boiling kettle for bottles - and measuring formula.

have2flushtwice

the routine here is that the kettle is emptied, filled with fresh tap water and boiled. when boiled its left sit for exactly 30 minutes to cool, and then transferred to a sterilized bottle, where it is ok to sit for 24 hours before formula (aptimal) is added, wait for 7 minutes, and then that has to be drank within 2 hours or it goes off.
I'm fine with the two hour mixed formula part...but the kettle....

the step to boil the water is fine, I totally get that.
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) but how is it dangerous to leave it for longer than 30 minutes in the kettle?
the kettle is descaled as often as the sterilizer.

As for the formula, it had to be 4 scoops per 4 oz of water. we are now giving
7 scoops per 8 oz and it is working well for constipation.
however when measuring the formula I found an error.
if scooping from the top of the tub and its full and fluffy, lets say 8 scoops will get to almost the top of the measuring tub.
but if scooping from deep in the tub the scoop pushes into the formula to get full a scoop, resulting in a more compacted and dense scoop, and a fuller measuring tub. the difference is about a half scoop. anyone else see this? we were told the measurements had to be bang on or our baby would have serious trouble. no trouble of that kind so far thank god.
any opinions on the above?
thanks for reading

moving_home

You are making your bottles incorrectly according to the latest HSE guidelines.

The guidelines are make every bottle fresh but this isn't practical so this the next recommended way:
- boil 1L of water
- leave to sit for 30mins as this will result in the water being around 70 degrees which is hot enough to kill bacteria in formula but not hot enough to damage the nutrients.
- Add formula and mix.
- Cool quickly with cold water and store in the fridge for up to 24 hours.

Macha

moving_home wrote: »

You are making your bottles incorrectly according to the latest HSE guidelines.

The guidelines are make every bottle fresh but this isn't practical so this the next recommended way:
- boil 1L of water
- leave to sit for 30mins as this will result in the water being around 70 degrees which is hot enough to kill bacteria in formula but not hot enough to damage the nutrients.
- Add formula and mix.
- Cool quickly with cold water and store in the fridge for up to 24 hours.

I don't think it's advisible to use mixed refrigerated formula after 4 hours, let alone 24 hours.

Every evening we boil the kettle, sterilize the bottles, fill them up (yes sometimes after just 10 minutes) with the required amount of water. We then have a supply of bottles that we just have to add formula to and warm up during the day. It also means we have the bottles ready to pack in a bag if we're going out for more than an hour or two.

OP, I try to mix the powder up with the little scoop so it isn't so densely packed. I wouldn't worry about it too much.

pwurple

You're not sterilising the powdered formula that way.

Formula is not required to be manufactured sterile. That's what the hot water is about. Hot enough to make safe, while not too hot to break down the proteins.


I don't see what's wrong with storing sterile mixed formula in the fridge?

moving_home

Macha wrote: »

I don't think it's advisible to use mixed refrigerated formula after 4 hours, let alone 24 hours.

Every evening we boil the kettle, sterilize the bottles, fill them up (yes sometimes after just 10 minutes) with the required amount of water. We then have a supply of bottles that we just have to add formula to and warm up during the day. It also means we have the bottles ready to pack in a bag if we're going out for more than an hour or two.

OP, I try to mix the powder up with the little scoop so it isn't so densely packed. I wouldn't worry about it too much.

http://www.google.ie/url?sa=t&source=web&cd=1&rct=j&q=hse%20bottle%20making%20guidelines&ved=0ahUKEwjw4K3_v4zLAhUH2RoKHeT8AAsQFggaMAA&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.hse.ie%2Feng%2Fservices%2Fpublications%2FChildren%2FHow_to_prepare_your_baby%27s_bottle_feed.pdf&usg=AFQjCNGkqMHrYk4k2QvxCBFl8q-c0cxBog&sig2=PDAiT3S15btV2-pqXEkq_Q

Hse guidelines. You aren't sterilising the formula and it could potentially have bacteria that could make your baby sick. It's your choice how to make your bottles but the method I posted is the recommended way.

