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confused about formula milk
14 Answers
I hope this doesnt sound too daft.
I use SMA powdered formula milk. It says obviously you add the powder to boiled water and then cool it before your baby drinks it.
Ive bought some tommee tippee powder dispensers to take out and about and it says to fill a bottle with boiled water, let it cool and then you can put the powder in the dispenser and basically tip it in the water when you need to feed.
How will this sterilise the powder? as i would only be adding it to cool boiled water not hot boiled water. Ive read things on other websites where it says about taking bottles of boiled water let it cool then adding the powder when you need it. The formula powders arent sterile though which is why you are supposed to use BOILING water to kill any bacteria.
Am i being totally thick, im confused as to how the powder will become sterile just putting it in COOLED boiled water i dont understand.
I use SMA powdered formula milk. It says obviously you add the powder to boiled water and then cool it before your baby drinks it.
Ive bought some tommee tippee powder dispensers to take out and about and it says to fill a bottle with boiled water, let it cool and then you can put the powder in the dispenser and basically tip it in the water when you need to feed.
How will this sterilise the powder? as i would only be adding it to cool boiled water not hot boiled water. Ive read things on other websites where it says about taking bottles of boiled water let it cool then adding the powder when you need it. The formula powders arent sterile though which is why you are supposed to use BOILING water to kill any bacteria.
Am i being totally thick, im confused as to how the powder will become sterile just putting it in COOLED boiled water i dont understand.
Answers
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The powder IS sterile. The only things you need to sterilise are the water (by boiling it) and the container you are going to put it in. I have always put boiled water into my babies' bottles, let it cool then put the bottles into the fridge. I then took one out and added the milk powder when I needed it, heating it up at the last minute.
I never liked using sterilising solution to clean the bottles; it brought my fingers out in painful blisters so I didn't like to imagine what it might do to the baby's inside! If you do use sterilising solution, I was suggest you then rinse out the bottle with boiled water. (Just put some water in, shake it around and empty it out.)
You can put the powder in before you store the bottles in the fridge, which is of course convenient for the night feeds.
We all have different ways of doing things but don't worry. Just reread my first two sentences and you'll be ok! It's scary being a new mum, isn't it! But the babies generally seem to survive!
I never liked using sterilising solution to clean the bottles; it brought my fingers out in painful blisters so I didn't like to imagine what it might do to the baby's inside! If you do use sterilising solution, I was suggest you then rinse out the bottle with boiled water. (Just put some water in, shake it around and empty it out.)
You can put the powder in before you store the bottles in the fridge, which is of course convenient for the night feeds.
We all have different ways of doing things but don't worry. Just reread my first two sentences and you'll be ok! It's scary being a new mum, isn't it! But the babies generally seem to survive!
Well putting it in boiled water won't sterilise it unless you keep the water boiling whilst the powder is in it. I don't know any one who has done that and our babies have all survived. Why don't you ring the health visitor if you need reassurance? She won't think you are being silly; all mums have panics.
http://www.babycentre.co.uk/baby/formula/basic s/
This site suggests cooling the boiled water before adding the milk.
This site suggests cooling the boiled water before adding the milk.
who's trisha?
On the sma tin it says the powder must be added to boiling water or left to cool to no less than 70 degrees and this is what it says on the mothercare website:
"Feeds should be made up using water which has been boiled and left to cool for no more than half an hour (the water should be hotter than 70�C when the formula is made up). This is because powdered infant formula milk is not sterile and there is a small risk of contamination from micro-organisms if made up formula is kept"
Also Boiling water will kill almost anything which is why you can you sterilise bottles in boiling water for 5 mins and it becomes sterile and i thought this was why powdered milk had to be added to boiling water, so that any bacteria was killed.
Thanks for the posts though, im not worrying about it, it is just confusing all these things you read. I also read about not making bottles up in advance but i have to and luckily my baby is fine. Thankyou.
