[michelle1985]

i have 3 children and never been told i had to use the pre made cartons i no the powder is not sterile but thats why you add it to boiling water. all my children have been fine. plus not all milk comes in pre made cartons

 

[littleblonde]

we used powder form week 2 when i stopped breast feeding. was never told not to

 

[girldot]

I was told to use the sterile, pre-made bottles for the first 4 weeks too but like you said, it's bloody expensive and each pack only lasts about 2-3 days! So I only use them for night time feeds now and use the powder for daytime feeds. x

 

[Karlie06]

Hi, I used powdered milk from birth because nobody said not to and I only used the cartons when going out. Now though I just bring a chilled bottle.

 

[Lawa]

I used powder when I came out of hospital so 48 hours!

 

[babywhish]

Well I made the mistake of using it for too long. For safety's sake (and speed and convenience I must admit) I didn't try to switch until my dd was 3 months old. I guess by that aged she was too clued up and refused to drink the powder!

Have to say though, hated the extra expense but loved the convenience.

 

[lauralou25]

Thanks ladies he seems fine and settled on powder but gonna have to tell a porkie tomorrow health visitor is coming and i know they will moan has they like them to be on pre-made for 4-6 weeks

 

[Snuffy]

I don't think the pre-made bottles were even available in the shops when Amy was born, but we started with powder from the start - apart from that very first middle of the night switch from BF when we used the emergency carton I had bought.

 

[Hunbun]

I'm still using the premade cartons at nearly 4 months.

I'm to scared to use the powder incase I make it up wrong.

 

[sw121]

I'd be interested in knowing what area you're in if the midwives and HVs are advising pre-made formula. It seems a bit overkill for a perfectly healthy baby and I've never heard of anyone being advised that before. We just went straight to powder and only have a few cartons in for convenience in case we're caught unawares. We've never been told that they shouldn't be on powdered milk until a certain age - it's perfectly safe if you make it up correctly, so it seems like pointless advice!

 

[HellBunny]

I only used the cartons whilst i was in hospital, then went straight to the tin x

 

[Treelo]

i have 3 children and never been told i had to use the pre made cartons plus not all milk comes in pre made cartons

^wss^

 

[summer rain]

I'd actually tell your HV the truth and then ask where does it say to use pre-made cartons for 4-6 weeks? Nowhere. It does say that formula isn't sterile but then you make it up correctly and there isn't a problem-them telling mums to use cartons for 4-6 weeks can only lead to many mums being unable to afford to do that but being afraid to ask how to make up the powder correctly; leading to underfeeding or overfeeding or making the formula with water that isn't as hot as it should be. I find that a lot of HVs are reading from a 'crib sheet' of guidelines and I am not even sure where they get them from half the time; because they are not government guidelines. My HV was literally reading out all the questions she was asking me; from a piece of paper and she didn't seem sure what the 'right' answers to them was supposed to be! xx

 

[sw121]

I'd actually tell your HV the truth and then ask where does it say to use pre-made cartons for 4-6 weeks? Nowhere. It does say that formula isn't sterile but then you make it up correctly and there isn't a problem-them telling mums to use cartons for 4-6 weeks can only lead to many mums being unable to afford to do that but being afraid to ask how to make up the powder correctly; leading to underfeeding or overfeeding or making the formula with water that isn't as hot as it should be. I find that a lot of HVs are reading from a 'crib sheet' of guidelines and I am not even sure where they get them from half the time; because they are not government guidelines. My HV was literally reading out all the questions she was asking me; from a piece of paper and she didn't seem sure what the 'right' answers to them was supposed to be! xx

WSS - I don't have much time for HVs. They seem to think babies are text books and I find a lot of their advice to be completely impractical. Mine is obsessed with LO having hiccoughs - I can't work out why.