mdwexford

Don't over think it OP, just follow moving_homes instructions and relax.

mirrorwall14

Definitely add formula to the bottle for the fridge. Our lad was in hospital at 5 days old in Tallaght and that's the way they did them. 24hrs of bottles in the fridge. Once I saw that I stopped faffing about trying to make individual bottles etc

Macha

moving_home wrote: »

http://www.google.ie/url?sa=t&source=web&cd=1&rct=j&q=hse%20bottle%20making%20guidelines&ved=0ahUKEwjw4K3_v4zLAhUH2RoKHeT8AAsQFggaMAA&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.hse.ie%2Feng%2Fservices%2Fpublications%2FChildren%2FHow_to_prepare_your_baby%27s_bottle_feed.pdf&usg=AFQjCNGkqMHrYk4k2QvxCBFl8q-c0cxBog&sig2=PDAiT3S15btV2-pqXEkq_Q

Hse guidelines. You aren't sterilising the formula and it could potentially have bacteria that could make your baby sick. It's your choice how to make your bottles but the method I posted is the recommended way.

I live in another EU country and the guidelines are different here as far as I can tell. But thanks for the link, I'll take a look. What you say makes sense.

I have to say, the lack of information on bottle feeding can be frustrating. They seem to spend more time telling you breast is best than helping you do it properly, at least where I live.

Edit: I just checked the packaging of the milk we use and it says to allow the water to cool to 37° before mixing the fomula? Grrrr...

farmchoice

ah making up bottles, how i fcuking hate it!! on to our third now so standards have slipped dramatically!!

for the first one we went with the guidelines as stated above, sterilize boil add formula cool and refrigerate ( we sterilized dummy's spoons for feeding the lot).

for the second we abandoned that and sterilized then just boiled let the water cool put it in the bottles and then add the formula when needed.

now on number 3 i just do it as quick as i can i will happily poor the boiling the water straight into the bottle i use boiled water that is 36 hours or more old etc etc, i haven't descaled the sterilizer in 8 months.

im coming to the conclusion that most of it is nonsense. as long as the bottles are sterilized and the water is boiled then it makes damn all difference.

i wouldn't stress too much about it. i often think its stressing about this kind of thing that can make parenting hard for some new parents.

if you read all the guide lines and heed all the different advice you can find your self under such pressure to try and do everything right that it becomes overwhelming.

LegacyUser

We sterilised the bottles, boiled the water, poured the water in the bottles, sat them in a basin of cold water to cool for a bit, then all into the fridge. Meant sterilising, pouring etc all done in one batch then there were a load of bottles in the fridge. Just added formula to each bottle as needed.

Mind you, we were using a heater to warm the bottles up but as she got older, we started emptying a bit of the cold boiled water out and just re-boiling the kettle on the spot and adding a small amount of the new boiled water directly to the bottle with the formula, to heat it up a bit.

Much quicker, but it did seem like an awful waste of water, there's probably slightly more efficient ways to do that!!

tinkerbell

farmchoice - your post is incredibly irresponsible. The instructions are there for a reason - you are making up formula all wrong and you could have made your babies seriously ill - you are lucky you haven't by now. The reason you boil the water and cool it a little and then add formula to the hot water is to kill all the bacteria in the formula. Formula is not sterile. It needs to be sterilised before your baby can drink it. Ignoring these instructions is just insane.

January

While we accept that sometimes parents do things differently, we advise the only way bottles should be made is to the HSE guidelines.

tinkerbell

It is scary that a third of replies on this thread talk about making up formula the wrong way. Something which could make an infant seriously ill.

Lady is a tramp

Sterilise bottles. Boil 1L of tapwater in kettle. Allow cool for 30 minutes. (Note - I was told by the SMA helpline that anywhere between 10-30 minutes is fine, I usually went with 30 minutes anyways.)

Pour water into enough bottles to last next 24 hours. (Again I checked with helpline that this was OK.) Add formula. It is NOT OK to add formula to cold previously boiled water as you will not kill bacteria in the formula.

Cool bottles quickly (ie in a large basin of cold water.) Place in back of fridge when cold. Use within 24 hours.

