I need advice please

[RubyLouise]

Right... Making bottles (I've had a baby before but I can't remember exactly how I did things)
How do I prepare bottles in advance and keep them fresh? Obviously I know to sterilise. I used to make the feed up in the bottles and keep in fridge for 12 hours. Is this alright?
Also who else heats in the microwave? I used to microwave it for 60 seconds and then leave to cool to make sure there was no hot pockets in the milk.
Does this sound ok to do? I gave birth yesterday (been using the ready made sterile bottles) I'm so tired I'm having moments of self doubt lol
How does everyone else store their bottles and heat them? X

 

[bumblebeexo]

This is what I do..

Boil the kettle and leave to cool for 30 minutes. I then make up a few bottles and rapid cool in cold water before putting them in the fridge. I make up enough to last the next 12 hours. This isn't the current guidelines as they state each feed should be made up fresh, but my health visitor even said that it wasn't ideal when you have a screaming baby and to make up a few in advance!
As for heating, I boil the kettle and pour into a jug and pop the bottle in for a few minutes until it's warm!

Congratulations btw!

 

[honeybee2]

I NEVER store made up bottles. 'Made up' in my mind means the formula and water made up ready to go. Storing just the water is fine though.

This is my technique but of course, its not to everyones idea of how to do it. The formula tins should give you an idea though.

If using a microwave:

Steralise bottles and boil water. Make sure the water is only boiled once to avoid salt etc.
Leave the boiled water for 30 mins + in the kettle to cool.
Put desired amount in bottles.
Store in the cupboard or fridge. For how long is up to you but I wouldnt leave it more than 12 hours personally.
Add formula when a feed is needed.
Heat in microwave.
Give it a good shake to spread heat and avoid hot spots.

If not using a microwave:

Do as above but fill the bottles 1oz less than normal.
Store bottles as above.
Boil the kettle.
While boiling, add formula to bottle.
Top up bottle by 1oz of boiling water so the milk is nice and warm.

Or just top up bottles of boiled water as normal and heat in a jug of hot water if too cold or rapid cool if too hot right before feed.


I use a bottle of formula within 2 hours of it being mixed up. x

 

[skunkpixie]

I NEVER store made up bottles. 'Made up' in my mind means the formula and water made up ready to go. Storing just the water is fine though.

This is my technique but of course, its not to everyones idea of how to do it. The formula tins should give you an idea though.

If using a microwave:

Steralise bottles and boil water. Make sure the water is only boiled once to avoid salt etc.
Leave the boiled water for 30 mins + in the kettle to cool.
Put desired amount in bottles.
Store in the cupboard or fridge. For how long is up to you but I wouldnt leave it more than 12 hours personally.
Add formula when a feed is needed.
Heat in microwave.
Give it a good shake to spread heat and avoid hot spots.

If not using a microwave:

Do as above but fill the bottles 1oz less than normal.
Store bottles as above.
Boil the kettle.
While boiling, add formula to bottle.
Top up bottle by 1oz of boiling water so the milk is nice and warm.

Or just top up bottles of boiled water as normal and heat in a jug of hot water if too cold or rapid cool if too hot right before feed.


I use a bottle of formula within 2 hours of it being mixed up. x

According to the World Health Organisation its actually preferable to store fully made up feeds in the fridge rather than adding powder to room temperature water. This is beacuase formula powder is not sterile and needs to be added to water 70c or above to destroy any potential bacteria.

Lots of women do use room temp water though, and I guess its just personal preference as to which method suits. The most important things are good hygeine, so as long as you wash and sterilise feeding equipment well and keep hands and surfaces clean when preparing bottles then your baby has a very low risk of getting ill. xxx

 

[skunkpixie]

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

https://www.food.gov.uk/multimedia/pdfs/formulaguidance.pdf

 

[honeybee2]

OOh I didnt know this.

I just went with the cow&gate instructions. x

 

[skunkpixie]

OOh I didnt know this.

I just went with the cow&gate instructions. x

The instructions say to use freshly boiled water, left to cool for no longer than 30 mins before the powder is added (so the water is above 70c when mixing with formula), then to cool, feed your baby and throw away any unused feed within 2 hours.

This is the best way to make up feeds, fresh everytime using hot water. The second best way is to make feeds adding powder to 70c+ water, rapid cooling and storing in the fridge for upto 24 hours. The third best way is to fill bottles with water only, store on the side/in the fridge, and add powder just before baby needs a feed (so powder is added to water cooler than 70c).

I suppose that WHO and government food agencies have concluded that a baby is at more risk from drinking formula that hasnt been made up with 70c+ water (killing off deadly bacteria that could have got into the powder during manufacturing) than from drinking formula made up with 70c+ water and stored in the fridge, where it naturally starts to deteriorate at a very slow rate.

But I would say that which ever pre-making method you use the risk of your baby getting seriously ill is very low. xxx