Cooled boiled water for formula

Hootie19

How long does water "last" before it can't be used?

When my kids were babies, we used to make up the bottles in the morning, for the whole day, and store them in the fridge.

But on the tin of forumla that my son's girlfriend is using, it says to use water that has been cooled for no more than 35 minutes.

Does this mean that water that has been cooling for longer than that cannot be used? That bottles have to be made up fresh every time? How do people manage when they go out and about, if that's the case?

Gillyx

Apparently the new advice is make the feeds up every time you need one, which is a bit ridiculous.

What I think most people do is add the cooled boiled water to the bottles, and add the milk fresh when the feed is due. I think it's more the milk mixed with the water that causes the problems, not the water itself, if that makes sense?

go_cat

4 years ago for my ds I would boil them and keep them on the worktop for up to 24hrs no longer and added formula when needed.
Don't know if that's still current but I never had any problems

Tyler_Du

We use a flask to keep water hot for our 10 week year, as long as the water is above 70 degrees it's hot enough to sterilise the formula power. Our flask keeps the water hot enough for over 4 hours.

Sammy_Girl

I boil the water and fill up the bottles the night before and leave them at room temperature. Then just add the scoops of powder when needed and warm the bottle. When out and about, I either use a milk powder dispenser or use the ready made cartons.

daska

It's not ridiculous, babies are especially vulnerable to the effects of food poisoning. And, with respect to everyone who didn't have any problems, is that really good enough? We'd be quick enough to criticise a grandparent who advocated that you put your baby to sleep on it's front on the basis that none of her kids had a problem... There is a risk, why take it?

Apricot

Water needs to be 70 degrees to kill bugs in formula so best way would be to make entire bottles, cool as quickly as possible, put right at the back of fridge and then warm when needed. Keeping cooled water is no good as it's not at a high enough temperature to kill the nasties.

go_cat

I have to say I never gave my ds milk warmed it was always room temperature no issues at all

*Dee*

For my DD i put in half the amount of water and place it in the fridge then when she wants her bottle i boil the kettle and top up to the required and add the powder, no cooling down or warming up. It works for us.

Ravenlady_2

Its contradictory advice really as like the PP said the water needs to be fairly hot to kill any bacteria in the powder as once the tin is open its un-sterile.

daska

My niece contracted salmonella poisoning at 3 months - she was just showing the first signs when I arrived to babysit, I spent most of that evening in hospital with her and she's had problems ever since (she's now 8). There is nothing in this world that could induce me to make up a bottle as the people here are suggesting if I had the option to make it safely.