Formula Feeders - a ?

kellelle01

In my other post I mentioned having to switch DS to Nutramigen on Monday.  He was EBF up until that point. He seems to be doing great with taking the bottles.  I have a few random questions though since this is new to me:

1.  Are you warming up the bottles at all?

2.  When you take bottles with you to go out places are they premixed and in your diaper bag?  If you warm up their bottle, how do you warm it up out in public?

3.  How are you guys getting your coupons for formula?  Did you go their website and sign up to get some?  Or are they store coupons from buying some earlier?

4.  Is it normal for his stool to be slightly formed now?  Before it was watery and mucousy, so this formed poop is new to me lol. 

TIA! 

Shazzie116

We recently started L on formula (although I am still pumping 3x a day).

1. If we're making them fresh, they're lukewarm from the tap. If it's from the fridge, no, I just take it out and let it sit for a few minutes before giving it to her. Unless it's the middle of the night, I do warm that bottle so she goes back to sleep easily. She will take any temperature I give her. 

2. Yes, premixed if it will be consumed soon. Otherwise I just pre-fill the bottle with water and add the formula when she's ready to eat. Those bottles are all room temp. 

3. We got some coupons in the samples we got from the pediatrician. I need to find some more places to get them. 

4. There's definitely a consistency change in formula poops. L still gets some breastmilk, so they aren't really hard, but they're a different color and smell horrible. 

I hope that helps! GL!

INmommy871278

1. I heat his bottles at home but not while out.

2. I put water in the bottles then take formula to mix with it when needed. Bottles are only good for 1.5 hours after being mixed unless refridgerated.
For heating up while your out you can ask for hit water from any restaurant or heat it under the hot water in the sink.

3. I went to the website and signed up for the checks/coupons.

4. The poop is normal. Also, your lo may not have as many bm's as normal with formula. DS only has one every 23 days.

In addition to this, since you were previously ebf I would recommend heating the bottles since he is used to having it warm coming from you. I generally heat 6oz of water for 20sec in the microwave then add the formula.

MarisaKathleen

LO is a temperature snob.  The bottles have to be warm.

When we go out in public, I put the formula in the bottle and fill it with water while we're out.  Everywhere we go has a bathroom with hot water. :-)

We buy Target Up & Up formula and get coupons from the website.  When we were on Similac, I signed up for their website and they sent them.

Yes to the poops.  They'll be different on formula.

redneckmomma25

1. I don't want them up
2. I do not premix because formula is only good for an hour so I just pre fill the bottles and add formula when needed
3. Go to the manufacturers website an sign up
4. Poop is different. G is on pear juice because her poops are solid and 23 days apart. But it causes her to dry during bottles. So we are trying to get her to daily or every other day. It shouldn't be too thick.

Megcheer2

1. We make her bottles fresh with lukewarm tap water, like PP.  Once she starts daycare, we have to bring prepared bottles, so we'll ask that they heat them up for her because they'll be refrigerated until she's ready for them.

2. I do not premix bottles when we go out because, like PP said, they're only good for a certain amount of time once they're mixed. I will fill the bottle up with warmer water than usual, which allows it to cool off some while sitting in the diaper bag, and then mix it with the formula when she's ready to eat. The Munchkin formula dispenser is great for that.

3. Sign up at Similac or Enfamil's websites. We use store brand formula though and it works just fine. 

4. Yes that is normal. 

LegallyBlonde217

PPs answered your other questions the same way I would, but FYI - If you're using the Nutramigen powder with the probiotics in it, it's not supposed to be warmed at all.  Heat reduces the effectiveness of the probiotic.  And both of my babies have thicker stools on Nutramigen.

kellelle01

smurray217:

PPs answered your other questions the same way I would, but FYI - If you're using the Nutramigen powder with the probiotics in it, it's not supposed to be warmed at all.  Heat reduces the effectiveness of the probiotic.  And both of my babies have thicker stools on Nutramigen.

That was another question of mine.  I was going to talk to the pedi about that today.  His bottles are refridgerated while he's at daycare so I know they'll have to be warmed up a little first.   

JaZavitz

My little one is very close in age to yours, hope this helps!

My little one uses powder formula. He eats it at room temperature, we do not warm it up.

WHen we go somewhere i fill the bottle with water (he is eating 5 oz) so i fill the water to 5oz and then i bought a formula dispenser and when he needs to eat i put the formula into the bottle with the water and shake.... there you go! no heating required!

as for his stool... yes it is pretty formed now... very soft though... like soft serve icecream lol

icedcoffeeluv

1.  Are you warming up the bottles at all? Not warm. I make bottles with water I have at room temp. If they are coming from the fridge then I stick them in hot water to take the chill off but they are not warm. 

2.  When you take bottles with you to go out places are they premixed and in your diaper bag?  If you warm up their bottle, how do you warm it up out in public? I do not premix because they only stay good for 2 hours. I bring a bottle of water and their bottles and also formula premeasured out in the little dispenser. This is actually mys system at home too with the only difference being that I profile the bottles at home. I set up everything in the morning for the day and then restock as I need. It makes it much easier to make a bottle when they are hungry. 

3.  How are you guys getting your coupons for formula?  Did you go their website and sign up to get some?  Or are they store coupons from buying some earlier? I get some in the mail from the companies which I signed up for. I also got some from swapping on here for brands I don't use. I check the paper but have only found coupons on my brand (Enfamil) once. If I do find them in the paper though I ask everyone I know that gets them if I can have theirs! I also buy at BJs which helps lower the price significantly!

4.  Is it normal for his stool to be slightly formed now?  Before it was watery and mucousy, so this formed poop is new to me lol. That seems normal to me! Ours goes back and forth between being dark green and thick and yellow and thin.