boiling kettle for bottles - and measuring formula.

pwurple

Tis mad, i found making bottles no hardship at all... Maybe it's the layout of my kitchen or something.

Boil kettle, pop bottles in microwave steriliser. Fill dishwasher and wipe down table/counters.
Kettle was cool enough by then, make up bottles and stick them in the fridge.

Chuck them in a cooler bag in the morning and off I go out and about for the day.

Easy peasy. Wouldn't you be fierce tied to to the house having to be near the machine?

mirrorwall14

No dishwasher here:)

I found the kettle handy too depending on circumstances but most of the time we made some at night and some in the morning so the bottles were never too long in the fridge. And it was dead handy when travelling so that there was a fresh bottle on arrival as opposed to waiting for the kettle to cool

angeldelight

pwurple wrote: »

Easy peasy. Wouldn't you be fierce tied to to the house having to be near the machine?

Not really - we made some up in advance and cooled quickly if heading out for the day but we also used the ready to feed a good bit when out and about. What I found great at the sleep deprived early stage was if we thought she needed a bottle we could have one ready at the perfect temp in 2 minutes. Even now some days she doesn't eat much so I might give her an extra bottle and from deciding to give it to her to drinking it's 3 minutes. Same when I get home from work and need to start her bedtime routine straight away - bottle is ready. It's not a necessity but we loved ours

moving_home

I've heard the Perfect Prep isn't recommended by HCP's as some babies have gotten sick from using it. Not sure why but think there is a question over it not heating water to the correct temperature.

borderlinemeath

For the first couple of weeks we used the ready made stuff, so it was just bottle washing and sterilising. They were a bit of a godsend to be honest, we had just built a new extension and the day I went into hospital they were only just fitting the kitchen! Took another week or so for the worktop and all electricals to be connected and our old kitchen had been repurposed into a small utility which was hard to make a sandwich in, never mind making up bottles. After that it was making a days worth at a time, boiled water, added formula and put in fridge for the rest of the days use. What I found very handy was the tommee tippee travel steriliser for both microwave and cold water, fits 6 bottles rather than 4 in most microwave sterilisers. It's been in the Lidl baby events a couple of times for a tenner! And it's been brought on a couple of trips as well. Didn't want to get a steam steriliser, the water is quite hard around here and it would need constant descaling.

The HSE documentation on formula feeding that the PHN gave me had 3 options for making up bottles, making one at a time, or making up a days worth to be stored for 24 hours. It also gave the option for adding formula to previously boiled water. I'm sure I still have it somewhere. It did state that making up one at a time was the safest option but that way you would have to sterilise one bottle at a time, as once the steriliser was opened it would render the bottles unsterile if left to sit?

I didn't bother getting the perfect prep, the PHN recommended it if I was struggling or stressing when making up bottles but I got into the swing of it grand so it wasn't a must have for me.

Keane2baMused

Boil fresh water. Leave to cool for 30 mins. Add required amount of water to sterile bottles, add formula and either use immediately or if making up a batch cool rapidly in cold water and put in the coldest part of the fridge. Throw out any unused formula after 24 hours.

You CANNOT add formula to water that has been cooled without risking your baby getting ill. Formula is not sterile, thus the need for sterilised bottles (unless of course it's an anti reflux formula/ other specialised formula that specifically requires cooler water).

Also sterilisation must continue until the baby is no longer taking formula milk. I've seen far too many people saying 'ah sure they're licking the floor, no point in sterilising'. Well licking the floor isn't the issue. It's the bacteria in the milk (totally different kettle of fish to whatever baba picks up off the floor) that is the reason to continue sterilising.

It's a bore/chore having to do it but well worth the bit of extra time to avoid them getting sick.
Good to see correct information being given here and shocking to see the misinformation!

