Need help - making up bottles

[JWandBump]

I used to make up about 3 bottles for my DD when she was a baby but I've been told to only make up one as I need it. For me this isn't very realistic especially in the middle of the night.

So far I've been using cartons but I need to use powder now as its costing to much, so can I still make up 2-3 a time and store them in the fridge ready for later?? Thanks

 

[MiniKiwi]

I never pre made any as the tin said not to! But to make them so they were ready to drink, I'd boil the kettle, mix the powder and half or a bit less boiling water and shake, then measure and add cooled boiled water to make up the rest. I think this way is ok and pretty convenient

 

[Sunshine12]

I never premade them but what i did do was make up bottles with half the amount of water i needed (no formula) and put them in the fridge then when it was time to feed her Id boil the kettle and bring it up to the required amount then add formula. My HV told me to ignore the whole thing about it having to be above a certain temperature for bacteria in the formula as if you add powder first then top it up the ratio of powder to water isnt as it should be which was not good for their tummies and nor was having the formula sitting for any length of time even if in the fridge. The way i did it meant the bottle was at the exactly right temperature for her drinking. x

 

[horseybird]

Hello I just sterilised the bottles alltogether, then filled with boiled water from kettle.

I just add the powder and heat up as needed, much more practical to me, and just as safe. The bottles are sterilised and the water in it was boiled x

 

[xLaura]

When I was on normal formula I pre made and popped in fridge and had no problem. Now we're on diff formal which has be made differently anyway so can't do it anymore.

 

[GracieGoo]

I pre make bottles, cannot imagine not doing to be honest. I followed the WHO guidelines (you can find them online). I think they give out this message not to premake as people would leave bottles of milk on the side, let them col down slowly etc. I think if you rapid cool, store in the coldest part of the fridge you are good to go. The nhs have to do a blank response to cover all areas of confusion. Ultimately it is what works for you.

 

[gemxgem]

I bought one of these yesterday

https://www.toysrus.co.uk/Babies-R-...erfect-Prep-Machine(0105442)?searchPosition=1

So far yet to try it but a couple of ladies on here recommended it to me. Basically a bottle in 2 mins at the right temp, kills bacteria, filters water etc.

 

[xxxemmaxxx]

I've been involved in a conversation about this in "Formula Feeding" as I have been making up the days feeds the night before and adding powder when I need it. Always using them within 24 hours too.
Now I'm hearing that you must make them up one by one.. well obviously that's what it says on the box but everyone I speak to does it other ways.. one friend mixes the powder in the 6 bottles for the day and keeps them in the fridge (the same way my mum did when I was a baby) and the others do the cool water way..

I'm now not sure what to do - I rang the HV this morning and she just emailed me the way that it is meant to be done on paper.. I wish they could give you proper advice!

 

[Sunshine12]

I've been involved in a conversation about this in "Formula Feeding" as I have been making up the days feeds the night before and adding powder when I need it. Always using them within 24 hours too.
Now I'm hearing that you must make them up one by one.. well obviously that's what it says on the box but everyone I speak to does it other ways.. one friend mixes the powder in the 6 bottles for the day and keeps them in the fridge (the same way my mum did when I was a baby) and the others do the cool water way..

I'm now not sure what to do - I rang the HV this morning and she just emailed me the way that it is meant to be done on paper.. I wish they could give you proper advice!

My HV said to me that the person(s) that suggested doing it one by one clearly dont have kids!

 

[annanouska]

You "should" make up one by one. Most hv will only tell you this as obv they have to.

Personally I made up the night before for that night/ day and rapid cool the bottles in cold water then in fridge. I would suggest the over cold mixing as it does kill any bugs in powder, I do get bugs may grow in fridge but to me this was best of a bad bunch.

People can get quite heated on the topic but ultimately it is up to you xxx

 

[MindUtopia]

You can pre-make them and use them within 24 hours as long as they're cooled quickly and stored properly in the fridge. This is definitely safer than adding powdered formula to cooled water (it's the formula powder that need to be sterilised, not just the water). Honestly, it doesn't take much longer to make a bottle fresh and cool it to feed than it does to warm a refrigerated bottle though. I've done both and they both take about 5 minutes or so. As long as you pay attention to feeding cues, it's easy to do before your baby gets fussy (as soon as my daughter starts looking hungry, I make the bottle and then it cools while I change her and then she's ready to eat when we're done). But yes, pre-made bottles are fine and definitely better than not making bottles with hot water even though neither is the 'ideal'.

