how long do you keep formula bottles for?

[weejenb]

Just curious about how long formula feeders keep their formula bottles for? (if not pre making/storing in fridge etc). Like if I make LO a feed, how long can i keep it out for before tossing it. I've been keeping/using it for no longer than two hours, as says on the tin, but I'm not sure if this is too long.

Oooh the temptation to premake a nightfeed and keep it in the fridge is overwhelming too!

 

[LynseyPynsey]

I think guidelines are 2hrs we aren't premaking either but only because I'd be boiling the kettle to make the bottle OR to reheat. We're finding it easier to cool down bottles.

 

[Lola90]

Guilty! I keep my feeds in the fridge. I make 5 at a time. He's okay so far. It's just the way I'm happy to do it.

 

[StaceyKor]

I premake 2 bottles at a time and keep them in the fridge. When she was on more feeds a day i'd premake 3 or 4 xx

 

[weejenb]

Guilty! I keep my feeds in the fridge. I make 5 at a time. He's okay so far. It's just the way I'm happy to do it.

I am honestly sooo tempted by this, just for a nightfeed though. I don't mind making his bottles as we go throughout the day, as they are occasional cos I'm still also breastfeeding. But night time breast-feeding is tough, but the thought of getting up to boil the kettle, make a bottle and then cool it down is a killer!

 

[Bababall]

Get a thermos and fill it with boiled water that has cooled for 30 mins. That way all you have to do is make bottle and cool it. This doesn't take too long. Works for us x

 

[Sunshine12]

I dont premake (i do half and half with cooled boiling water then boiling water) but if i make one and she doesnt take it all i will keep it for a max of 2 hours then chuck it. x

 

[weejenb]

Get a thermos and fill it with boiled water that has cooled for 30 mins. That way all you have to do is make bottle and cool it. This doesn't take too long. Works for us x

Formula feeding can be so confusing with all the different advice. I heard that this isn't the right thing to do (not being judgemental or accusing, I PROMISE, just relaying what i've heard!) because the water isn't at the right temperature when you add the formula to it, so it doesn't kill all the bacteria properly.

I just think that I was raised on pre-made bottles and it did me no harm, same with my OH and all the people our age, whhhhy cant we do it now!

 

[mellyboo]

For the night time feeds i have a bottle of distilled water i bought at the store and i throw my powder in her bubba shake it and feed it to her i've always done this every single person i kno has went this route... yeah buying bottle of water is $$$ but honestly its worth it to me!... i do no a couple of girls who boil there water too..

 

[Sunshine12]

Get a thermos and fill it with boiled water that has cooled for 30 mins. That way all you have to do is make bottle and cool it. This doesn't take too long. Works for us x

Formula feeding can be so confusing with all the different advice. I heard that this isn't the right thing to do (not being judgemental or accusing, I PROMISE, just relaying what i've heard!) because the water isn't at the right temperature when you add the formula to it, so it doesn't kill all the bacteria properly.

I just think that I was raised on pre-made bottles and it did me no harm, same with my OH and all the people our age, whhhhy cant we do it now!

i heard that too but my HV said to ignore it and its just the manufacturers covering themselves just incase so i ignore it. She said more babies become ill from premade bottles. x

 

[weejenb]

Get a thermos and fill it with boiled water that has cooled for 30 mins. That way all you have to do is make bottle and cool it. This doesn't take too long. Works for us x

Formula feeding can be so confusing with all the different advice. I heard that this isn't the right thing to do (not being judgemental or accusing, I PROMISE, just relaying what i've heard!) because the water isn't at the right temperature when you add the formula to it, so it doesn't kill all the bacteria properly.

I just think that I was raised on pre-made bottles and it did me no harm, same with my OH and all the people our age, whhhhy cant we do it now!

i heard that too but my HV said to ignore it and its just the manufacturers covering themselves just incase so i ignore it. She said more babies become ill from premade bottles. x

Interesting! I hope my HV is nice and tells me I can do this so I can appease my OH

Out of curiosity, whereabouts in Scotland are you? Just to see if your local advice matches mine

 

[Sunshine12]

Get a thermos and fill it with boiled water that has cooled for 30 mins. That way all you have to do is make bottle and cool it. This doesn't take too long. Works for us x

Formula feeding can be so confusing with all the different advice. I heard that this isn't the right thing to do (not being judgemental or accusing, I PROMISE, just relaying what i've heard!) because the water isn't at the right temperature when you add the formula to it, so it doesn't kill all the bacteria properly.

I just think that I was raised on pre-made bottles and it did me no harm, same with my OH and all the people our age, whhhhy cant we do it now!

i heard that too but my HV said to ignore it and its just the manufacturers covering themselves just incase so i ignore it. She said more babies become ill from premade bottles. x

Interesting! I hope my HV is nice and tells me I can do this so I can appease my OH

Out of curiosity, whereabouts in Scotland are you? Just to see if your local advice matches mine

Stirlingshire. I got told the same thing from 2 different HV's. One that was helping me with colic massage and my regular one. Ive never used boiling water, only previously boiled stuff. x

 

[Lissidoll123]

Guilty! I keep my feeds in the fridge. I make 5 at a time. He's okay so far. It's just the way I'm happy to do it.

Me too, I've been sticking to the American guidelines rather than the Uk ones about pre Makin feeds! When oh working and on nights I need to premake them! X

 

[Dawnlouise30]

we pre-make Isaac's one at night and have never had any problems, in the day we use the thermos flask and make them as needed

 

[topsy]

Guilty! I keep my feeds in the fridge. I make 5 at a time. He's okay so far. It's just the way I'm happy to do it.

I have done this since LO was 4 months. LO is almost a year and still only takes 6oz at a time, I offer him what he wants then chuck the rest xxxxx

 

[schnoogles]

We sterilise the bottles, fill them with the 30 minute old water and seal the lids on. Then add the milk powder as the bottle is needed, feed it at room temperature and chuck them away two hours after they are mixed. We have has no issues doing this. I believe that Hipp combiotic must be made this way, not that we use that one. The NHS website says that you must mix the milk to the water within 30 minutes of boiling it as there is a tiny chance of there being salmonella in the powder, which the hot water kills, however, how this is practical in real life I don't know, leave the baby screaming for 40 minutes prior to each feed? The NHS website also says you should sterilise each bottle immediately before you use it.

The best one I heard was from SMA I think, that cold water being used to cool the bottle mustn't touch the teat as its not sterile. I get what they mean, but what do they think babies are bathed in and their clothes washed in??

At the end of the day, find what works with you and go with it. My DH works nights, there is no way I could do freshly boiled/cooled night feeds. I found ff so stressful at first as everyone tells you something different and that what you are doing is wrong. Do some research, decide what's best for you and stick with it, good luck x

 

[preggymammy]

I just put the water in the (sterilised) bottle as soon as it's boiled, put the powder in then cool it under the cold water tap (fawcett). Ofcourse the lid remains on so the teat doesn't get hit by the tap water. This is during the day. If we're out and about and I know we won't have access to a kettle/boiled water then i'll take cartons and use that.

That's the way I had bottles when I was a baby and everyone else I know really.

At night we used to fill about 3-4 bottles with boiled water, seal it and put them in our room so when LO is ready for a feed the water is at room temp. We just put in the powder and it's ready to go... however LO doesn't like to be kept waiting for his bottle (when making fresh) and i'm not overly happy with mixing bottles when the water has been cooled for sometimes hours in the bottles so i've started buying the premade cartons...

 

[CoffeePuffin]

I chuck any undrunk milk after two hours of making it.

 

[Incubus]

An hour then it starts to split and go off :/ neocate is very different to regular formula!