On the sma tin it says the powder must be added to boiling water or left to cool to no less than 70 degrees and this is what it says on the mothercare website:
"Feeds should be made up using water which has been boiled and left to cool for no more than half an hour (the water should be hotter than 70�C when the formula is made up). This is because powdered infant formula milk is not sterile and there is a small risk of contamination from micro-organisms if made up formula is kept"
Also Boiling water will kill almost anything which is why you can you sterilise bottles in boiling water for 5 mins and it becomes sterile and i thought this was why powdered milk had to be added to boiling water, so that any bacteria was killed.
Thanks for the posts though, im not worrying about it, it is just confusing all these things you read. I also read about not making bottles up in advance but i have to and luckily my baby is fine. Thankyou.
I sterilise all the bottles fill with boiled water then leave in the fridge, then all I have to do is add the powder and heat up the feed, or if I'm going out I fill the bottle and cool it a little, put in a thermal bag then add the powder when needed.
There is lots of conflicting advice out there, mainly because the guidelines keep changing, but also because some brands or types of formula need to made differently like SMA staydown which has to be made with cold water!!
If you are concerned about all of this you can buy cartons of ready made SMA, which are sterile and can be served (in a sterile bottle) at room temp or heated if little one prefers!
There is lots of conflicting advice out there, mainly because the guidelines keep changing, but also because some brands or types of formula need to made differently like SMA staydown which has to be made with cold water!!
If you are concerned about all of this you can buy cartons of ready made SMA, which are sterile and can be served (in a sterile bottle) at room temp or heated if little one prefers!
Ive tried all the methods. Made bottles with cooler water, made them with boiling water then allowed to cool and have never had a problem with either of my children. But you are right, once powder is open it is no longer sterile.
When igo out and need to take feds with me i have bought a flask. I put water just off boil into it and it stays hot. I then have powder in a dispenser in 7oz measures and make the bottle up when i need it, asking for a jug of cold water to cool it wherever i am.
When igo out and need to take feds with me i have bought a flask. I put water just off boil into it and it stays hot. I then have powder in a dispenser in 7oz measures and make the bottle up when i need it, asking for a jug of cold water to cool it wherever i am.
i have just had my antenatal classes and the midwives said they now recommend that you make up one feed at a time and only leave the boiled water to cool for half hour at most before using, they said not to add powder to boiling water. it is sterile if the bottle is sterile and the water has been boiled. they also said not to put the water in fridge and not to heat milk in microwave.
the NCT website have some good advice about making up bottles safely.
the NCT website have some good advice about making up bottles safely.
When I had my little girl six months ago I was told the same advice as Aims, i.e. to make one bottle at a time as and when you need it, but realistically i couldn't live like that. A screaming hungry baby doesn't understand that you have to wait for the kettle to boil, then another 15-30mins for water to coll sufficiently, then to add the milk and shake it up, then to be able to cool it to the right termperature.
I would make up 3 bottles at a time and either leave in the fridge and warm when required, or, most often, leave them on the side and give them to baby at room temperature.
I would make up 3 bottles at a time and either leave in the fridge and warm when required, or, most often, leave them on the side and give them to baby at room temperature.
Oh what a confusion being a mother these days!! It's a mine-field of instructions and guidelines! My child minder wanted my sons bottles prepared before he wnet round, for the whole day. And like you Pink, I found this conflicted with the instructions on the formula packs.
Now what I do is prepare the bottles with water, boiled within 30 mins, and it cools to room temperature, then my fab child minder adds the powder when he's ready for a feed. I think the main problem with making bottles in advance is that if you actually add the powder early the milk acts as a breeding ground for bacteria. However, if you put freshly boiled water into a sterile container, there should be no bacteria to breed until you add the powder.
Hope I haven't rambled too much!
ER
Now what I do is prepare the bottles with water, boiled within 30 mins, and it cools to room temperature, then my fab child minder adds the powder when he's ready for a feed. I think the main problem with making bottles in advance is that if you actually add the powder early the milk acts as a breeding ground for bacteria. However, if you put freshly boiled water into a sterile container, there should be no bacteria to breed until you add the powder.
Hope I haven't rambled too much!
ER
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