First formula feed tomorrow -remind me!

[*happy*]

What are the tricks again?! I have a vague memory of DH boiling a kettle of water, putting it straight into a flask and leaving it overnight so that it could be used first thing in the morning. ...am I way off?!

[Bex09]

Are you asking about making the bottle up with the water from the flask hun? If so the recommendations on this do seem to change every few years! Currently they say that you should make the bottle up with freshly boiled water that has not cooled for more than 30 mins. The theory behind this is that formula isn't sterile and therefore needs to be made with boiling hot water to kill off any bacteria. It used to be that you could use cooled boiled water but that has changed now to just boiled. I would imagine that water from a flask left overnight would not then be hot enough to kill the bacteria that could be present if used to make up a feed.

We boil the kettle, make the feed up straight away with the boiling water and then stand it in a bowl of freezing cold water, adding ice to the bowl of water cools it really quickly. You can also run it under cold water, but I find this takes longer. Here is a link that might help hun... http://www.nhs.uk/Conditions/pregnancy-and-baby/pages/making-up-infant-formula.aspx#close

[Lolly]

We did use a flask but the water was only in the flask for the 3-4 hours between feeds not all night as the water won't be hot enough as PP explained.

That said, if you know the risks and where your comfort levels are then do what suits you. My kids were on a reflux formula that had to be made with cold water then warmed and they had no problems at all.

Laura

[*happy*]

I'm such a scaredy cat!!! I'll go with the freshly boiled option I think!!! Or else the ready-made stuff...  I still have a bit of BM in the freezer and will have more once I wean another BF, so it won't be too costly....yet! What is the handiest way of heating the ready - made bottles? It doesn't say on them. ...stand it in boiling water?

[Bex09]

Well we use ready made if out and about and A will actually take it at room temperature, so no need to heat it, which is great. You could try that first to see if DD will take it like that. If you do need to heat it then yes stand it in boiling water, a flask to take out is handy for this. Tomee Tippie do one with a lid that you can fit a bottle in which is great. You could buy a bottle warmer for at home, which does the same job really, but probably not worth it now for the amount of time you will use it.

[*happy*]

I actually have one that was loaned to me by a friend....forgot about that!!! Yes....room temp would be very handy! DD 1 wasn't fussed about temp but DD2 is much more particular about her beverages unfortunately! !!!

[Bex09]

Lol mine are the other way around! C was very fussy about temp, taste, etc, but A doesn't mind one way or the other. So I just poor it into a bottle and we are instantly good to go! So quick and easy. Hope DD takes it ok for you.

[*happy*]

I kept it very warm and she took it fine! Hoping she obliged for my mam today too!!!

[Bex09]

Great start! Will keep everything crossed for you... and your Mam! 

[*happy*]

All good!!! 3 days in a row so hoping that we won't have any issues now that it's settled in her tummy....Thanks girls.xxx

[Bex09]

Great update, so glad all went ok. Well done you and DD.

[*happy*]

Ya...was worried about her getting constipated but so far so good!

[Bex09]

If she does suffer stewed pears work wonders for A to get things moving. Hopefully all will be good though.

[*happy*]

Have them on standby!!!