Formula Mommas - Can you share tips?

MrsCaddyshack · July 2012

I'm hoping to get advice from FF mommas. I was EBF until 6 months, and have been slowly tipping the balance towards full on FF since then. Even though I've been making formula bottles for two months now, it's still such a pain.

I'm hoping to get some tips on a couple of things:

I have to pre-mix the bottles for day care. Anyone have a good way to make formula "in quantity"?

I seem to always end up with CHUNKS, how do you get it mixed in?

Any help?

StefB28 · July 2012

DS2 was FF and BF from day one-- I don't have this (I mix one bottle at a time) but I've heard people RAVE about it.

MrsCaddyshack · July 2012

Also, best way to warm a bottle? I usually fill a mug with hot water and put the bottle in... takes forever. But I know you can't microwave.

I know, these are rookie questions. But it's like a whole new world.

StefB28 · July 2012

MrsCaddyshack:
Also, best way to warm a bottle? I usually fill a mug with hot water and put the bottle in... takes forever. But I know you can't microwave.
I know, these are rookie questions. But it's like a whole new world.

One of the reasons I make one bottle at a time is that I can get the water at the right temp directly from the faucet.

But when heating cold bottles, I would put a mug of water in the microwave and get the water REALLY hot, then submerge the bottle in it. Only takes a minute or two to warm the cold milk if the water is close to boiling. (Be sure to test the temp before giving it to baby!)

MrsCaddyshack · July 2012

Ooh! That pitcher looks amazing!

sccalla · July 2012

I thought bottle warmers were ridiculous until my now toddler would only drink his donor milk just shy of scalding. Now that LO2 is formula fed I use warm water to make bottles, but when I have to take a bottle from the fridge I use the bottle warmer. I use hot water in a cup at restaurants.

CCM82909 · July 2012

StefB28:
DS2 was FF and BF from day one-- I don't have this (I mix one bottle at a time) but I've heard people RAVE about it.

The Dr. Brown's formula pitcher is amazing for us. It's easier to make whatever he will drink throughout the night (12-15 oz or more) at one time and pour each amount into his bottle during the feeding than to have to measure and whatnot when I am half asleep. DH loves the fact that it is already mixed as well, since formula sometimes ends up not mixing all the way and can leave "chunks".

mama&baby · July 2012

I love our Dr.Brown formula pitcher! Makes life sooo much easier. One thing I will say is to not get carried away-- I always make a little less than what I would need in one 24 hour period and many times it ends up being just the right amount. This way you aren't wasting formula.

As far as heating, I agree with PP about microwaving water. It seems to stay warm much longer than water from the faucet, and therefore your bottle will sit in actual warm water to heat instead of ending up being in cold water. Everyone talked us out of getting a bottle warmer because it was "so unnecessary" but it really would have been a useful thing to have

MrsCaddyshack · July 2012

Loving these tips, ladies!

smilelari · July 2012

Formula was always way easy for DS. We would run the tap the right temperature into the bottle, scoop the formula on top and then shake. At daycare we sent a tub of formula and clean bottles and they mixed as needed

MrsCaddyshack · July 2012

smilelari:
Formula was always way easy for DS. We would run the tap the right temperature into the bottle, scoop the formula on top and then shake. At daycare we sent a tub of formula and clean bottles and they mixed as needed

I had been using nursery water, and then my filtered water from the fridge. I can't believe it hasn't occurred to me to mix it with warm water... mom brain?

Also, your daycare sounds like it rocks! Mine wants everything done in advance, they don't mix bottles there.

scoobyd266 · July 2012

We use filtered water from our fridge to make bottles so we usually do one of two things - we fill the bottles with water in advance this way they are room temp. ( now that it's so hot here they actually get a little warm), or we use the bottle warmer.

beedawn · July 2012

You have to put the formula into the water, not water into the formula. We then shake the bottle for a good 30 seconds so it's mixed well. We give DS room temperature bottles and he's fine with it.

