Formula Mommies

sclement7975 · July 2011

Quick question.... I just switched LO to formula from bfing due to going back to work and not being able to pump, and I am wondering how you ladies do the formula at night. I have been using the powder compartment bowls and mixing it quickly, then heating it up. My mom mentioned that I could mix it ahead of time and stick it in the fridge for the night. Wouldn't that take longer to heat though? What do you do?

greyt00 · July 2011

I make it fresh every time, but we rarely feed in the middle of the night anymore. I don't think it takes *that* much longer to heat up if refrigerated, especially if you use glass. We nuke water in a mug and put the bottle inside to warm it up. I'd nukethe water for 1.5-2 minutes if the bottle is cold. It should take only a minute to warm up the bottle.

liladelphia215 · July 2011

At night I keep a 7 oz bottle of water and a lidded bottle of 2 1/2 scoops of the formula powder (the amount for 7oz of water) on my night stand (I use the bottles and lids that came with my breast pump for the powder). If I need to make a bottle real early, I don't have to go downstairs, I just throw the premeasured powder into the water. I don't even need to put a light on, although recently Lilly sleeps until 6:30 before needing to be fed, so it is light out anyway.

Note that the powder needs to be in a lidded container. If you keep it uncovered moisture gets in and it hardens. I also put it in a container with a smaller neck than the bottle she drinks from. It makes less of a mess . I guess a funnel would do the same thing.

ETA: My LO will take formula room temperature or warmed, so I don't have to worry about heating.

vflipo · July 2011

We do fresh, except for daycare. We have to make the bottles ahead of time for them. DD doesn't need hers warmed, though. We have a bottle of room temp water we use, and that's usually good enough. Although, if she has a cold one left over from DCP, we'll just feed her that as soon as we get home and she has no issue.

greyt00 · July 2011

Doh, I forgot, I did that, too -- used to measure the scoops of formula dry into a lidded bottle, when we were doing bottles in the middle of the night more often. I already forgot that (my memory $ucks!)

AliKay+ · July 2011

I supplement with a little formula, and the Pedi nurse said it makes baby less gassy if you pre-make and let sit in the fridge for at least an hour, but not longer than 24 hrs. The mixing fresh adds alot of air bubbles....

Lilleybug · July 2011

I use a Dr. Browns pitcher and make it ahead of time. A pitcher lasts me 24 hours. DS does not care if it is warm/cold/room temp. We have a mini fridge in uor room so I just pour it in the bottle and feed him.

meheron80 · July 2011

I have a picky one... she won't drink a cold bottle nor a bottle heated. She wants the water fresh, warm from the tap... won't even take bottled water the little monster (lol).

Due to this we always make our bottle fresh throughout the night though she only eats 1 time. I used to take a few bottles to the bathroom close to our bedroom along with the formula when she ate 2-3 times. Now I just walk my butt to the kitchen and make a bottle in there.

Bridgetkate28 · July 2011

I usually make 3 bottles at a time and put them in the fridge. As long as you use them within 24 hours they are good to go. That way I can wake up put it in the warmer and by the time I'm done changing LO's diaper it's ready for him to eat.

Lucky_Dragonfly · July 2011

I used to just run the hot water until it was warm enough and mixed it that way when DS woke up. Usually by the time I finished going to the bathroom it was warm enough and I did use the formula sorter.

yes the colder it is the longer it takes to heat.

Wufroggy79 · July 2011

I've done both. We used to pre make it and then heat it in a bottle warmer. Now, I pre measure the powder and store it in those formula containers. I fill with warm water as I need them. When we are out and about, I just bring a non refridgerated water bottle. Claire hates cold bottles.

cgr8979 · July 2011

I've done most of what pp has said. But, I usually just run warm tap water and use that. If I have a pre-made one in the fridge, I just put it in the microwave for about 30 sec and that doest the trick too.

Lys1011 · July 2011

I make a 4 oz bottle ahead of time and leave it in the fridge. 4oz refrigerated milk takes 5 minutes to heat in my bottle warmer. Anytime DD wakes in the middle of the night, I put the bottle in the bottle warmer, change her diaper, and by the time I'm done the bottle is ready.

liladelphia215 · July 2011

kdodge423:
Why wouldn't you just use warm water to start with so you don't have to warm it? Most taps have a hot and cold option.

That's what we did. For pre-measuring the powder we use the Medela freezer bottles (the NICU handed them out like candy and I took a bunch when we left because I was still pumping). They hold enough to premeasure powder for 6 oz. Requires less shaking, leading to fewer bubbles and clumps.

I always thought of water from the water heater as dirty. I never used warm water from the tap because it comes out of the hot water heater. I'm definitely not a germ-a-phobe, but I never wanted her to ingest the water from there. But that was just me.

ETA: My first wording was a little more dramatic:)

mocknine · July 2011

We make our formula a day ahead. Every night I make a container for the next day. Then, at each feeding I pour however much I need (always 6oz, but the middle of the night bottle is 3oz.. if she needs it) into the bottle and heat that. It takes probably a total of 5 minutes... 2.5-3minutes of water in the microwave, and about 2minutes of the bottle in the water to heat. Works for us!

twirlyjack73 · July 2011

FYI warm water has metals in it that cold does not & that is why they say you shouldn't drink warm tap water in general. When DS drank formula at nite, we used to splurge on the pre-made (ready to feed) bottles from SImilac. Premade bottles come in sizes 2oz thru 8 oz depending the manufacturer. To us it was money well spent, but it does cost more.

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