 

[TroubleExpect]

We bought the tommee tippee bottle making machine and the hassle & time that has saved us has been great. Before we had it I would make 3 bottles up in the morning and another 3 in the afternoon using the quick cooling and putting in fridge

 

[pink80]

From the food standards agency

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

When it is not practical to make up feeds just before feeding:

It is best to make up infant formula fresh for each feed but, there are times when this may not be practical and feeds need to be prepared in advance. For example, when taking an infant to a nursery or to the child minder or when leaving the house for a prolonged period of time.

Ready to use liquid feeds are sterile and are the safest option. However, they are a more expensive option and therefore may not suit all parents.

Preparing powdered feeds for later use

It is the length of time for which the reconstituted formula is stored that increases the risk of bacterial growth. Reducing the storage time will therefore reduce the risk. For example, when taking an infant to the nursery it is best to make up the feed(s) on the same morning before leaving home rather than on the night before.
The steps below outline the safest way to prepare and store feed for later use:
• Prepare feeds in separate bottles, not in one large container (e.g. a jug)
• Follows steps 1 to 9 of the section above ‘Preparing a feed using powdered infant formula’
• Store the feed in the fridge at below 5o C. Prepared bottles are best kept in the back of the fridge and not in the door.
• The temperature of the fridge should be checked regularly. A fridge that is opened frequently may need to be set at a lower temperature to ensure that it does not rise above 5 oC during times of frequent access. The thermostat in older fridges without temperature settings may need to be adjusted to ensure that the temperature is below 5o C.
• The risk of infection to a baby will be lower if the feed is only stored for a short time. Feeds should never be stored for longer than 24 hours and this length of time is no longer considered ideal especially for young babies.
Alternatively, you may:
• Put boiling water in a sealed vacuum flask and use this to make up fresh formula milk when needed.
• Care should be taken to avoid scalding when making up the feed

Re-warming stored feeds

• Only remove stored feed from the fridge just before it is needed.
• Re-warm using a bottle warmer, or by placing in a container of warm water.
• Microwaves should never be used for re-warming a feed.
• Never leave a feed warming for more than 15 minutes.
• Shake the bottle to ensure the feed has heated evenly.

 

[SillyMoo1983]

I used to make 3 bottles at a time and put them in the fridge. Then I would "SHOCK HORROR!!!" heat one up in the microwave as needed. Not recommended but never caused any problems. You do what works for your LO x

 

[cocosianelle]

We've got the perfect prep machine and its the one thing I wouldn't be without. I intended to BF from birth but ended up on formula. If never even looked at making bottles up being a FTM this machine has been great for us.

Like a lot of ladies say its whatever works for you as so much different advice out there which can be daunting.

 

[felix555]

I also have a perfect prep machine and before that was using ready made. I wouldn't even know how to boil and cool and store and whatever otherwise.

 

[Soph n Chris]

I pre-made five at a time as this is what lo had in a 24 hue period. We never had any issues. Also warming in a microwave is fine so long as you stir/shake bottle thoroughly to avoid hotspots.

 

[Indi84]

Next time I'll get the perfect prep machine, easy!

I do what a lot of other ladies do, boiled hot water, add powder (it's the powder that needs to be sterilised, adding it to cold water doesn't make it safe) then measure out cold boiled water, tip it in and it's perfect temp and safe. Just need two flasks and takes no time at all.

 

[Sparrow85]

I've made mine up the night before since LO was days old and never had a problem. I just cool them rapidly in a basin of cold water and then stick in the back of the fridge. I just pop them in the bottle warmer when he's ready for a feed. I've also used the microwave.

The worst way to do it is to add the powder to cooled boiled water. I can never understand why people do this at all. It's crazy. It's the powder that needs to be sterilised, not the water.

 

[MumToEva]

Totally recommend the tommee tippee perfect prep machine! I got it for £65 ish from babies r us, and I love it. But with my daughter I kept a jug of cooled, boiled water in the fridge - meant I just boiled the kettle, put a small amount of boiled water in to dissolve the powder, then topped up with the cold water to the right amount.