Making formula

[Savannah11]

Hi girls
This may be a stupid question but.
Can you make your powdered formula with cold water and then heat it? Or does it have to be made with hot water?
The reason I ask is because we make powdered formula in the day time (always with hot water) and then we use cartons for night feed but its alot easier to heat up a bottle rather than cool it down.
X

 

[Charlotte-j]

yeah, as long as its been boiled first xx

 

[OmarsMum]

Hi hun, formula is not sterile. You need to use hot water at 70 oC to kill the germs in the powder.(not boiling, as boiling water kills the vitamins & nutients in the formula). The best way to prepare formula is boiling the water, leave it to settle for few mins then prepare feeds. xx

 

[Savannah11]

yeah, as long as its been boiled first xx

When you say boiled do you mean you'd have to put the hot water into the bottle and then let it cool? Wouldn't that take longer? X

 

[RileysMummy]

Myself and a lot of my friends, sterilise the bottles whilst boiling the kettle (using new water from the tap) fill the bottles with the water, then add the powder as feeds are needed. Ive never known another way, people may say it isnt correct but theres nothing wrong with Millicent and all my friends babies.
xxx

 

[Charlotte-j]

yeah, as long as its been boiled first xx

When you say boiled do you mean you'd have to put the hot water into the bottle and then let it cool? Wouldn't that take longer? X

Sorry, crying baby and couldn't reply properly. I mean as long as it has been boiled previously (a few hrs before won't hurt etc)
Or it may be worth making upo then storing in the fridge before hand. I think you can keep them in the fridge about 12hrs max then just warm and use as normal xx

 

[kawaiigirl]

You have to boil the kettle and then leave it for 30 minutes to cool down before you make up the bottles. You are not really supposed to but I make up all my bottles in advance and store them in the fridge. You just need to use them within 24 hours. I've done this with both my Los and never had any problems. When I was feeding at night time I would just take it out of the fridge and warm it up. X

 

[bigbetty]

You have to boil the kettle and then leave it for 30 minutes to cool down before you make up the bottles. You are not really supposed to but I make up all my bottles in advance and store them in the fridge. You just need to use them within 24 hours. I've done this with both my Los and never had any problems. When I was feeding at night time I would just take it out of the fridge and warm it up. X

This is how I make them too, that way you don't have to make LO wait while you prepare a feed. We use sma and it says on the tin that if you want or need to prepare in advance to check with a medical professional - I checked with both my midwife and HV and they said it was fine to prepare in advance and store in the fridge.

It's so easy too - gets it all done in one go without having to faff around every time LO is hungry.

As others have said the water needs to be no less than 70 degrees in order to kill the bacteria as formula isn't sterile, but it shouldn't be boiling as it will destroy all of the nutrients.

 

[natty1985]

You have to boil the kettle and then leave it for 30 minutes to cool down before you make up the bottles. You are not really supposed to but I make up all my bottles in advance and store them in the fridge. You just need to use them within 24 hours. I've done this with both my Los and never had any problems. When I was feeding at night time I would just take it out of the fridge and warm it up. X

This is how I make them too, that way you don't have to make LO wait while you prepare a feed. We use sma and it says on the tin that if you want or need to prepare in advance to check with a medical professional - I checked with both my midwife and HV and they said it was fine to prepare in advance and store in the fridge.

It's so easy too - gets it all done in one go without having to faff around every time LO is hungry.

As others have said the water needs to be no less than 70 degrees in order to kill the bacteria as formula isn't sterile, but it shouldn't be boiling as it will destroy all of the nutrients.

i also make feeds up in advance, i make 6 bottles in one go put them in the fridge and use within 24 hours. My hv said this is fine and that the rule of making bottles up as you go came in because some mums would use them up to 48 hours after and some would warm a bottle and keep using the same bottle to feed LO until it was gone even if it took 6 hours !! just to ensure its not wasted!!! as long as you make them up properly i.e boil the kettle with fresh water and wait for 30 mins to cool down, then use them with 24 hours max you should be fine x i did this with my first and he is 4 now and never been poorly , touch wood lol x

ive also been told the boiled water HAS to be warm ie 30 mins after boiling xxxx

 

[naderz]

Myself and a lot of my friends, sterilise the bottles whilst boiling the kettle (using new water from the tap) fill the bottles with the water, then add the powder as feeds are needed. Ive never known another way, people may say it isnt correct but theres nothing wrong with Millicent and all my friends babies.
xxx

I use this method as well. i used to boil the kettle for every feed and my lo got to impatient waiting.