The hospitals batch make their bottles also for the babies. There would be absolutely no way they could make as required.

j@utis

have2flushtwice wrote: »

<...>
waiting 30 minutes to pour the kettle - why not wait an hour? less than 30 minutes may damage the bottles structural material compound, (my own theory) <...>

or you could use glass bottles which wash better, have better heat transfer, don't wear out or loose structural integrity in any other way apart being smashed , don't absorb nasty smells etc etc... I only used glass bottles with my lo when I had to. (thanks god he went back to the boob - boobs are 100x better no matter how fancy those bottles are)

Keane2baMused

j@utis wrote: »

or you could use glass bottles which wash better, have better heat transfer, don't wear out or loose structural integrity in any other way apart being smashed , don't absorb nasty smells etc etc... I only used glass bottles with my lo when I had to. (thanks god he went back to the boob - boobs are 100x better no matter how fancy those bottles are)

True, but not everyone can breastfeed. I tried every possible avenue and couldn't.

heldel00

Only realised last week that my steriliser has, more then likely, never been working properly.
Used to do the usual routine - wash bottles in warm soapy water, rinse, put in steriliser, measure water, hit the button and walk away to do another job. When I was tidying up in scullery last week I copped that it was cutting out after 10/20 seconds.
So technically my baby has never had a properly sterilised bottle since he was born! Now I'm not advocating it but my advice is don't overthink it!

(Now the hands are pure eaten off me with that flipping Milton until I they send me my replacement machine.)

Wesser

There is no evidence for sterilising bottles. This means that nobody has ever proven that if you sterilise a babies bottle, by comparing say 1000 babies that get bottle feeds and 1000 babies that get sterile bottle feeds.......that it decreases the chances of the baby getting sick.

Your baby is continuously exposed to bacteria all day every day. For example if another child hugs your baby, if a dog licks your babies face, if the child handles a rattle, if you sneeze near your baby, if you change the babies nappy, or if your child exists in the world at all. Constant bacteria. Your child's stomach contains acid to kill bacteria.

Macha

Wesser wrote: »

There is no evidence for sterilising bottles. This means that nobody has ever proven that if you sterilise a babies bottle, by comparing say 1000 babies that get bottle feeds and 1000 babies that get sterile bottle feeds.......that it decreases the chances of the baby getting sick.

Your baby is continuously exposed to bacteria all day every day. For example if another child hugs your baby, if a dog licks your babies face, if the child handles a rattle, if you sneeze near your baby, if you change the babies nappy, or if your child exists in the world at all. Constant bacteria. Your child's stomach contains acid to kill bacteria.

I think there's quite some difference between a baby coming into contact with bacteria on everyday objects and having bacteria thrive and multiply in your baby's milk.

Wesser

if you are saying that there is bacteria naturally present in milk powder, then sterilising the bottle and the water before you put the powder in does not kill these bacteria. Think about it. Sterile water and sterile bottle. Then you add in bacteria laden powder, de sterilising all your work.

Theories aside.....All I'm saying if that nobody has ever proven that it makes any difference.

I've heard of flu, rotavirus, rsv, but I've never heard of a baby sick due to some bacteria or virus in milk.

I'm not saying that you shouldn't "sterilise" bottles , .........( by the way they are not sterile, to be sterile they would need to placed in an autoclave at 170 degrees, which would melt them, handled with sterile gloves, washed with sterile water which is extremely expensive.....the modern process of baby bottle sterilisation just results in a very very well cleaned bottle , as opposed to a clean bottle)

anyway, I'm not saying dont "sterilise"if you want to ........ just saying its s bit of hokery pokery.

And yes the bacteria from other children who have coughs and colds are different from bottles, and more likely to contain s virus that will actually make when get a cough/ cold. I've never heard of a baby getting a tummy bug from milk.

So I just think people should relax and not fret over these issues. It's hard being a mum. Mums should cut thrmselves some slack and concentrate on cuddling or doing whatever makes them happy rather than "sterilising."

moving_home

Wesser wrote: »

if you are saying that there is bacteria naturally present in milk powder, then sterilising the bottle and the water before you put the powder in does not kill these bacteria. Think about it. Sterile water and sterile bottle. Then you add in bacteria laden powder, de sterilising all your work.

