Formula feeding

Invest in a prep machine! Makes yourself so much easier x

You can pre make bottles with the fridge method - it’s on the NHS guidance! I don’t let the water cool down for 30 mins as it’s not realistic when feeding on demand and with a screaming baby! I usually let it cool for a couple of mins. I use the nuby rapid cool and use it with the hot water only so pour it from the kettle into the bottle then use the lid to measure how much I need for the hot shot then put the rest in the nuby and put the formula into the hot shot in the bottle xx

We had a prep machine and it was amazing. We also occasionally had a bottle made up in the fridge that we'd make sure to use within 24 hours

Get a nuby rapid cool, on Vinted takes 2 mins to prep bottle with water the right temp x

We prep our bottles at night for the next day. We make about 6 since that’s how many she’ll drink before the 24 hour mark starting from the time we make them. We boil the water, add water to bottles, add formula and wait about an hour so they can cool to put them in the fridge. We also use the avent glass bottles.

@Kayleigh ohhh! I always wondered what the hot shot method was but that makes sense. So you just put the hot water in to the rapid cool? And then use a little bit of hot water to add to the formula separately to kill bacteria and then mix them both together?

I was also thinking of starting to prep bottles also. I know they advise against it but it sure would make my life easier!

@Sarah yeah exactly then you don’t need to sterilise or wash the nuby between uses which is a lot easier xx

I premake my bottles night before my health visitor told me to do this, she said its safer them prep machines and hot shot method because they don't actually leave enough hot water to sterilise the formula. 1oz of hot water can only sterilise 1 scoop of formula so using 1oz of water to sterilise 5 scoops of water if u do 5oz bottle for example won't sterilise it or kill all the bacteria, this is why nhs advises against prep machine because they work in the same way x

@Willow okay so do you just let the water cool down for 30 or so minutes and then add the formula? Or how long do you let the water cool down for?

We pre-make bottles in batches of 3 or 4 using the Nuby. We do hot shot on 2 of them and just hot the rest usually, he’s had no issues with illness or anything so we’re just keeping on with this method! It also means he’s used to cold milk which is handy for nighttime and not needing to spend time heating things up x

I use the rapid cools for every feed. I have 2 so I can cycle them as they need 3 hours to reset. I can never read the measurements inside so I just put the scoops in then measure the water in a bottle and tip it in. I then wash it and chuck it in the milton steriliser. Once she’s finished the bottle I grab it out again and put it behind the 1 I used earlier so I know it’s had the 3 hours (I have used within this time a couple of times and haven’t had an issue though)

We had a jug of cooled boiled water in the fridge and used that. Daughter wouldn’t drink formula milk warm!

Might be a good idea to invest in a temp control kettle! I've seen a few knocking about that can boil your water to the temp you need giving immediate access to baby-ready milk. Thinking about getting one myself!

@Kim the water needs to be over 70 to kill harmful bacteria in the formula so it wouldn’t make it instantly ready unfortunately. My kettle does 70/80/90 and boiling. I set it to 80 just to be sure it is definitely over 70 and then use the rapid cools so it literally takes 2-3 mins to make a bottle

Nuby rapid cool! A life saver

@Lauryn Good info to mention, thank you! I was planning on getting one I've seen that does from 60-100, so thankfully will still be useful! Never heard of the rapid cool but will have a look now. ☺️

I boiled the water and let it cool (did enough bottles for 24h) then just added the powder (pre prepared in pots), my boy took them room temp. Never had any issues although it’s deffo not recommended x

I use the nuby and the hot shot method for every feed. Now baby is a bit older though her bottles are a bit more predictable but I still use it as it's quicker and it works for us x

I’m not sure where your from but in the UK pre made bottles are fine. Make a couple of bottles, let them cool for around half an hour then pop them in the fridge and they are good for 24hours. I used to warm in either hot water of the microwave, I know microwave isn’t recommended due to hotspots but I always have it a good shake and never had a problem. I still do it now that he’s on crowns milk

@Sarah I let the water cool down for about 20 minutes, I also brought a meat thermometer to check temperature of the water anything between 70⁰C-85⁰C if fine to make a bottle with. As soon as I've made the bottles I throw them in fridge straight away so there is no time for bacteria to grow x

@Kim @Lauryn the water needs to boil to 100⁰C first and then cool down if u only boil it to 70-80⁰C ur not killing the bacteria in the water and the water isn't sterilised there for you the formula won't be either x

Prep machine

I used the nuby rapid cool for my boiling water only. Would measure out the full amount of boiling water then keep a hot shot (mam bottle tops have measurements on them) and then cool the water in the rapid cool and hot shot the formula. Pre made formula bottles are good for 4 hours just FYI 😊

@Kayleigh my LO is 7 months and i never thought about not putting the milk into the rapid cool😂

the tommee tippee perfect prep is what we use and it’s so quick, literally a bottle made in a minute at the right temperature x

I've always done the bottles and filled them up with hot water the night before and let it cool down so they are all ready for the rest of the day and the night. They are fine and sterile for 24 hours x

Honestly this has been so incredibly helpful! Thank you much everyone ❤️❤️

I’ve not heard of people saying to not prep bottles? When I looked online about this in the past it just said make sure they’re cooled down, put in the fridge and use within 24hrs of making them. That’s what I’ve been doing from about 4 months old!

@Isabella I don't know how people are doing it without this! 😂 we had one in our bedroom and one downstairs x