Babies powdered milk question

emlou2009

When my son was tiny and had bottle feeds every two hours or so, I used to make him up four bottles each night before bed, working on the principle that he could in theory want a bottle every two hours through the night, but he never did really. Those bottles would take me through to 12-2pm the next day, and then when we were run out I would just make them fresh when he wanted them.

If you make them up with boiling water straight from the kettle, it kills the bacteria in the milk. Then plunge the bottles into cold water to cool quickly, as once it is cold the bacteria dont breed as easily. Then they should be ok for 24 hours, this is what our parents did when they brought us up anyway!

The reason they say not to make them in advance is because not all parents are particularly bright enough to use common sense, the milk companies have to cover their own backs as if someone follows their guidelines and a baby gets ill its their fault, so they advise to be overcautious. Just like "they" say not to heat bottles in microwaves because some parents were stupid enough not to shake the bottles to break up the hot spots and their poor babies got scalded.

MrsTinks

Personally I would recommend following the manufacturers guidelines on the box - because they are the ones who have done the research and have found that this is the safest thing to do for our babies...
Just because our parents or we used to do something doesn't mean it is actually the best or safest thing to do...
I personally boil water and put it in the fridge in a sealed bottle specifically for this (so one that has never had milk in it) - when I make a bottle up I then heat that bottle for the baby and anything she doesn't have in that feed (within 30-60 mins is thrown away. If she has it all and wants more I just make more - it's not exactly a biggie

olgadapolga

From the Food Standards Agency:

Using infant formula


If you are mixing breastfeeding and bottlefeeding, or you’re not breastfeeding, infant formula is the only alternative to breast milk for the first 12 months. Most infant formula is made from cows’ milk and is treated to make it more like breast milk. Follow-on formula isn’t suitable for babies under six months.

When you start to prepare a feed, it’s very important to clean the work surfaces and wash your hands first. You’ll also need to sterilise bottles and teats before you use them. Make sure you follow the manufacturer’s instructions carefully.

If you’re making up powdered infant formula, remember to always follow the manufacturer’s instructions. You should also do the following:

1. use fresh tap water (if you need to use bottled water, see the advice in the 'Drinks' section below)
2. boil the water in the kettle
3. then leave the water to cool, but for no more than half an hour
4. always put the boiled water in the bottle first, before the powder

Test the temperature of the formula milk on the inside of your wrist – it should be body temperature, which means it should feel warm. If it feels too hot, put the cap over the teat and hold the bottle under cold running water. If there is any made-up formula milk left after a feed, throw it away.

Ideally, you should make up formula milk freshly for each feed just before feeding. This is because using formula milk that has been stored may increase the chance of your baby becoming ill. When you are going out, you can put boiling water in a flask and make up fresh formula milk when you need it. If you need to take a made-up feed with you, make it up in the morning, cool as above, then put it in the fridge for at least one hour before putting in a cool bag with a frozen ice brick. Feeds stored in a cool bag should be used within four hours.

You should do the same if you need to take a made-up feed to a nursery or childminder – when you get there, take the feed out of the cool bag and put it straight in the fridge. Try to make sure the made-up feed is used on the same day you take it in, because it isn’t ideal to store feeds, especially for young babies. You should never store feeds for more than 24 hours.

Remember, it’s always safer to make up a fresh feed whenever possible. You could also use a ready-to-feed liquid formula.

daska

Milk powder is NOT sterile. Just because you got away with making up bottles in advance or keeping cooled boiled water in the fridge (or your mum or next door neighbour did) is not a valid reason for advising anyone to risk any baby's health.

When my niece was 4 months old she contracted salmonella poisoning. She was just beginning to show signs of being unwell when I arrived to babysit, I spent the next 6 hours taking her (and 3 other children) to the hospital.

Since then, when not breast feeding, my sister and I and our friends have made bottles fresh and if that's not possible used pre-mixed milk which is available in sterile cartons.

pramsay13

We have a small plastic tub with 3 compartments in it to carry the powder. So when travelling we carry 3 bottles with correct amount of water in them, and just add powder as required.
I know this doesn't exactly answer the OP's question, but it is a point of interest for others.
With our two babies we try to keep them awake until they have finished and then keep them awake for a while after, then put them down for a nap (feed, wake, sleep). I think falling asleep while feeding is probably okay at this point, but will lead to snacking later on etc.

daska

pramsay13 wrote: »

We have a small plastic tub with 3 compartments in it to carry the powder.

Sterile cartons of pre-mixed milk are easy to obtain and far safer.

What price peace of mind?

emlou2009

Not all babies will drink both powdered and carton milk they are very different! For example, my son suffered with reflux and couldnt keep the cartons down even with medication.

There is nothing unsafe about adding powder to water at the time the baby is about to be fed it! It is time that the bacteria in the milk needs to breed.

tiamai_d

I make up bottles of water, keep them at room temperature and add powder as needed. To save on milk I now make up some bottles with 210mls and some with 120mls. There are a few feeds now that she may only take3-4oz, and if she is still hungry I can grab another small bottle for her. It's cut milk wastage down a lot, more washing, but we have a steam steriliser so it's easy enough.

I don't like leaving milk sitting out too long and will discard it within 30mins or so, so the above method has proven perfect for us.

daska

emlou2009 wrote: »

Not all babies will drink both powdered and carton milk they are very different! For example, my son suffered with reflux and couldnt keep the cartons down even with medication.

There is nothing unsafe about adding powder to water at the time the baby is about to be fed it! It is time that the bacteria in the milk needs to breed.

Perhaps you might like to read the advice from the FSA, as posted by olgadapolga only a few posts before yours, before promoting your personal view.

olgadapolga wrote: »

From the Food Standards Agency:

Using infant formula

Remember, it’s always safer to make up a fresh feed whenever possible. You could also use a ready-to-feed liquid formula.[/I]

daska

tiamai_d wrote: »

I make up bottles of water, keep them at room temperature and add powder as needed. To save on milk I now make up some bottles with 210mls and some with 120mls. There are a few feeds now that she may only take3-4oz, and if she is still hungry I can grab another small bottle for her. It's cut milk wastage down a lot, more washing, but we have a steam steriliser so it's easy enough.

I don't like leaving milk sitting out too long and will discard it within 30mins or so, so the above method has proven perfect for us.

Yes, that's exactly what my sister did very successfully with her first daughter and carried on doing until her second child was made ill by following this procedure.