Theories aside.....All I'm saying if that nobody has ever proven that it makes any difference.

I've heard of flu, rotavirus, rsv, but I've never heard of a baby sick due to some bacteria or virus in milk.

I'm not saying that you shouldn't "sterilise" bottles , .........( by the way they are not sterile, to be sterile they would need to placed in an autoclave at 170 degrees, which would melt them, handled with sterile gloves, washed with sterile water which is extremely expensive.....the modern process of baby bottle sterilisation just results in a very very well cleaned bottle , as opposed to a clean bottle)

anyway, I'm not saying dont "sterilise"if you want to ........ just saying its s bit of hokery pokery.

And yes the bacteria from other children who have coughs and colds are different from bottles, and more likely to contain s virus that will actually make when get a cough/ cold. I've never heard of a baby getting a tummy bug from milk.

So I just think people should relax and not fret over these issues. It's hard being a mum. Mums should cut thrmselves some slack and concentrate on cuddling or doing whatever makes them happy rather than "sterilising."

2 babies died in France and others got sick from enterobacter bacteria in formula powder. WHO did a reporton it.
http://www.who.int/foodsafety/publications/mra10/en/
I did my sterilising while my daughter was sleeping so luckily it didn't take away from our cuddling

mirrorwall14

Aren't Americans told that sterilising isn't necessary? I know my family over there didn't bother

Wesser

moving_home wrote: »

2 babies died in France and others got sick from enterobacter bacteria in formula powder. WHO did a reporton it.
http://www.who.int/foodsafety/publications/mra10/en/
I did my sterilising while my daughter was sleeping so luckily it didn't take away from our cuddling

Hi there . That's a very interesting case report and first Ive heard if it so thanks for that.

The report recommends that the water you add is at 70 degrees. It does not recommend sterilising your bottles beforehand.

Also when you think about it, if your formula contains enterobacter, scooping the bacteria it into a nice clean bottle with clean water.... isn't going to kill it. It's still present in the formula powder.

Finally I would say that this is a case report, not a randomised controlled trial, so even though it is produced by the WHO, it is not a RCT, and therefore the level of evidence is low.

I'm not trying to have a argument with you. My point is, there is no evidence for sterilising bottles. So I'm just trying to reassure the OP..... Do not be worrying. You're doing fine.

Sligo1

Wesser wrote: »

Hi there . That's a very interesting case report and first Ive heard if it so thanks for that.

The report recommends that the water you add is at 70 degrees. It does not recommend sterilising your bottles beforehand.

Also when you think about it, if your formula contains enterobacter, scooping the bacteria it into a nice clean bottle with clean water.... isn't going to kill it. It's still present in the formula powder.

.

In Ireland we are told to boil the kettle and leave for approx 30 minutes. this cools the water to cool to 70 degrees. We are then told to add the formula to the water which is now in the bottle at 70 degrees. This apparently sterilises the powder formula. Now while sterilise may not be the precise word.. apparently the water being at 70 degrees is enough to kill any harmful bacteria in the milk powder. Thus prevent it from multiplying in the milk and causing harm or sickness to the baby.

Wesser

Sure, by all means, add water at 70 degrees. Makes sense to me.
But the actual bottle itself. The empty bottle. I do not any need to sterilise the bottle. Not unless there is evidence to say it makes a difference.

moving_home

Wesser wrote: »

Sure, by all means, add water at 70 degrees. Makes sense to me.
But the actual bottle itself. The empty bottle. I do not any need to sterilise the bottle. Not unless there is evidence to say it makes a difference.

http://www.who.int/foodsafety/publications/powdered-infant-formula/en/

Sligo1

Sorry I was just referring to this part of one of your posts.

Wesser wrote: »

if you are saying that there is bacteria naturally present in milk powder, then sterilising the bottle and the water before you put the powder in does not kill these bacteria. Think about it. Sterile water and sterile bottle. Then you add in bacteria laden powder, de sterilising all your work.

