WOW there really seem to be different ways to mix formula...so what's yours??

[Chatterbox84]

I've been looking for suggestions as to how I can prepare Aaron's night time feeds, and boy have I found a few different ideas!! here they are...please feel free to add more suggestions!!


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1. Make fresh each time

2. Prepare completely in advance, store in fridge, heat up when required

3. Store water in the bottles in the fridge, add formula when required, heat up

4. Take room temperature bottles with water up to bed, add formula when required, heat up

5. Add half of the water required to a bottle (cooled down to room temp), add formula, add remaining boiled water when required from flask

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Option 1 is obviously the suggested completely safe and sterile way, but difficult when LO is screaming the house down

Option 2 seems to be the most popular solution...?? *

Option 4 is what we were doing with the SMA Staydown but he's since been prescribed Gaviscon for his reflux so we switched to Aptamil First, as they can't be used together

Option 5 is what I'm thinking of trying tonight *

* So here's the question - and I'm beyond worrying about how selfish this sounds...I wondered if there is any way anyone has been doing that doesn't involve trapsing to the icey cold kitchen in the wee small hours of the night, waking up the dog who now just wants to play, with LO screaming his head and freezing his ass off, either with you or leaving him upstairs with DH??

Please forgive my honesty!! I'm so ruddy confused with all the different ways I'm reading!

 

[bathbabe]

personally i do no.2 but i dont have to deal with night feeds. Sorry im no help x

 

[happigail]

i kinda do 4. i usually leave kitty upstairs if my man is working and carry her down if he's not, get the bottle (kept at room temp, just the water) add the formula quick from the dispenser pot and microwave for 30 seconds and run back up... all in its no more than 60 seconds but i dont have a dog and my boiler is breaking down so i need to kick start the pilot light so we dont all freeze!

i love the sound of 5 a LOT tho.

 

[Ang1873]

i do exactly what happigail does.

bottles are kept at room temp with water in them and i heat them and add formula when required.

although i'm lucky enough not to deal with night feeds anymore either.

 

[RiverSong]

Personally we do number 4, i'm too scared to feed him pre made bottles incase they go bad.xxx

 

[Seity]

I turn on the tap. Add desired amount of cold water. Nuke it for about 30 seconds in the microwave (to desired temp). Add formula.

 

[SaraAbi]

We do number 2, then zap in the microwave for 40 seconds (she'll only drink it quite warm) we're lucky though she starts stirring quite a bit before she wakes for her feed so i get it ready and give it to her while she's still in her cot not quite awake as she doesn't needing burping anymore.

 

[beeehere]

i do number 5, but my room and LO room are downstairs by the kitchen so its easy peasy. while he mumers(before he crys)
(i have already put exact amount in container ready to tip into a bottle before i go to bed)
i fill up the other half of bottle with hot flask water and add formula, bottles r ready at the right temp..... no fuss, no crying.
(wished i did this from the very beginning)
i find this takes less than a minute then ready to feed one hungry little man x x x x

 

[bathbabe]

Personally we do number 4, i'm too scared to feed him pre made bottles incase they go bad.xxx

If you read up about it premaking is safer than the way you said you do it, premade bottles have at least sterilized the powder

 

[Heather9603]

I would go with option 6.....buying a hot plate and keeping a pot and water upstairs

I told DH that I would really like to put a small fridge upstairs whenever LO comes

 

[ke29]

The formula has to come into contact with water above 70 degrees to kill bacteria so the only safe ways are 1, 2 or 5. I do number 2.

 

[Mrs Mayhem]

I premake and store them in the fridge, but for night we have ready made cartons, they are served at room temp (pr can be warmed a few seconds in microwave if baby won't take it at room temp), so just snip the top off, pop into a sterilised bottle and feed! We take everything up at night with us, LO is in the moses basket at the side of the bed, so we don't even have to get out of bed, hehe, lazy or what??
We went for this option because LO was getting too stressed out waiting for us to warm a bottle at night and then was taking forever to go back to sleep. This works for us perfectly!

 

[Kte]

I used to pre make them (boiled water cooled for 30 mins plus required formula and mix) and store them in the fridge once they had cooled down on a the side for a bit too. I make a days batch in the morning and a nights batch up in the evening and then they were just ready as and when. I didn't used to heat up afterwards either, LO had either from fridge or room temp.

 

[iwanta8a8y]

when doing No.5 do you need to put the powder into the boiling water and mix up before putting in the cooled boiled water? As otherwise it wont be hot enough to kill any bacteria will it?

I am planning on trying way this tonight so want to get it right, thanks girlies xx

PS at the moment i just use cartons, but they work out expensive, so would prefer to find a way to use the powder (but it needs to be quick in the night as my LO gets very impatient and will have the whole house up in minutes if the bottle takes a while...)

 

[starrybean]

I am currently using the cartons as there is no way my LO would wait for me to make up a bottle and then let it cool which is the way it's supposed to be done.. apparently! Years ago we used to make them all up fresh and keep them in the fridge but now they say not to do that. But looking on here, people still do it that way and to me it would seem that is the best way of killing the bacteria as it's added to hot water

My MW said the other good way was using a flask full of pre boiled water and then make up the feed using that. But like someone said, does that kill the bacteria if the powder is added to room temp milk and then heated using a bottle warmer?!

 

[lindsayryan]

i do no.4....bottle at room temp, bottle warmer next to my bed, heat the water then add the formula find it mixes better that way, im even lazier i have tommee tipee plastic formula so get the exact amount of formula needed in there before i go to bed so when its dark only have to take the lid off and tip it in bottle! also a lot easier than scooping it in when holding a screaming

baby!holders,https://www.tommeetippee.co.uk/product/closer_to_nature_milk_powder_dispensers_pack_of_6_1/

Do this for all of my feeds prepare them once a day i find it so easy to have everything ready x

 

[ellaandcallum]

I used to just heat up room temp water in the microwave and add the formula, she sleeps through now so no night feeds for me. I do the same in the day though. I used to premake with my two eldest but its easier just leave the bottles on the side. I dont see the point in hotplates etc. Sorry did one lady say she adds cold water from the tap? I dont want to be mean but that is so wrong.

 

[ellaandcallum]

my health visitor said room temp water is fine to use and warm up and then add the formula. The bacteria occurs when bottles are premade and the fridge is being constantly opened and shut so the temp in the fridge is not consistent.

 

[bathbabe]

the lady that said she uses tap water lives in America - from what iv gathered it quite common there. Adding powder to room temp water doesnt sterilize the milk. The reason they say not to premake and store im the fridge is that people started putting the bottles in the door when they need to be at the back in the coldest place which then isnt affected much by people opening and closing the fridge.

 

[Worrisome]

I have the tt flask and its been a god send. When I'm going to bed, I take up tin of Formula, flask (which has freshly boiled water in) and bottles. When Millie wakes usually about 5am, I add the water from the flask to bottles (keeps hot for 6 hours) and formula then use the plastic container it comes with and add cold water to cool bottle, doesn't take long at all, I usually just cuddle her whilst I'm waiting.

I also use the flask on outings and during the day so the kettle is always free for brews