Question about powdered formula, liquid formula, breast milk and cows milk [:

[71d]

I realise this is the formula forum, at least I think that's the one I've clicked!

I'm interested in knowing and understanding the different milks. What I'm looking to find out about each one is:

Powdered formula:
*How you heat it and how long for?
*How long you can keep it out for?

Liquid formula:
*How you heat it and how long for?
*How long you can keep it out for?

Cows milk:
*How you heat it and how long for?
*How long you can keep it out for?

Breast milk:
*How you heat it and how long for?
*How long you can keep it out for?

I've been reading about it and I'm getting a little confused! Liquid formula is sterile, however powder may not be. So I've read that the powder has to go in to boiling water/water at a minimum of 70, to kill the bacteria, and then obviously cool down before you give it to a child. That kind of heat kills the bacteria. So, I was questioning, when you heat up sterile liquid formula, (in a jug of boiling water, as you're not supposed to use a microwave) do you still have to heat that milk up to 70 and let it cool again? Or because it's sterile, is it fine just to heat for a minute or two, to take the chill off, and at the checked appropriate heat for the child to be given the milk?

Any information would be great [: especially for the breast milk and cows milk.

 

[ke29]

Powdered formula I only tend to use at home as it can only be kept for 2 hours from when its made or 4 hours if its in a cool bag but I dont like the idea or it being that old when out and about. You can take out a bottle of pre boiled water and have the powder in a seperate container and just mix when LO needs it but this doesnt guarantee the water will be hot enough to kill any existing bacteria.

Liquid formula is what I use when out and about as unless its opened it has a long date on it and as my LO drinks 7-8oz then she will have a full carton. When she has this I give it at room temperature. It doesnt need heating to 70 degrees to kill bacteria as theres none in it (until its opened)

Breast milk is good at room temperature for 6 hours or can be kept in a cool bag for 24 hours. When I do this I heat in boiled water for long enough to take the edge off the cold.

Cows milk I would keep in a cool bag for 2-3 hours max and heat either in a microwave or in boiling water.

 

[71d]

Thanks ke29.

Though, it still brings me back to the question, with eg cows milk, should you not heat to 70/80, and cool back down, to kill the bacteria?

Also, a child who likes warm, liquid formula, and you can buy large cartons, when opened needs to be stored in a fridge, would you again heat to 70/80? Or would you then again just heat in boiled water to a drinkable temperature?

 

[mommy0629]

Thanks ke29.

Though, it still brings me back to the question, with eg cows milk, should you not heat to 70/80, and cool back down, to kill the bacteria?

Also, a child who likes warm, liquid formula, and you can buy large cartons, when opened needs to be stored in a fridge, would you again heat to 70/80? Or would you then again just heat in boiled water to a drinkable temperature?

You only need to heat the liquid formula to drinking temperature.

cow's milk - doesn't even matter because they don't drink it until age 1 and by then there's no need to heat their milk, they can drink it cold right from the fridge. You don't need to worry about bacteria since it's pasturized.

In the US we don't even have a recommendation to make powdered formula with hot water as long as you have a healthy baby. You don't need to be worrying about killing bacteria in everything, especially once lo gets up to age one, his/her immune system will be mature enough by then to handle it.

 

[ke29]

Cows milk is pasteurised so no the process has already been done and no you dont need to heat ready made formula to 70-80 degrees as its sterile!!