Making up bottles

[english rose]

After 6 months of breastfeeding I'm about to enter unknown territory and move my little lady over to formula.

Apart from the fact that I don't know if she'll ever take a bottle, it's the practicalities which confuse me!

Now I know what it says on the packet about making up a new feed freshly each time by boiling the kettle, letting it cool for 30 mins and then adding the formula before cooling to body temp, but I'm assuming this is a bit tricky when you're out and about for the day or want to get prepared in advance....

So, how you do yours? Do I need to be by a kettle every moment of the day? How do you prepare your feeds and when? All tips gratefully received!

Thanks ladies!!! It's a scary new world! Ha ha!

 

[Froslass]

to be honest i just boil the kettle once in the morning, fill 6 bottles with the water, and put them in the fridge.

Then when i need one, i add the formula, shake it and heat it by putting it in a jar of boiling water.

I dont steriise her bottles anymore.

MY LO will drink hers cold or warm, so when we are out i just take the bottle and a container with the right amount and make up the bottle there and give it to her.

She only really get 3-4 bottles a day now though because she's mainly on solids x

 

[Froslass]

AVENT have just brought out new bottles that are meant to make it easier to switch from breast to bottle x

 

[Titch85]

to be honest i just boil the kettle once in the morning, fill 6 bottles with the water, and put them in the fridge.

Then when i need one, i add the formula, shake it and heat it by putting it in a jar of boiling water.

MY LO will drink hers cold or warm, so when we are out i just take the bottle and a container with the right amount and make up the bottle there and give it to her.

I do this if I am going out somewhere but usually I make up 3 or 4 at the start of the day. I boil the water, pour into the bottles, add the formula, give them a shake, stand the bottles in a bowl of ice and water for 15 mins, then put them in the fridge until I need them. I think you can keep them in the fridge for 24 hours but I usually use them within 12 hours.

 

[tinytoes]

What I always did was sterilise bottles full them with hot water and when a bottle was needed I would pop one into a cup of hot water to bring up to room temp and add formula

 

[VikkiR]

I make up the bottles for the day incl adding powder (to kill any bacteria) and put them in the fridge, and warm using a bottle warmer. If I'm going out and I know she'll def need a feed within 2 hours I heat the bottle and put in an insulated bottle thingy, otherwise just make a fresh bottle and put it in the insulator as its ok for 4 hours then, if I need to be out even longer I put 2 bottles in, one refrigerated one in another insulator to keep it cold until needed x

 

[mum2b410]

Just wanted to add if u r out and about and LO won't take milk cold (like mine!) U can buy travel bottle warmers. We have a TT one which was about £7 on amazon. Saves having to b somewhere to ask for hot water or being given it in a container that's too small etc xx

 

[english rose]

Thanks ladies! It's all becoming clearer now!

Vikki - I think I'll make them up with hot water to kill the bacteria as you say.

Titch - like the iced water idea for quick cooling!

Thanks ladies - the voice of experience is just what I needed!

 

[zoe82]

I was wondering the same thing, glad I saw this thread! When you say you boil the water then put them in bottles then into the fridge, do you let the water cool first or put them straight in? Sorry if a stupid question!!

Sent from my HTC Desire S using Tapatalk 2

 

[english rose]

Hi Zoe

While I've been investigating this I found these pages by the NHS - very useful!

http://www.nhs.uk/conditions/pregnancy-and-baby/pages/making-up-infant-formula.aspx#close

http://www.nhs.uk/Conditions/pregnancy-and-baby/Pages/infant-formula-questions.aspx

 

[Loula]

I make them a couple hours before and put them in the insulated carriers...
If im out ill make up what i need and have a bottle with formula in a pot just incase xxx

 

[english rose]

Just wanted to add if u r out and about and LO won't take milk cold (like mine!) U can buy travel bottle warmers. We have a TT one which was about £7 on amazon. Saves having to b somewhere to ask for hot water or being given it in a container that's too small etc xx

Thanks for this - have been looking at these online. I'll see how we get on and see if LO prefers it warm.

 

[BellaRiven]

We sterilise the bottles then fill them with boiled water and then they go in the fridge until we need them, the water never goes over 24 hours old which is howling you can keep them.

To warm them at home we use the microwave only for about 10-20 seconds though so its not too hot for them which is the main concern with microwaving, also its just the water we heat, we shake the water before we add the powder dispersing the heat evenly, we test the water o n our wrist and then put the powder in, when were out we use the tommee tippee travel bottle warmer which has been a life saver really, it's a bit like a thermos. I did a lot of research on the microwaving and most of the tales have been disproven, as long as you are sensible there is mo reason you should not use a microwave

It just isn't practical to make a bottle up from fresh for each feed especially when said child is screaming their little lungs out as R has a want to do when he wants feeding......

 

[Humesy]

I always sterilised mine once a day and put cool boiled water in and put correct amount of milk in storage containers which say inside bottles so when I needed them - shake and they're ready! Xxx

 

[LaurenMM]

We boil the kettle, leave for 20 mins, make the feed inc formula and pop in the fridge and use within 24 hours when we go out if it's gonna be used within 2 hours I just reheat it. Otherwise I just take a sterilised bottle and a carton!! xx

 

[VikkiR]

I leave the boiled water in the kettle for 15 mins then make the milk, then let the bottles cool before refrigerating. Hth x

 

[BellaRiven]

I shoudl say that if we use premade we heat with the tommee tippee travel thermos

 

[DW1978]

We sterilise the bottles and fill with boiled water and just make up as needed (we have one of the Avent milk dispensers for when out and about).

 

[lizzie1978]

Sorry but im a bit confused. ive been using the ready made cartons as i tried the powder but couldnt cope with making a feed each time lo gets hungry and was screaming whilst also weaning.

i was told you couldnt premake bottles up. am i right then in saying i can boil the water, leave for 30mins, cool down and put in fridge and then when needed warm the bottle and add the formula?

 

[lizzie1978]

....put in bottles then fridge