Preparing Bottles

[LittleLegs]

Hi,

With my DS1 when he was a few months old a friend of mine gave me a quick way of preparing bottles so that you didn't have to wait for them to cool etc. I used this method and found it great.  Basically I would boil the kettle and add about 2/3rds of the required amount (can't remember exactly) in the next couple of bottles and then when I needed one I would either boil the kettle and top up to the required amount (or use a flask of fresh boiled water if I was out and about) and add the powder and the bottle was instantly the right temperature for baby to drink.

I'm just checking whether this is an "ok" method to use for my 3 week old. It gets tiresome testing a bottles temperature every few minutes with an unsettled baby in your arms!

[Martini~]

It should be fine. Remember however that you shouldn't keep bottles with cooled boiled water too long. If you close them after filling with 2/3 of water, water is sterile for next 24h from what I heard.

[Lolly]

Technically no I'm afraid! The reason for making bottles with freshly boiled water when needed is because the formula powder isn't sterile so needs water at least 70 degrees centigrade to kill any bacteria. There is a nasty bug that can be in the formula powder which will give them an upset stomach.

Some people partly make up a bottle with some hot water and the powder, cool and then top up with hot water or add cooled water to the hot bottle. The only thing you need to be careful of is to know exactly where the formula amount ends up - a 6oz bottle for example has an end volume higher  than the 6oz mark on the side of the bottle as the powder displaces the water. It's ok for a bottle to have slightly more water than needed but less makes the formula too concentrated.

That said if you are comfortable making bottles in the way you described it's up to you. I don't think I'd do it for a young baby but would for an older more robust baby. My two were on reflux formula which had to be made with cold water but were both near 6 months when they swapped to it and we had no issues.

Hope that makes sense!

Laura

[Martini~]

Ahhh wanted to help but could mislead you.

Out of curiosity, is 70C for every formula? On mine there is only information that it should be prepared from 40C water?

[Lolly]

Ahhh wanted to help but could mislead you.

Out of curiosity, is 70C for every formula? On mine there is only information that it should be prepared from 40C water?

Yours is a low lactose formula? It should be for every powdered formula as none of them are sterile but specialist formulas have different instructions. Our reflux powder had to be made with cold water or it didn't mix properly so you have to weigh up the risks for your LO!

Laura

[LittleLegs]

Thank you. I thought this was the case.  When I started this with my first son he was a few months old, my instinct did tell me perhaps not with a newborn.  Your method makes perfect sense Laura but yes a little more complex getting the top up of boiled water right...I'll have a think about that one but for now continue as I have been doing I think - thank you!

[Lynnieowl]

I'm interested in this thread because I have never boiled water for use in a bottle. I live in upstate NY in the USs and use tap water for all formula make up. Is This different elsewhere?

[Lolly]

I'm interested in this thread because I have never boiled water for use in a bottle. I live in upstate NY in the USs and use tap water for all formula make up. Is This different elsewhere?

The advice on using freshly boiled water cooled for no more than 30 mins is the same for the USA too - what do the instructions on your formula tins say?

The only time you don't need to use freshly boiled water at no less than 70 degrees C to make up formula is if you are using the liquid concentrate that is available in the US as it is sterile where powdered formula isn't. I do know there have been other mums in the US who have used tap water for formula and had no problems, if you are comfortable doing this and wish to carry on then that's up to you!

Here is the link to the WHO guidance for making up bottles http://www.who.int/foodsafety/document_centre/PIF_Bottle_en.pdf?ua=1 and  more in depth article which includes the reasoning for the guidance http://www.who.int/foodsafety/document_centre/pif_guidelines.pdf?ua=1

The UK guidance is the same, it's not advised to just use tap water (even though ours is safe too) as the water isn't hot enough from the tap to kill bacteria in the powder. It also depends on your hot water system, if you have a tank that it's stored in there is the potential for bacterial contamination. Even using bottled water isn't a great idea as some brands have higher levels of minerals which could be harmful to a baby, there are only one or two brands that it is advised to use.

HTH!

Laura

We are not advised to give babies tap water to drink until they are over 6 months, before that it should be boiled and cooled water.

[creations]

The only thing you need to be careful of is to know exactly where the formula amount ends up - a 6oz bottle for example has an end volume higher  than the 6oz mark on the side of the bottle as the powder displaces the water.

One way around this is to make up the formula with (for example) 4oz of 70 degree water then use a separate sterile bottle to measure the additional 2oz (of boiled cooled water) to ensure 6oz of water was used with the measured amount of formula.

It's not the top of the recommended guides but it's also acceptable to make bottles with the hot water and formula in advance, rapid cool and store in the fridge. You could do that with the 4oz of hot water, then at feed time at 2oz of hot water to bring the temp up.

I don't know how anyone gets a baby to wait until the milk is ready. I used ready to drink formula (which is sterile) and DS drank it at room temp or straight from the fridge.