Heat as required - we used a microwave, again I ran that by an SMA rep first, only danger is to be very careful of hotspots.

That's how I did it - mostly following instructions on the tin, with clarification from the helpline provided on the tin when required (I found them very good!)

She said the only reason they recommend not to make bottles 24 hours in advance is to take into consideration eejits who might leave made up bottles sitting on a warm sideboard for 24 hours - if you cool them quickly and then into the fridge, it's fine.

Main mistake people seem to make is thinking it's OK to use cold boiled water - it's not. The reason for adding formula to 1L of water which has been cooled for 30 minutes is that this will ensure the germs in the powder are destroyed, but without damaging the vitamins in the formula.

Woden

Is one of these things sufficient to eliminate all this faffing about?

http://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B00BG6304A/ref=s9_simh_gw_p75_d0_i1?pf_rd_m=A3P5ROKL5A1OLE&pf_rd_s=desktop-1&pf_rd_r=0E2DWXT5238VBWM4KB5C&pf_rd_t=36701&pf_rd_p=577049067&pf_rd_i=desktop

Lady is a tramp

Woden wrote: »

Is one of these things sufficient to eliminate all this faffing about?

http://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B00BG6304A/ref=s9_simh_gw_p75_d0_i1?pf_rd_m=A3P5ROKL5A1OLE&pf_rd_s=desktop-1&pf_rd_r=0E2DWXT5238VBWM4KB5C&pf_rd_t=36701&pf_rd_p=577049067&pf_rd_i=desktop

Some people swear by them, I managed grand without. Meh. I can see how they'd be handy sometimes, not worth the money to me though, and you still have the "faffing" of washing and sterilising ... and you still have to know how to make up bottles correctly for when you're not at home.

Then of course you could end up with a baby who needs a special formula that needs to be made up with cold water or whatever. And it would be completely useless.

So personally no, it's not something I'd bother with.

tinkerbell

Woden wrote: »

Is one of these things sufficient to eliminate all this faffing about?

http://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B00BG6304A/ref=s9_simh_gw_p75_d0_i1?pf_rd_m=A3P5ROKL5A1OLE&pf_rd_s=desktop-1&pf_rd_r=0E2DWXT5238VBWM4KB5C&pf_rd_t=36701&pf_rd_p=577049067&pf_rd_i=desktop

Or just breastfeed no faffing needed then.

Lady is a tramp

tinkerbell wrote: »

Or just breastfeed no faffing needed then.

The brief period I spent attempting to breastfeed required waaaay more faffing than making up bottles, between the latch assist, nipple shields, breast pads, pump, oversupply and resultant constant changes of clothes, etc. It's not for everyone!

runawaybishop

tinkerbell wrote: »

Or just breastfeed no faffing needed then.

What if you don't have breasts? Still a fair bit of faffing either way.

The_Chap

Found it much easier to make a days worth of bottles up the night before and stick in the fridge

As said before, boil kettle and leave for 20 mins, make bottles up and shove in fridge, take out when needed and warm up

Sterilise all equipment before making next batch

Daughter doing great now at 2 1/2

tinkerbell

Lady is a tramp wrote: »

The brief period I spent attempting to breastfeed required waaaay more faffing than making up bottles, between the latch assist, nipple shields, breast pads, pump, oversupply and resultant constant changes of clothes, etc. It's not for everyone!

Sorry to hear you had a hard time with it and weren't able to get support All those problems you mentioned can be rectified with the proper support (which can unfortunately be difficult to get sometimes as many PHNs etc do not have enough knowledge on breastfeeding to help those who are struggling with it). But once you get past those problems and have established breastfeeding (after 6 weeks) then it gets so much easier, you just feed and go, no need to worry about sterilising or washing or correct temperatures, etc.

Macha

tinkerbell wrote: »

It is scary that a third of replies on this thread talk about making up formula the wrong way. Something which could make an infant seriously ill.

I'm genuinely concerned and confused as the tin of my formula says to allow the water to cool to at least 37° before mixing in the powder and says nothing about 70°. It's not a brand sold in Ireland but it's Nestle so not some random small company that doesn't know what it's talking about.

tinkerbell wrote: »

Or just breastfeed no faffing needed then.

