Formula preparation

tbug082810

I stumbled across this article yesterday (it's not current--from 2011) and I was wondering how many of you "properly" prepare your formula. Do you boil the water like the CDC states or do you just mix tap water with the formula and shake it up? I'm not going to lie, I didn't know you were supposed to boil it before mixing. Maybe its more common in areas with poor water quality? Anyway, what do you do?

https://www.nbcnews.com/id/45762595/ns/health-childrens_health/t/more-retailers-pull-formula-after-babys-death/

SnoopyLuv

Fuck no. Ain't nobody got time for that.

amber0529

We use infant water but we have a well & I would never use that water. I even filter it before giving it to my animals.

ksimo6

I buy baby water and mix it at room temp. Seriously? Boil?

Houseplant

When I started supplementing with formula, the pediatrician said that tap water was ok to use but not well water.  I think it really depends on the quality of your water source.

Amjoy25

We have a filtered water tap. #breakalltherules

danandkam

Tap water at home. Bottled if we are out.

tbug082810

I thought maybe I was that shitty mother who dared to use her fluoride treated city water. Glad it's the norm! Though odd that nobody tells you about the boiling...

bionicb

Amjoy25 said:

We have a filtered water tap. #breakalltherules

this

mancila60

I've heard of the boiling BUT we buy the baby water and mix it at room temp. I figure it is probably already done before bottling. We don't have time for all that plus LO doesn't care for his formula heated up or anything. (Not that I would give him boiling water in his bottle)

Mae208

Yeah, no. We use tap water. To you ladies buying 'baby water'... Why?

tbug082810

Where do you buy the baby water? Is it just distilled water?

DETrent

Amjoy25 said:

We have a filtered water tap. #breakalltherules

lawyerlindsay

I do a mix of baby water and tap. Why in the world would I boil my city water?

DETrent

Mae208 said:

Yeah, no. We use tap water. To you ladies buying 'baby water'... Why?

We don't have an additional filter and our tap water is gross.

megs1409

We use baby water by the gallon at room temperature. We normally go through the gallon within a few days, so I don't worry about it being open and un-refrigerated.

psychdoc12

I think we were overcautious. We would filter our tap water, then boil it (a large amount at a time) in a kettle and keep it stored in a carafe on the counter. Then we could use it at room temp to make a bottle quickly. At least it didn't take long, as we only needed to boil once a day.

mancila60

tbug082810 said:

Where do you buy the baby water? Is it just distilled water?

You can buy it anywhere that sells formula as far as I know. We pick it up when we grocery shop it's just $1 for 1 gallon. It is distilled water but ours you can get with it without fluoride. We used to be on well water and our city is constantly telling us to boil our water anyway so we just buy the nursery water for the extra safety. Although we have used plain bottled water before just the nursery water is cheaper anyway.

bionicb

dknight413

sharonstevens85

Ive always boiled my formula water for 5 minutes on the stove then let it cool.

bkeane619

We use pur filter tap water

acethebase

I also just mix with bottled water until I saw that video today kindly posted by sfshorter. They only say to boil the water because it will kill any bacteria growing in the formula.

tbug082810

Can you link the post with that video..or what was the title of the post? I missed it

StefMurph

I use baby water because we have well water and I don't even drink that. I used my family's city water while on town over Christmas.

ksimo6

Mae208 said:

Yeah, no. We use tap water. To you ladies buying 'baby water'... Why?

We have a well and the water is not great. We need to get a filtration system but have not gotten to it yet

tbug082810

Dur, sorry @acethebase I didn't even see that this was already brought up. 

acethebase

tbug082810 said:

Can you link the post with that video..or what was the title of the post? I missed it

If your talking to me she reposted it as nevermind but removed the video. This article is about the same thing. Scared the shit out of me.....

Kittymom6

I use nursery water without added fluoride. It's what my pedi recommends. We don't boil the water, but we do refrigerate after it's open.

reganvaughnable

We filter water at home and use it at room temp. My husband's Grandmother "couldn't believe I didn't boil bottle water." Glad to see I'm not the only one who didn't know I was "supposed" to boil bottle water first. Luckily, my son is just fine. 

sarah_norton

We just use nursery water at room temp. I never refrigerate but like pp said we go through it in a few days do I never worry about it. We're on a well and we don't even drink the water. I guess I could use the bottled water from our water cooler but nursery water is cheaper

Gatorsgirl731

StefMurph said:

I use baby water because we have well water and I don't even drink that. I used my family's city water while on town over Christmas.

This.

megs1409

acethebase said:

I also just mix with bottled water until I saw that video today kindly posted by sfshorter. They only say to boil the water because it will kill any bacteria growing in the formula.

Huh? The water is boiled before the formula powder is in it. At least I think that's how it would work. So, how does that kill any bacteria in the formula powder? This confuses me if it's true.

:-/

Heather91011

I buy nursery water or boil if I run out.

lorelaie10

I heat the water in the kettle, then add the hot water to the powder in the Dr. Brown's mixing pitcher. My understanding is that you boil the water and make it hot to kill the bacteria in the formula, not to treat the water. Haven't checked with my pedi about this, it is just my assumption. 

acethebase

megs1409 said:

acethebase said:

I also just mix with bottled water until I saw that video today kindly posted by sfshorter. They only say to boil the water because it will kill any bacteria growing in the formula.

Huh? The water is boiled before the formula powder is in it. At least I think that's how it would work. So, how does that kill any bacteria in the formula powder? This confuses me if it's true.

:-/

Powdered baby formula is not sterile and there have been cases of Salmonella and Cronobacter sakazakii infections linked to powdered infant formula. When you add boiling water to the formula it kills any of the remaining bacteria. It's really not about the water being unsterile as it is the formula.

Married2PreMed

Boiling the water is for powdered (non sterile) formula. You aren't boiling the water for the sake of clean water, but to heat the formula so it may be safely consumed. I don't FF, but if I did, I'd boil it.

shelley1002

I just use tap water at room temperature. Did with DS1 as well. Had no idea about boiling the water first.

deedee1017

acethebase said:

I also just mix with bottled water until I saw that video today kindly posted by sfshorter. They only say to boil the water because it will kill any bacteria growing in the formula.

Huh? The water is boiled before the formula powder is in it. At least I think that's how it would work. So, how does that kill any bacteria in the formula powder? This confuses me if it's true. :-/

Powdered baby formula is not sterile and there have been cases of Salmonella and Cronobacter sakazakii infections linked to powdered infant formula. When you add boiling water to the formula it kills any of the remaining bacteria. It's really not about the water being unsterile as it is the formula.

All this. When I took the breastfeeding class the LC touched upon this. She said it was important to use boiling water with powder formula. She did tell us this but she did not mention once how difficult breastfeeding is. Huh, go figure.

Mae208

Interesting. My pedi has never mentioned boiling the water. DS is 2 now and we never boiled his water either... Just kinda seems like a giant pain in the ass.

deedee1017

Mae208 said:

Interesting. My pedi has never mentioned boiling the water. DS is 2 now and we never boiled his water either... Just kinda seems like a giant pain in the ass.

Especially when your baby is screaming for a bottle. I wonder if it's safe to mix ahead of time and store in the refrigerator.

emmylou78

How long does it take for the boiled water to cool enough after it's mixed with the formula? I'd never heard this