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

[ellaandcallum]

Since last night I have been thinking about this and I have gone back to the way I used to do it with my other two, make them up, store at the back of the fridge. I would never put them in the door. As I came to this conclusion myself that although the water is preboiled and the bottle sterilised, the formula isnt so the water isnt hot enough to kill any bacteria present, hence going back to the old ways that never did my other two any harm. I was being told different info about this and getting confused and as other people did it thought it was right, even my HV said it was but the more I thought about this today, its not, defeats the object. The American way doesnt seem right to me but I guess they think that about us Brits! Merry Xmas, its now Xmas Eve how exciting!

 

[Belgiansunset]

I do option 5 during the day when I'm downstairs. At night I do option 4 and have a bottle warmer in the bedroom. But the bottle warmer takes 10 mins which is too long to leave her crying as it would wake up OH, so I breast feed her for 10 mins until the bottle's ready. I don't produce enough milk to exclusively breast feed but I can manage 10 mins which keeps her quiet till her bottle's ready.

 

[sunshine114]

Option 2 for us, I make up 3 in the morning for the daytime feeds and 2 in the evening for the late evening and breakfast feeds. If you read the department of health guidelines ot does say if it is not possible to make bottles fresh then they are ok in the back of the fridge for up to 24 hours. Personally I only keep them for about 12.

 

[Chatterbox84]

Thanks for everyones replies, really interesting to read!! Option 5 has been working great for us now, to the point where I'll probably do it exclusively. The poor thing is having yet another growth spurt so is screaming hungry what feels like all the time when all he wants is a top up of 40-60ml!!

Keep 'em coming...

 

[vaniilla]

we do option 2 and at night before bed we warm up 2 bottles and keep them by the bedside for the night feeds, the bottles cool down but they will never get colder than room temperature, lo is 2 months and is perfectly healthy

 

[SophiasMummy]

im naughty and take a bottle out the fridge before i go to bed and take it up with me so i dont have to go down stairs in the middle of the nite or wait for it to heat up as LO takes it at room temp anyway. i know your not meant to but ive been doing it since a couple days after i brought her home and not had any problems yet

 

[stardust599]

I think our way is the simplest -

Premake bottles in a batch before bed for the night feeds + morning feed
Cool quickly and pop in fridge
After LOs last feed take two bottles for overnight out fridge and store in bedroom in cool bags
When LO starts to murmur grab a bottle, pop it in the warmer (in bedroom)
Change LO
Bottle is ready so feed LO
Wind and back to sleep
Repeat for night feed no2
In morning get bottle from fridge and afterwards collect up all bottles and sterilise ready to make the daytime batch which are just kept in the fridge or in a cool bag if going out

Although we now used SMA Staydown which has to be made with cold water so I make up the bottles with boiled water, cool and pop in fridge, take to bed in cool bags and add formula (from pre measured dispensers) when needed and then pop in bottle warmer. I'm not so keen on using cold water as it won't kill any bacteria lurking in the powder xxx

 

[MissMandieMitz]

I buy gallons of nursery water from the store and just make them as needed. My LO has always taken his bottles at room temp, so I've never had to heat them.

 

[xSophieBx]

For daytime feeds I make them up an hour or so b4 her feed is due and let it cool down, as found this was the easiest way for me as she likes warm milk and Its just perfect by time she needs it. She sleeps through now but when I had to night feeds I got a tommee tipee travel flask, filled that up with boiling water b4 bed and then I took a seperate sterilsed bottle full up with boiled water too that cooled to room temp and then made it up the way u have as option 5 so would try that x

 

[Pixelle]

What I do is:

Boil kettle, cool boiled water, put in sterile bottle, leave in fridge.
When LO wakes, boil kettle.
Put half boiled water in bottle and half cooled water from fridge.
Add formula.
Usually it's the right temperature for him.

My HV said it's a good way to do it as it's relatively quick and safe.
But I am thinking of premaking bottles from now on. Lots of people do it with no problems and even my HV said that it's safe enough if done correctly (e.g bottle in back of fridge etc).

 

[dreamwarrior]

I boil water, pour into container and leave container in bottle warmer. Then when needed, take that warm water and put it into the bottle, add formula.

 

[Jessa]

I'm breastfeeding and formula feeding my triplets. We go through one small can of formula per day, even with the breastfeeding. We mix up the formula in a huge jug with a hand mixer (best $25 I ever spent since it's impossible to do it well with a spoon!). We keep it in the fridge and warm it up when we need it.

 

[okciv]

I always thought the water had to be HOT as formula isn't sterile?
I came on to ask basically do people store made up formula?

 

[rainbows_x]

I do number 5, but without the flask.
We add 4oz of water and cool down put in fridge then when we need a bottle we boil kettle with fresh water, add to the bottle so it is just a bit too hot, add forumla then cool down under running water.

 

[Trying4ababy]

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!!


--

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

--

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!

Just a tip do not heat up ready made bottles in the microwave. My pediatrician says that removes a lot of the nutritional value