 

[bigbetty]

I probably sound like a broken record as I've said the same thing in a couple of similar threads.

We boil the kettle to sterilise the water and kill bugs and bacteria. Then we sterilise the bottles to do the same thing. What is the point if you then add the powder to water that isn't hot enough to kill the bugs and bacteria in it because formula powder isn't sterile????

I know hundreds of women do it that way without problems but it only takes LO to get poorly and lower their immune system and it leaves them vulnerable to stomach bugs and sickness.

Please don't think I'm criticising anyone, we all do things the way we think is best and it's up to each mum to decide the way they want to do things. My decision is to follow the guidelines set out by the World Health Organisation.

 

[debs180]

i pre-make also......i boil the kettle using fresh water, leave it to cool for about 20-30 mins (whilst im waiting for it 2 cool i clean and sterilize the bottles, time they are done its around 20-25 mins) then i pour in water and then add the powder, shake then i rapid cool by leaving them in cold water in a bowl for roughly 10 mins then pop in the fridge...then heat 1 up when needed. I have used this with all 3 of my girls and the oldest is 13 and all has been well so far.

 

[bigbetty]

i pre-make also......i boil the kettle using fresh water, leave it to cool for about 20-30 mins (whilst im waiting for it 2 cool i clean and sterilize the bottles, time they are done its around 20-25 mins) then i pour in water and the powder, shake then i rapid cool by leaving them in cold water in a bowl for roughly 10 mins then pop in the fridge...then heat 1 up when needed. I have used this with all 3 of my girls and the oldest is 13 and all has been well so far.

That's how I do mine too

 

[ke29]

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

 

[bigbetty]

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

Yeah them's the ones I'm talking about lol

 

[andella95]

And...for those of us in the US, who don't routinely sterilize bottles, most all mommy's I know have just used regular tap water, not boiled to make bottles with formula. I know that the formula isn't sterile, but I've yet to hear about one baby getting sick from it, including my own. They're going to get germs from all the crap they put in their mouths, anyway, and they have to build up their immunity some time.

I know that sounds crazy to everyone else out there, but that's how we do it around here, lol.

 

[Leanne27]

My Health visitor advised me today to pour boiling water in to setrilised bottles and keep at room temp until ready to feed and then add the formula when needed and feed at room temp. She said that the forumla will not grow bacteria as long as the feed is given right away.

She advised me that the storing of mixed formula in the fridge method causes more bacteria as it only starts to grow when the mix is added to the water.

I'm confused about which method to use?

 

[babybaillie]

If ur pushed for time boil the kettle and pop in the bottle and then sit in a jug of cold water, wioth tap running it will soon cool down.

 

[naderz]

My Health visitor advised me today to pour boiling water in to setrilised bottles and keep at room temp until ready to feed and then add the formula when needed and feed at room temp. She said that the forumla will not grow bacteria as long as the feed is given right away.

She advised me that the storing of mixed formula in the fridge method causes more bacteria as it only starts to grow when the mix is added to the water.

I'm confused about which method to use?

I wouldnt pre make it that case

 

[bigbetty]

My Health visitor advised me today to pour boiling water in to setrilised bottles and keep at room temp until ready to feed and then add the formula when needed and feed at room temp. She said that the forumla will not grow bacteria as long as the feed is given right away.

She advised me that the storing of mixed formula in the fridge method causes more bacteria as it only starts to grow when the mix is added to the water.

I'm confused about which method to use?

If you click the link that ke29 has posted it takes you to the guidelines set out by the World Health Organisation - they say that formula powder should be added to water that is no less than 70 degrees, even if it is to be used straight away. And it also says that if you want to pre-make, to make it up as if you are using it straight away then rapid cool and store in the fridge.