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Sterilizing bottles and making up feeds - very confused!
Hi All,
I am very new to this forum, I had my baby, Lily, at 33 weeks, 3 weeks ago. Everyone I know with a baby seems to sterilize a batch of bottles over night, fill them with boiled water in the morning and keep them in the fridge for the rest of the day until required when they add the powder to make up the feed as and when they need it.
I have now been told by the health visitor, nurse in special care, and a midwife that the water must be freshly boiled to make up a feed. So what they are saying is, that when Lily is crying for a feed I need to get a sterilized bottle, boil the kettle, add the boiled water, add the powder, then try and cool the feed down so she can have it. (luckily we have an ice make on our fridge otherwise I'm not sure how I would be coping!). They say this is because once opened a tin of powder is not sterile therefore it must be added to boiling water to kill an bacteria or bugs in the powder.
Now although this makes sense to me, it does seem to conflict with what everyone else does!!! Does anyone know anything about this and can advise. Now, we are also going to Bournemouth tomorrow so need to take some bottles with us. We have bought some cartons of SMA as it would be too much of a nightmare to try and get boiled water and ice every time we need to make up a feed, but the question I have is if I sterilize the bottles in an electric avent steam sterilizer and make up the bottles with teats and lids once sterilzed can I pop them in my bag (empty) and add the carton of milk as I need it, will they remain sterile for the day?
Phew...hope someone can help!
Clare x
I am very new to this forum, I had my baby, Lily, at 33 weeks, 3 weeks ago. Everyone I know with a baby seems to sterilize a batch of bottles over night, fill them with boiled water in the morning and keep them in the fridge for the rest of the day until required when they add the powder to make up the feed as and when they need it.
I have now been told by the health visitor, nurse in special care, and a midwife that the water must be freshly boiled to make up a feed. So what they are saying is, that when Lily is crying for a feed I need to get a sterilized bottle, boil the kettle, add the boiled water, add the powder, then try and cool the feed down so she can have it. (luckily we have an ice make on our fridge otherwise I'm not sure how I would be coping!). They say this is because once opened a tin of powder is not sterile therefore it must be added to boiling water to kill an bacteria or bugs in the powder.
Now although this makes sense to me, it does seem to conflict with what everyone else does!!! Does anyone know anything about this and can advise. Now, we are also going to Bournemouth tomorrow so need to take some bottles with us. We have bought some cartons of SMA as it would be too much of a nightmare to try and get boiled water and ice every time we need to make up a feed, but the question I have is if I sterilize the bottles in an electric avent steam sterilizer and make up the bottles with teats and lids once sterilzed can I pop them in my bag (empty) and add the carton of milk as I need it, will they remain sterile for the day?
Phew...hope someone can help!
Clare x
0
Replies
My little girl was also born at 33 weeks and due to complications i was unable to BF.
The special care nurses told me it would be fine to sterilize a batch of bottles (4) and fill them with boiled water ready to use throughout the day.
My little girl has never had any tummy bugs, i hope that helps x
Just a thought, is it worth calling up your hospital's SCBU, and asking one of the nurses advice on this?
xxxx
Danielle
I made batches of ready to go bottles and he never had a tummy bug. I got a book when pg from my GP which was published in 2004 and that said "you can make bottles in advance for the next 24 hours". I didnt keep them that long but I always had a spare bottle in the fridge for over night feeds and the morning feed. I know guidelines have changed since then but making it the proper way just wasnt realistic for a very hungry and impatient baby.
xx
Sorry MrsAgate that I've got no advice but I've been meaning to post the same question! Thanks BE girls, useful as always