I couldn't breastfeed even though I really, really wanted to. My baby couldn't eat for 2 weeks and was in neonatal care for that time, I had a caesarean and my iron levels went right down. It just wasn't physically possible for me and to be honest it broke my heart. Not everyone chooses to bottle feed.

Lady is a tramp

Macha wrote: »

I'm genuinely concerned and confused as the tin of my formula says to allow the water to cool to at least 37° before mixing in the powder and says nothing about 70°. It's not a brand sold in Ireland but it's Nestle so not some random small company that doesn't know what it's talking about.

Could be that that particular formula is ensured to be sterile during manufacture ... I'd go by the instructions on the tin.

tinkerbell

Macha wrote: »

I'm genuinely concerned and confused as the tin of my formula says to allow the water to cool to at least 37° before mixing in the powder and says nothing about 70°. It's not a brand sold in Ireland but it's Nestle so not some random small company that doesn't know what it's talking about.


I couldn't breastfeed even though I really, really wanted to. My baby couldn't eat for 2 weeks and was in neonatal care for that time, I had a caesarean and lost a lot of blood. It just wasn't physically possible for me and to be honest it broke my heart. Not everyone chooses to bottle feed.

Honestly, I don't know why it says 37 degrees on your tin of formula but I will say that I wouldn't be taking Nestle's word as gospel if that differs from the HSE guidelines. They don't exactly have the best track record for putting babies health top of their priorities (Google nestle boycott and you'll be able to read for yourself their awful practices in developing countries regarding formula). Since you're abroad, contact your local GP or paediatrician and ask them.

And sorry to hear about your trouble too

Macha

Lady is a tramp wrote: »

Could be that that particular formula is ensured to be sterile during manufacture ... I'd go by the instructions on the tin.

Yeah, I'll have to call someone tomorrow. Thank god I'm half way to giving him normal milk. I absolutely hate formula milk (although he seems to love it..)

Sorry, I totally hijacked this thread but I'm really glad I did! I had no idea.

cyning

Macha wrote: »

Yeah, I'll have to call someone tomorrow. Thank god I'm half way to giving him normal milk. I absolutely hate formula milk (although he seems to love it..)

Sorry, I totally hijacked this thread but I'm really glad I did! I had no idea.

It's not an anti reflux milk by any chance? Some reflux milks can't be made with hot water it renders them ineffective.

January

cyning wrote: »

It's not an anti reflux milk by any chance? Some reflux milks can't be made with hot water it renders them ineffective.

Ours had to be made with fridge cold water.

Macha

cyning wrote: »

It's not an anti reflux milk by any chance? Some reflux milks can't be made with hot water it renders them ineffective.

Yes, it is actually. Mystery solved and I can stop panicking. Thanks a lot.

cyning

Macha wrote: »

Yes, it is actually. Mystery solved and I can stop panicking. Thanks a lot.

I thought that. Most anti reflux milks can't be made with 70 degree water.

angeldelight

Woden wrote: »

Is one of these things sufficient to eliminate all this faffing about?

http://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B00BG6304A/ref=s9_simh_gw_p75_d0_i1?pf_rd_m=A3P5ROKL5A1OLE&pf_rd_s=desktop-1&pf_rd_r=0E2DWXT5238VBWM4KB5C&pf_rd_t=36701&pf_rd_p=577049067&pf_rd_i=desktop

This is our star buy to be honest. Baby is almost 10 months and it's been absolutely brilliant. We use the mam bottles so they go in the dishwasher then can be sterilised in the microwave directly without using a steriliser and the combination just made everything so easy.

mirrorwall14

angeldelight wrote: »

This is our star buy to be honest. Baby is almost 10 months and it's been absolutely brilliant. We use the mam bottles so they go in the dishwasher then can be sterilised in the microwave directly without using a steriliser and the combination just made everything so easy.

Agreed. We are just finished using it (baby is 1) and it has gone straight to my sister to be used again. Invaluable

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.