Have just read the following on the Tommee Tipee site (from their midwife):

"Can I keep prepared bottles of cooled boiled water in the fridge ready to add formula milk powder?

No. The most important thing when making up your formula milk is to make it up with freshly boiled water that has been allowed to cool slightly to 70 degrees."

Which would mean, surely, that then it would be considered even worse to put it into a sterile bottle and leave at room temperature for up to 12 hours before it's used?

Is this because, at 70 degrees, any bugs in the formula are killed? (I'd have thought it would be a higher temperature than that, and that boiling the water was to make sure the water's as sterile as possible...)

The last thing I want to do is make Ewan ill and there's so much conflicting information that I now no longer know which advice I should be following :(

Hi Gadgebot

It's all very confusing isn't it.  One person/website says one thing and someone else says something else!! 

I found giving everything a go (if you can) and them settling on the one thing that you prefer and works for you.

With Hayden, I used to boil the water, put it in the bottle/s and leave it to cool to room temperature, then add the formula as and when needed.  This worked wonders especially when out and about as I used to fill a bottle and by the time he needed it, the temperature was perfect!

I always thought that the reason we had to use boiled water as this was "safer" for the little ones, as you say, and that all possible bugs have been killed. 

Take care

Ditzie + Hayden

Hi Ditzie

That's what I do at the moment anyway, and I've got a routine going with it that seems to work well for us... think I'll just stick to that!

Thanks :)

Hiya,

Have you seen this NHS leaflet about preparing bottle feeds? It might be helpful. http://www.dh.gov.uk/en/Publicationsandstatistics/Publications/PublicationsPolicyandGuidance/DH_4123619?IdcService=GET_FILE&dID=163712&Rendition=Web

I think it explains things quite well. The water needs to be at 70c because this is hot enough to kill bacteria in the formula powder, it's not just about sterilising the water.So the water shouldn't really be cooled before mixing, as it needs to still be hot enough to kill any bugs. The leaflet does offer some alternatives if you are out of the house or unable to follow the ideal procedure for some reason.

HTH

WB

Thank you. Wish someone like my HV could have provided me with that (rather important) information!

Think I'll switch back to the cartons as DS will drink those at room temperature and has a whole one per feed anyway. I just don't feel confident enough that I'm not going to accidentally make DS ill with the powder!

If you don't mind I'm going to share that info with my Mums' Club board as I know there's several of us with the same questions!