Pre-preparing formula feeds

[Deanna86]

Hiya,

I have a 5 day old baby and am current combining expressed breast milk and formula. We have just bought a tin of SMA powdered feed thinking that we would be able to make up a batch of bottles for example a 12-24hour period and keep re-fridgerated and heat up as necessary. However, after reading the intrstructions SMA advise that bottles should be made up one-by-one as needed. This seems crazy to me as you have to wait 30 mins for kettle water to cool before you can even make the formula... surely by this point baby is going to be reeeeeeally hungry? I was just wondering if this is how you guys make feeds, or if you pre-prepare. Many friends say that they would always pre-prepare feeds and it's only in recent years that te advice is NOT to do this.

Any info would be much appreciated on how any of you 'make up bottles'

Many thanks,

Deanna x

 

[minnie83]

I make all my bottles up in advance, and put them in the fridge until needed. They will be ok for 24 hours, but I mine are all used within 12 hours, and then I make up another batch. Lots of us do it that way, I think it's just too much faffing about when you've got a hungry, screaming baby and you have to wait for the kettle to cool!

 

[Babybug]

People generally do what you suggested or what I do, which is add the boiled water then keep it in the bottles and add the formula as needed. I think some people do make them as advised on the tin but not many.

 

[polo_princess]

I made mine all up in advance too, id make 24 hours worth and just keep them in the fridge

 

[mummy0704]

i make mine up as well i make 6 at once and put them in the fridge x x x

 

[blahblahblah]

I make mine up and store in the fridge too. I make up a batch in the morning and a batch in the evening, so they aren't stored for much more than 12 hours.

 

[katekatekate]

I partially formula feed and we keep an airtight container of steralised boiled water in the fridge and then heat it up in a bowl of boiling hot water. So the opposite way around really. Much quicker. I was confused by the one-by-one rule also. Seems absurd!

 

[lauzie84]

I do the same as a lot of the other girls on here. I make the bottles up twice a day and store them in the fridge. I used to make them up one by one, but LO was screaming her head off for food, so decided to make them up and store them in the fridge. My mum did that with me and it never did me any harm, so I thought Id give it a go.

 

[21Rach]

Omg why am i doing 1 by 1 feeds... won't be anymore!! he does like milk warm tho so after being in fridge i wouldnt be allowed to warm it would i?

 

[blahblahblah]

Omg why am i doing 1 by 1 feeds... won't be anymore!! he does like milk warm tho so after being in fridge i wouldnt be allowed to warm it would i?

Of course you can! Just put it in a jug of boiling water, or if you're feeling brave, try the microwave

 

[MrsSyd]

I half fill the bottles with boling water, then leave them to cool and put them in the fridge. Then as I need one I top it up with the other half of fresh boiled water then add the formula. I've found this way is quicker than warming up a cooled pre made milk bottle, but at least its made fresh, and the powder's going into warm water to sterilise it. Hope this makes sense

 

[Deanna86]

Thank u everyone soooooo much......

 

[lauzie84]

Omg why am i doing 1 by 1 feeds... won't be anymore!! he does like milk warm tho so after being in fridge i wouldnt be allowed to warm it would i?

I stick mine in the microwave for 30 seconds after being in the fridge. Doesn't seem to do LO any harm xx

 

[OmarsMum]

I just follow the tin instruction. I prepare fresh feeds. I keep pre-boiled water in a flask, & prepare fresh feeds when he needs one. Omar doesnt take the same quantity every feed, so pre-preparing feeds is a waste for us.

 

[special_kala]

If your going to make the bottles up with formula in the fridge dont put them in the fridge door as it isnt kept as cold constantly

We make up the bottles with water and then add formula as and when and put it in microwave for 30 secons

 

[vegasbaby]

Instead of making up individual bottles I make up a days worth at a time and pour them into bottles as needed. I also do this because I believe that if I pre-mix then the formula will have fewer bubbles and LO will have less gas. Charlotte will take anywhere from 4-8oz at a time so I don't like to make up a lot of 6oz bottles because I hate to throw any out. At first I warmed in hot water, but now I use the microwave. Also make sure you turn the bottle upside down a few times to reduce hot spots. I don't shake because again I want to make sure I reduce bubbles. This may not be what is recommended, but it works for us.

 

[bobbybrewster]

My lil man is 6 weeks and I've been making up one feed at a time since 1 week. He's been feeding pretty much every 2 hours through the night until a few days ago and it has been exhausting I've been too worried to make up feeds in advance until now and have been pre-empting nightime feeds to cut down on the hungry crying by making the feeds 30mins or so before I think he's going to wake up which has meant I have hardly been sleeping at all. So many people seem to to be making up feeds in advance on here with no problem at all that i finally feel convinced enough to give it a go - thanks girls, i think i was on my way to a breakdown making up so many feeds through the night, most often with a screaming baby in my arms!!!

 

[Pato]

Well I do 1 feed at a time ........ what I do do is put the boiled water in a flask and allow it to cool. When LO is ready for a feed, I can easily make it up with boiled water that is already cooled to the right temp...

 

[Pink_Tinks]

yeah i make the days worth in the morning and just leave them on the side to cool - Harriet seems to prefer milk at room temp which is easier for me so...!

just a point on the microwave... be careful as microwaves have hot spots which can make some of the water hotter than the rest of it! Not trying to tell anyone they are wrong or anything just wouldnt want anyones LO's getting burnt

 

[emmad339]

Have made up feeds in advance since day one and it's never done them any harm. Make up enough feeds for the following day every evening and put them in the fridge. Couldn't cope with having to make them one at a time and leave the water to cool. My two are not the most patient of babies so I do it like this to keep things as stress free as possible for me and them x