"

And your right in saying that sterilising the bottle does not kill the bacteria in the milk powder. However, the procedure I outlined regarding adding the milk powder to water at 70 degrees will kill the bacteria in the powder.

By sterilising the bottle before hand... Well basically if you have a really really clean or sterilised bottle and are leaving your prepared milk say for example over night in the fridge as a lot of people do (as they pre make and discard before 24 hours is up), well there will be a lot lessbacteria present in the really really clean or sterilised bottle that are likely to multiply in the prepared milk overnight as opposed to just a normally cleaned bottle. It's all about risk reduction really.

Keane2baMused

Wesser wrote: »

I am NOT saying ..... Do not sterilise your bottles. Sterilise away to your hearts content. I am NOT saying Anything about the causes of autism.
What I am saying is........ Rest easy in your bed at night and don't be worrying did I turn on the steriliser etc.

😜😜

Why are you mentioning autism can I ask? Totally OT.

Wesser

My point is that sometimes the WHO gets it wrong. If you read my post I feel it explains it very well.
The previous poster put up guidelines that the WHO drew up. My point is that these guidelines are not based on any evidence. Nobody has done a randomised controlled trial that shows that sterilising bottles makes any difference.
Sometimes the WHO gets things wrong. There is a history of the WHO getting things wrong. So it is possible in the future that these guidelines will be questioned and the WHO will not have a leg to stand on as they have not done any studies to back up their recommendations. None that I am aware of anyway. I have never seen an RCT on sterilising bottles.

My point in relation to autism is that there is growing body of evidence that a lack of good bacteria in an infants gut increases the risk of autism. I am NOT saying that sterilising babies bottles causes autism. I repeat NOT. What I am saying is that the WHO guidelines are unreliable as there is no evidence behind them. It may happen, in the future that these guidelines are called in to disrepute.

So as I said, sterilise away if you wish to. But I am trying to reassure the OP, that if the process is not perfect, it probably doesn't matter.

I'm not trying to upset anyone, I'm just trying to get involved in a discussion that I'm interested in.

mirrorwall14

How in Gods name have we got from bottles to Autism? I would like to see links to the "growing body of evidence that a lack of good bacteria in an infants gut increases the risk of autism". The way you have phrased this is outrageous and reads like scaremongering to parents that if they stop sterilising that their child will get autism

Keane2baMused

Wesser wrote: »

My point in relation to autism is that there is growing body of evidence that a lack of good bacteria in an infants gut increases the risk of autism. I am NOT saying that sterilising babies bottles causes autism. I repeat NOT. What I am saying is that the WHO guidelines are unreliable as there is no evidence behind them. It may happen, in the future that these guidelines are called in to disrepute.


I'm not trying to upset anyone, I'm just trying to get involved in a discussion that I'm interested in.

First vaccines then sterilising.

I'll add it to the list of how I contributed to my son having autism.

This had absolutely nothing to do with the OP's topic. Possibly start another thread if you wish to discuss asd and its potential causes. I can however save you time..

GENETICS.

theLuggage

Keane2baMused wrote: »

First vaccines then sterilising.

I'll add it to the list of how I contributed to my son having autism.

This had absolutely nothing to do with the OP's topic. Possibly start another thread if you wish to discuss asd and its potential causes. I can however save you time..

GENETICS.

http://www.independent.co.uk/news/science/autism-caused-by-genetics-study-suggests-10086939.html

March 2015 article. As you said, genetics.

Wesser

Hey guys
I'm Terribly sorry if I have upset you and apologise profusely. It was not my intention to upset anyone.
I felt I explained my point very well in my post. However it appears to have been deleted which is a real pity as I feel my post was well thought out, well informed, and not at all accusative. However I cannot prove that now as it is gone. As a result I feel my comments have been taken out of context and misunderstood. It appears I cannot reproduce this post. So anyway I just wanted to say for the fourth time that I am NOT saying that sterilising causes autism. Again my heart felt apologies to anyone I have offended.

Neyite

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