Night Time Feeds

[Rozie_1985]

I have 2 questions and would appreciate your help ladies.

1. I am just wondering, i plan on making things as easy as possible for me and lil man when his here. If i was to take upstairs pre boiled water in a bottle and a powder despenser for night time feeds would it be ok to just have the bottle of water sitting at room temp until i need to use it? Then add the powder and use a bottle warmer to heat (if i decided not to feed at room temp?)

2. Is it vital to leave the kettle to cool for 20mins, or am i able to make up his bottle as soon as the kettle has boiled, and cool in a cold bowl and then put straight into the fridge?

Any help would be much appreciated i like to be prepared and get my head around things as soon as i can. Thanks.

 

[hexyewdancer]

1. I am just wondering, i plan on making things as easy as possible for me and lil man when his here. If i was to take upstairs pre boiled water in a bottle and a powder despenser for night time feeds would it be ok to just have the bottle of water sitting at room temp until i need to use it? Then add the powder and use a bottle warmer to heat (if i decided not to feed at room temp?)

2. Is it vital to leave the kettle to cool for 20mins, or am i able to make up his bottle as soon as the kettle has boiled, and cool in a cold bowl and then put straight into the fridge?

1. I always used to do that. Roman was always good with taking a bottle at room temp in the night so you may find that your LO is aswell.

2. I always make his bottles up as soon as the kettle is boiled then i leave them on the side for around an hour to fully cool down then i put them in the fridge.

 

[jenniferannex]

yes you could if your babys happy to drink the milk at room temp, were as my LO likes it warm, so what i do is (my LO is on 5oz of milk) i boil the kettle and put 3oz of boiled water in, with this i make up about 4 or 5 bottles so there ready. then i leave them to cool, then when shes due a feed i just boil the kettle again and fill it up to 5 oz, so the cool and hot water mixes together to make the milk just right. obviously if your LO will be on less OZ you would have to change the amount of cool and hot water.
but i find it easy this way because i always have bottles ready at hand and the water is sterile. you could always take the kettle upstaris with you aswell.

but you can just give it to your LO at room temperature thats still fine.
my little lily just hates it not being warm lol.
hope this helped!

 

[Rozie_1985]

So is ok to store a pre boiled water in a bottle on the side of my bed until its needed? Then just add the milk and heat in a bottle warmer?
Or would i need to store the pre boiled bottle in a bottle carrier of some sort?

+ i still don't get the cooling issue? Surely its ok to boil the kettle add powder and cool asap rather than leaving the kettle to cool for 20mins?
Thanks x

 

[jenniferannex]

yeh u would beable to leave a cool bottle next to you, but obviosuly i wouldnt leave it for more than a day. i wouldn't boil the kettle and put the milk in then leave it for whenever your ready as powdered milk should be used within 2 hours, but the water will be fine for the day then just add the powder when your ready to use it.xx

 

[angelstardust]

Thats how I do all my bottles. I sometimes let the water cool, sometimes I don't. If adding boiling water to bottles, be very careful. If you shake them too much air pressure changes could make them explode, and it's a sore one when the lid loosens and you get your hands covered! owch!

Someone will no doubt be along soon to tell you that there is a 'bug' in milk powder because it is non sterile and thats why you need the water at 70'c (or 80'c depending on what you read). There is a small risk because the powder isn't sterile that there may potentially be bacteria, its up to you to make the decision whether this is an acceptable risk or not.

ETA, if mixing powder and boiling water, you do have to leave the water cool first, the temperature can damage the proteins in the milk and thus spoiling the nutritional value of the milk. Also the risk of splosions when you shake it. Honestly, the lid flew off one a few weeks ago and baby milk is slippy on wood flooring!

 

[jenniferannex]

ahhh so is the way i do my bottles abit risky?? theres no many precautions u have to watch out for isnt there! xxx

 

[Lisa1302]

What angelstardust is saying about the 70 degree thing is very important.

There is little point in sterilising the bottle, boiling the water in the first place ...and then adding powder to it which isn't sterile.

Yes the risk is small, but it could give your baby an upset tummy, a baby could be grumpy & upset for no apparent reason - and the parents are like 'I don't know what's wrong' - well its those occasions where the poor baby may have a upset tummy!

So I think you are right to stick with heating the bottle of milk.

 

[Mum2b_Claire]

I agree with Lisa.

 

[suzib76]

there is so much debate about bottles now - i make mine up and cool them quickly to store in the fridge, as it was ok when i had my last 2 lo's lol

but, for night time feeds i just use a carton x

 

[angelstardust]

Well for me, all this non sterile powder thing only emerged recently. With the boys we made up bottles of water and added powder as needed, used straight away and disposed within the hour. As were the guidelines then.

So I googled when Amber was started on formula and I decided that for us, the risk was minimal and so I make up bottles of water and add powder as needed.

As I said, it is for you, the parent (s) to decide.

All I can say is that I would hate to be a first time parent nowerdays, so many guidelines! And every book says different.

You do what you feel is right.

 

[Lisa1302]

All I can say is that I would hate to be a first time parent nowerdays, so many guidelines! And every book says different.

You do what you feel is right.

I agree, the guidelines change so often too...but that's because things are learnt which were not known years ago.

There are loads of things that parents did years ago which were considered okay then, which are now considered not, like the way babies sleep etc which have reduced SIDS. Or the fact babies and kids used to ride in the backs of cars with a car seat.
In things like this research is done which shows if things are changed from the way they were then things wont happen so often/be so bad if they etc

I am not trying to say you are wrong with your choice at all - but that in general things change for a reason and usually because it has been proved that the way things used to be done weren't great!

So in some ways I think it is harder to be a parent with an older child (and that can be as young as 3 cos things have changed so much) because you have in your head 'what you did' and what you are told is the best way now!

 

[Rozie_1985]

I think i get where you are coming from. Surely its ok to boil the kettle add boiling water to the bottle and then cool in a bowl of cold water, then add the powder?

Its so confusing, i figure as long as the water has been boiled thats the most important thing. You have to build up a childs immune system so all this talk about powder not being sterile is all a bit OTT for me to be honest. Thank you all for you advice its much appreciated xxx

 

[Mum2b_Claire]

I think i get where you are coming from. Surely its ok to boil the kettle add boiling water to the bottle and then cool in a bowl of cold water, then add the powder?

Its so confusing, i figure as long as the water has been boiled thats the most important thing. You have to build up a childs immune system so all this talk about powder not being sterile is all a bit OTT for me to be honest. Thank you all for you advice its much appreciated xxx

As long as you mix the powder with water that is over 70 degrees it is fine.

I don't think by risking exposing them to bacteria that can cause meningitis and salmonella is a risk worth taking in the name of 'building up a child's immune system'. However small that risk may be, it IS a risk.

I think Lisa has good points in her last post too.

 

[Kayleigh09]

I always make up bottles in advance of night feeds, since summer is having less feeds than she used to i've started making them as i need them (during the day) for night feeds i make sure the kettle has been boiled sometime during the day then make it up before i go up to bed at about 10 and then she has it at 5am at room temp. Before she was on solids i used to make up bottles for the whole day and night in the morning and store them in the fridge