Pre-boiling & Cooling Water for Bottles

[Roxybond]

I'm new to formula feeding as my DS is purely breastfed but have recently started weaning 2 feeds a day onto formula and it's going really well but I have one question for the expert bottle feeders out there - how far in advance of the next feed do you pre boil and then cool the water?

I think the tin advises to do it immediately before a feed but I know a few Mums who pre-boil and cool the water and leave it in the fridge, even with the formula in it, so they can just grab it & heat it in no time when the next feed arises (certainly handy for that 2am feed!!).

Is this safe or the right thing to be doing? How long could you safely leave pre-boiled, cooled water and formula in a bottle in the fridge before heating and consuming?

So far, I've pre-boiled and left the water to cool in the bottle a couple of hours before the next feed while DS sleeps and then add the formula & heat when he wakes and this hasn't caused any issues.

Your bottle feeding experience would be greatly appreciated by this newbie!!

Thank you:)

[mummy2lilly]

how far in advance of the next feed do you pre boil and then cool the water?With DD i make all the bottles up that i know she'll drink in a day and put them in the fridge. But she only has 2-3 a day.

Is this safe or the right thing to be doing? Everyone will have different answers for this as everyone is told something different. Or believe in different things.
I believe it is safe and the right thing. DD has never had any problems with me doing this. Aslong as she gets a bottle she doesnt care where the water has came from.

How long could you safely leave pre-boiled, cooled water and formula in a bottle in the fridge before heating and consuming? I personally would say 24 hours knowing the tin says otherwise. I use to make my daily bottles up before bed when dd use to wake during the night and once again she had no problems with me doing this and didnt get sick from it..


Like i said up the top everyone is going to have different answers that in the end may confuse you. I say its best to do what you feel as tho is right for you and bub.

[~Candy~]

how far in advance of the next feed do you pre boil and then cool the water?With DD i make all the bottles up that i know she'll drink in a day and put them in the fridge. But she only has 2-3 a day.

Is this safe or the right thing to be doing? Everyone will have different answers for this as everyone is told something different. Or believe in different things.
I believe it is safe and the right thing. DD has never had any problems with me doing this. Aslong as she gets a bottle she doesnt care where the water has came from.

How long could you safely leave pre-boiled, cooled water and formula in a bottle in the fridge before heating and consuming? I personally would say 24 hours knowing the tin says otherwise. I use to make my daily bottles up before bed when dd use to wake during the night and once again she had no problems with me doing this and didnt get sick from it..


Like i said up the top everyone is going to have different answers that in the end may confuse you. I say its best to do what you feel as tho is right for you and bub.

:iagree: This is what I have done with all my 4 little ones.

[embryonichappyperson]

I don' bother boiling water and letting it cool. I don't heat up DS2 bottles I give them at room temperature. I have a Woolworths brand jug with one of those things, (the name fails me atm), that the water is strained through and the clean water pools in to the jug. I just keep it near my bottles and off I go. I make my bottles up as I go, so when his hungry I just go make one up. When I go out I just take the desired amount of bottles with some water in them and my formula dispenser.

[~BEXTER~]

I would do all of Keiaras bottles daily so that would be 6 or so. I would leaven them out on the cupboard put them in the microwave as I needed them then put the formula in. I always had leftover water in the kettle on the stove for her drinks through out the day.

I would say it sat there for about 24 hours.

[Mummy2R&K]

Yep I fill all the bottles with water once the kettle has cooled abit (otherwise if you put hot water in the bottles, you'll find the water evaporates a little bit and end up having to put more in) for the next 24hrs worth of bottles and leave them on the bench next to the formula tin.

When DD is ready for a bottle, I zap for 15seconds (she takes the bottles easier if a little warm) and then tip the formula in.

When she used to have one at 3am, that is the only one I'd premake and put in the fridge, and warm it when she wanted it.

Obviously with daycare, I will have to premake those ones.

[Lily of the Nile]

I do something completely different. I used to pre-make the formula and put in the fridge but found it too time consuming to heat up afterwards and bub never liked waiting.
So I boil the water, pour it in the bottles and leave them out to cool, I usually do this the night before and during the day as I clean the bottles, I usually use them all within a day and I always have a cooled bottle waiting. They stay out next to the kettle at all times.
When ready for a feed, I boil the kettle, usually while I'm changing him, pour a little out of the bottle like 20-30ml depending on how much is in the bottle, fill it back to where I want with the boiled water so 20-30ml worth and put the formula in and give it straight away.
So if I'm making 180ml of formula, I have 150ml in the bottle and pour in boiled water to 180ml and put my scoops in. Always test it, but I know how much hot water to put in now and it's always perfect temp.
If your bub doesn't like it warm you don't have to put much boiled water in or non at all as it's been out in room temp anyway, I do this on hot days.

[Roxybond]

Wow, thanks so much ladies, much appreciated advice!!

It's interesting to see how everyone does it - I've learnt a thing or two!!

[Lil M]

This is the advice from QLD health:

Getting started

It is recommended to make formula and feed immediately. Here is a list of steps for you to follow:

Ensure all preparation surfaces are clean.
Wash hands using soap and water.
Bring sufficient water to a rolling boil (if using an automatic kettle, let it switch off).
Pour water that has been cooled for no more than 30 minutes into the bottle.
Add exact amount of formula. Use the instructions on the can to make the formula just right for your baby.Too strong and it will hurt their kidneys; too weak and your baby won’t grow well. Measure the formula carefully, using the scoop from the container. Level with a knife. Take care not to mix up scoops from other containers.
Quickly cool to feeding temperature (under running tap water or placing the bottle in a container of cold water).
Dry the outside of the bottle.
Check the temperature and feed your baby.
Discard any feed that has not been consumed within 2 hours.
Only keep made-up formula in the fridge for 24 hours.
Only put formula and water in the bottle. Do not add cereal, sugar, cordial or anything else.
Do not use a bottle to give soft drink, tea or cordial. These are not good drinks for a baby and will greatly increase their chance of getting tooth decay.
Hold your baby close when feeding. Do not leave your baby alone to drink the bottle.

Preparing feeds in advance

It is best to make powdered infant formula for each feed and to feed baby
immediately. If, however, feeds need to be prepared in advance:

place made-up cooled feed in the refrigerator (temperature no higher than 5o C)
feeds can be stored in the fridge for up to 24 hours.

Rewarming formula


Formula should not be removed from the refrigerator and rewarmed until immediately before feeding.
Stand the bottle of formula in a container of hot water for a few minutes (no more than 10 minutes).
Before feeding your baby, check the temperature of the feed by letting a little milk drop onto the inside of your wrist. It should feel comfortably warm or even a little bit cool.
Never use a microwave to rewarm feeds.
Discard any rewarmed feed that has not been consumed within 2 hours.

Transportation of formula


Feeds that need to be transported should be quickly cooled and refrigerated (in a refrigerator with a temperature no higher than 5C) until they are cold before transporting.
Do not remove the feed from the refrigerator until immediately before transporting.
Transport feeds in a cool bag with ice bricks and use within 2 hours. If you reach the destination within 2 hours, place in the refrigerator at the destination and hold for no more than 24 hours from the time of preparation.
Alternatively, if going out for the day, carry individual portions of the powdered formula in washed and sterilised containers and at the destination use hot water no less than 70C to prepare the feed

[Roxybond]

Thanks so much Lil M, much appreciate you finding this for me.

Very informative!!