Formula- urgent advice please!

emsillick

My little boy is almost eight weeks old and up until a week ago we had been mix-feeding him and using the 'ready to feed' cow & gate bottles.

I am now exclusively formula feeding him and have decided it is much more cost-effective to buy the powder and make up the feeds myself. I have been out to buy the power today but the instructions on the box have totally freaked me out!

In short, how 'how to prepare' guide states that water must be boiled and then cooled for no more than 30 minutes, the power added and the feeds served immediately.

It also advices that feeds cannot be stored for more than two hours before having to be thrown away.

How on earth does anybody follow these instructions?!

My baby has no regular feeding schedule as yet and we feed him on demand. Sometimes he'll go an hour and a half and sometimes four hours between feeds! How can you ever know how long you have, say overnight, before baby wakes up and is hungry? It's not like you get a warning so you have time to cool the milk!

Advice would be much appreciated and any of your own tips.

Lcasto

Oh wow.. I've never ever done that and this is my second formula fed baby! Lol We honestly just use tap water that we keep in a jug so it's room temperature.. Add water to the bottle, add the powder to the bottle and shake it up. When I need to warm up a premade bottle, I have a bottle warmer, but we didn't have one with our first son. We just ran hot water in the sink and set the bottle under it until semi warm (more like lukewarm.. Never phased my babies!).

Britanee&Baby

I've nannied many formula fed babies and I've never heard of such bizarre instructions. I always (per parent suggestion) use warm tap water. We live in an area with drinkable water straight from the tap. Maybe ask your LOs pediatrician?

It sounds like the formula company says that so they won't get sued if a child gets sick from sub standard water.

My nephew drinks formula that's been refrigerated for hours or overnight. He's just fine.

Good luck momma.

Lcasto

Ya.. Formula is fine if refrigerated within an hour of being mixed and will last in the refrigerator for 24 hours.

klcarr19

I have been using room temp nursery water and I got two formula dispensers that holds three servings. I pre pour all the water into bottles on the counter and when it's feeding time I dump the powder, shake, and feed! She drinks it room temp so it's been a breeze! Just be sure not to pack the scoops of powder or it will clump!

EricandKaren

The formula should be good in the fridge for 24 hours once mixed.
It's only after the baby has started eating from a bottle that you need to throw it away after 1 hour (the enzymes in their saliva start to break down the formula)
I agree with using nursery water if financially able

myjessesgirl

You could also just boil tap water and keep it available at room temperature so it is ready to use. If you even want to go that far. Cheaper than buying special bottled water, but maybe slightly safer than straight tap water depending on where you live (as long as you use a clean container and change the water regularly).

mzmilly79

I buy baby water she goes thru a gallon every two days and powdered milk is easy and convenient. For every two oz add a scoop of milk, after the feeding the milk is only good for an hour then clean the bottle. I do not pre mix and store in fridge just a waist of time once your used to it you will think how silly this was....

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erinrwilson

Baby breeza best thing ever!

sarah0989

That's crazy! I've never heard such odd instructions and this is my second formula fed baby. I always buy the jugs of purified water and make his bottles for the day and store them in the fridge. It says on the formula I have that it's good for 24 hours in the fridge. And when he's ready to eat I just put the bottle in the bottle warmer. What formula are you using?

nicolerae90

@klcarr19 careful with nursery water. It has added flouride babies dont need. Try gerber pure

emsillick

Thanks everyone! Our water here in my part of the UK isn't really clean enough so we boil and cool and sterilise. We've gotten into the habit of making up the next 4 feeds and keeping them in the fridge which seems to be working well for us