UK Guidelines

[daisydaisy83]

I'm just starting to bottlefeed my 5 day old baby girl and am so confused by the guidelines. I've been looking at worldwide healthcare trust, nhs and specific guidelines for cow and gate. All seem to say something slightly different can anyone help me clear this up?

Does the boiled water used have to be cooled for exactly 30 mins or can it be hotter or cooler?

All guidelines agree that it is safest to make fresh every time but I strongly doubt this is practical for anyone. But some suggest it's ok to make up some in advance and keep them in the fridge for up to 24 hours, or at least refrigerate boiled water to make up when needed (though this would obviously be well below the temperature advised for mixing!). And some seem to say it is never safe to do this.

How can I make sure I do the best for my little one?

 

[christina1612]

With my LB I used to make up 6 feeds and store in the fridge to use over 24 hours. He was fine with this but he got a tummy bug once ( turned out to be nothing to do with his bottles) so I got paranoid and decided it would be more hygenic to just store the water.

When he wants a bottle I boil the kettle with fresh water and replace 2oz of the cold water from the bottle with 2oz of fresh boiled water and add his powder so he instantly has a warm bottle. No need to worry about cooling or reheating.

Hope this helps.

 

[kat2504]

The water should be at least 70 degrees when you add the powder. That is the most important thing. In my opinion it is better to make up with hot water and store in the fridge than to make up fresh with water that is not hot enough.

 

[preggymammy]

I just make up the bottle as soon as the kettle has boiled, but as long as the water is used within 20-30minutes of boiling it should still be hot enough.

We make up all the bottles for the day, cool them then put them in the fridge. They keep for up to 24 hours. When LO wakes for a bottle I just take a bottle out and heat it in the bottle warmer - easy!!

I'm also using Cow & Gate

 

[Lissidoll123]

I just make up the bottle as soon as the kettle has boiled, but as long as the water is used within 20-30minutes of boiling it should still be hot enough.

We make up all the bottles for the day, cool them then put them in the fridge. They keep for up to 24 hours. When LO wakes for a bottle I just take a bottle out and heat it in the bottle warmer - easy!!

I'm also using Cow & Gate

I do this too, so much easier and I am also using cow and gate! My mum and grandma did this and we turned out ok so figured it'd be fine! C

 

[Islander]

Just out of curiosity why does the water have to be hot when u add powder?I mean I do it but was wondering y it's so important

 

[Indi84]

It has to be that temp to kill bacteria in the milk, it isn't made in sterile conditions.
Saying that hipp organic uses cooler water because of the probiotics in it, so it I'd dependent on brand.

I fill a flask with the right temp water in the morning and make then fresh in the day, then pre make overnight bottles and store in the fridge till needed. Then refill flask next day etc.

 

[Simbalove]

I was so confused over this, it really started to make me go crazy as making a bottle each time was not practical but at the same time the thought of harming my baby was killing me.

We were adding powder to water that had been boiled and cooled to room temperate but having spoken to my health visitor last week we were told that it was the most dangerous way to do it.

We had a booklet from the NHS stating how to make formula - boil kettle leave for 30 mins etc but if u r out and about the 2nd best way to make bottles is to add formula to boiled water, rapid cool and place in the fridge, for a min of 1hr and then use within 24hrs.

Our health visitor said that they had received revised guidelines last week and apparently we should basically ignore the whole booklet part from the page about making bottles up when out and about. We therefore make 1 set up in the morning and then remake another set in the evening.

Hope this helps

 

[ravenmel]

Seriously just do what works best for you. They are just advice guidelines. Everyone does it different and their babies are fine. You'll work out your own routine. Some people pour the water on straight away, some don't , some people make feeds for the whole day, some people warm bottles at each feed etc the list goes on.

Until recently I didn't even know you're advised to leave the water for 20 mins after boiling it before pouring it? But I've been doing it that way 6 months and baby is fine so not gonna bother too much with it now. When I visited the states they didn't boil water or sterilize, I was like what the hell but the rules are different everywhere and like i said before everyone does it different.

 

[rory83coyotes]

I say move to the states for the next year where we don't do any of that stuff. Use water straight from tap, add powder, shake and serve. I would say the easiest (I have no first hand knowledge here) would be to add say 4 oz of hot water, add powder, then add 2 more ounces of previously boiled cooled water and then serve. I would think that this makes the bottle warm but not too hot and you wouldn't have to wait to cool it down with a screaming infant. And for out and about I would take a flask of hot water with you. I saw one from TT the other day which is rare here as we don't do that. Was kinda cute. Just take a deep breath as it will all be ok.

 

[SmileyKez]

I was boiling water, making bottles, cooling then adding powder when baby wanted feeding, then hv told me not to do this because of new guidelines! My sister had a baby 6 months ago and wasn't told this, she was making bottles the same way and her daughter is fine!

She asked 2 hv's and a midwife, and one told her they are only guidelines and to do what is best for her, the other said they are more concerned about people not sterilising bottles and babies catching bugs from milk residue left in bottles than bugs in the milk powder, which is why they say to add boiling water!

My sister has continued as she was and so have I for night feeds as its just not practical for us!

They are only guidelines and lots of other countries like the us don't advise to use boiled water!

 

[FlowerTots13]

We made bottles up for the day at first, but just didnt work for us, so we tend to do them fresh.
If we remember to fill the flask up of a morning we do that, if not we'll boil the kettle around the time she's due for a feed then rapid cool to the right temperature. I find it works just as quick.
It's whatever suits the individual though x

 

[Beccaboop]

I just make up the bottle as soon as the kettle has boiled, but as long as the water is used within 20-30minutes of boiling it should still be hot enough.

We make up all the bottles for the day, cool them then put them in the fridge. They keep for up to 24 hours. When LO wakes for a bottle I just take a bottle out and heat it in the bottle warmer - easy!!

I'm also using Cow & Gate

I do this too except i leave the water for a little while normally just 10 mins or so while the bottles are sterilising! I make up 4 at a time cos my steriliser takes 4 bottles at a time then heat them in my bottle warmer when needed.

awe're using s&a milk.

 

[Chezzz]

We make ours with fresh boiled water. Don't normally let it cool down either. Rapid cool in bowl of water and store in fridge for up to 24 hours. Works for us xxx

 

[ke29]

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

 

[skunkpixie]

Heya.

Im using Hipp Organic which needs to be added to water that is 40-50c rather that the usual 70c+ of most other UK formulas. I usually fill my bottles with 160ml boiled water. Leave on the side. Then when baby needs a feed, top up a bottle with 50ml fresh boiled water, add 7 scoops, shake, and cool a little. I was using cartons up until recently but its very expensive and DD3 started wanting more at each feed than was in a carton.

Its not the NHS recommended way. But most other developed countries including most of Europe, US, Aus and NZ all do not follow the 70c+ rule and make their formula up with cool water. As long as you follow hygene and sterilising guidelines the risk of baby getting ill is very, very low. xx

 

[minnieoxox]

I boil the kettle and let it cool, then half fill all her bottles with 2oz. Then when she wants a bottle I add 2oz of boiling water and then the powder. It works out around the same temp and the water in the bottles stays sterile for 24 hours. When out and about and at night instead of boiling the kettle I fill her tommee tippee flask with boiled water and use this instead. I also have tommee tippee powder dispensers which I use for powder when I'm out.
The guidelines are very strict and say to make every bottle up as needed, but this is completely impractical, but my HV said this was ok.