MamasBatty · July 2012

op, hope you don't mind I ask a question regarding some of these answers...for the moms using the formula pitcher- I thought pre-mixed formula had to be used within 1-2 hours?? Am I wrong? I am always wasting milk after the 1 hour mark because I thought it was no good...thx!

sweetpealee · July 2012

StefB28:
DS2 was FF and BF from day one-- I don't have this (I mix one bottle at a time) but I've heard people RAVE about it.

i have that pitcher!- it's pretty cool. maybe mix enough for a day and divide daycare portion into a nalgene bottle? we have a bottle warmer but i prefer our hot water dispenser and a mug...

sweetpealee · July 2012

MamasBatty:
op, hope you don't mind I ask a question regarding some of these answers...for the moms using the formula pitcher- I thought pre-mixed formula had to be used within 1-2 hours?? Am I wrong? I am always wasting milk after the 1 hour mark because I thought it was no good...thx!

nope, you mix up the amount of formula you need for the day and leave in the fridge for 24 hours.

JamiesWife2010 · July 2012

I prepare formula in this(https://www.rubbermaid.com/Category/Pages/ProductDetail.aspx?CatName=Beverage&SubcatId=BeverageStorage&Prod_ID=RP091195) I use filtered water from the fridge. I found that it's easier to let the water sit out until it gets room temp & then add the formula & it is easier to shake up. I use Target brand formula now & it has a lot more clumps than Enfamil. I just shake it & shake it & shake it some more.

After all of the good reviews about the Dr Brown pitcher, I am ordering one soon!

JKTTC1 · July 2012

sweetpealee:
MamasBatty:
op, hope you don't mind I ask a question regarding some of these answers...for the moms using the formula pitcher- I thought pre-mixed formula had to be used within 1-2 hours?? Am I wrong? I am always wasting milk after the 1 hour mark because I thought it was no good...thx!
nope, you mix up the amount of formula you need for the day and leave in the fridge for 24 hours.

Once formula is mixed you can store it in the fridge for 24 hours. This is for UNUSED formula. If you use the formula, it can stay out for up to 1 hour for the feeding then it must be discarded.

We just started supplementing. I use either the nursery water or filtered water from the frig. If I am running errands, I fill the water up in the bottles (4 oz). I have a formula container with the dividers for his diaper bag. I fill in the correct amounts for the desired # of bottles, and mix when its time for a feeding. This way, I have 1 hour from the feeding if LO doesn't take all of it right away.

My sister uses ready to feed formula. It's a pain in the butt. If she is shopping, the bottles have to stay cool until a feeding. If she has a new bottle (of formula) unopened, she can pour it into the bottle when its his feeding time but the left over in the formula bottle has to be in the frig immediately. Its so much easier to have the bottles fixed with the correct amount of water, mix the powder when its time, and then worry about doing something with the left overs.

mama&baby · July 2012

I just thought I would add a tip about the Dr. Brown Pitcher..... how well it mixes formula depends on the formula you use. We used to use Similac and it always mixed well, but it bubbled ALOT. Like, almost half the pitcher would be bubbles. Now that we use the Target Brand, it barely does it at all.

This also helps for babies with fussy tummies. Since the formula sits in the fridge, the bubbles aren't an issue so I find my baby doesn't have as many digestion issues as before, when we only gave bottles that we shook. Normally, I make 22 oz at a time, but it ends up making enough for 24 oz.

alyss0nl · July 2012

MamasBatty:
op, hope you don't mind I ask a question regarding some of these answers...for the moms using the formula pitcher- I thought pre-mixed formula had to be used within 1-2 hours?? Am I wrong? I am always wasting milk after the 1 hour mark because I thought it was no good...thx!

you can put unused formula in the fridge. I usually use it within 12 hours of making it. That's my own preference, though.

Ahh! I had no idea this pitcher existed! I need one now.

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