[Chelly_M]

I'm new to formula feeding and just want to check I've been doing it right.
At the moment I sterilise the bottles etc. and boil the water in saucepan for 5 mins. Then when cooled a bit I fill all the bottles up, put lids on and store on the bench.
At each feed I heat up the bottle a few secs in microwave and then add the powder, giving all a good shake to make sure no hot spots, check temp on wrist and feed bub.
Is it ok to be storing the water at room temp? And would it be ok in summer?Is it ok to make the formula up with water just above room temp?
I read somewhere online that formula powder isn't sterile and needs to be made with water at 70 degrees, so now I'm concerned I've been doing it wrong. However,it was a us website, and it doesn't say that on the formula tin (s26)

Any help / reassurance would be really appreciated. Thanks!

[Frogga78]

Hi I'm relatively new to this too but I understood it was better to store the bottles in the fridge - less chance of bacteria I think.

[Paddlepop]

All sounds good to me!

My DD was fully FF. After the first few weeks we didn't bother with sterilising the bottles. Too lazy and sleep deprived. Just a good hot soapy wash and hot rinse, and left to air dry. It's fine to not sterilise if the water you wash the bottles in is safe to drink ie a safe reliable water supply that doesn't cause illness. Just make sure that you scrub away any traces of milk or undissolved powder from the bottles and teats. That is where the bacteria will breed.

We also didn't boil the water for 5 minutes. We just boiled the kettle. It actually didn't occur to us to boil it for 5 minutes. We also stored the water on the bench at room temp. She was a newborn in summer in Brisbane, so it got quite hot and humid. We never had any gastro problems with her.

Like you, we microwaved the water prior to adding formula powder. Obviously, shake and test. No problems for us.

You can make up formula with room temp water if that powder dissolves and baby is happy to drink it. I've read on EB that lots of mums have done this and their baby has been happy with the formula.

I'm sure that lucky2 will be able to direct you to the official Australian formula directions. Or just check some other FF threads. The link will be in there from her.

Something to be aware of is that formula tends to cause constipation in babies, so just keep track of baby's bowel movements and make sure that he/she isn't getting constipated. A constipated baby is no fun for anyone.

[starboard]

Sounds ok to me.
Both my two were/ are formula fed on S26 Gold. I use an Avent sterilizer, boiled water from the kettle, fill bottles up with boiled water, leave on work bench to cool.
Once cooled, I actually add the formula then then store the feeds at the back of the fridge.
I warm them in a bowl of hot water if I have warning. Or if the yelling gets too loud, a few seconds in the microwave, followed by a good shake.

[Dylan's Mummy]

I can't help with the formula side of things but you can get microwave sterilizes that are a bit easier to use.

[Natttmumm]

We did the same except we boiled the water in the jug on two cycles and also washed bottles in dishwasher and then sterilized.
Worked for us.
I threw out Any water after 24 hrs.
You are doing finr

[seayork2002]

We used to sterilise the bottles on an evening, make up the bottles, for the next day, with boiled water then leave on the counter, add the formula at the time of feeding (shaking side to side) then feeding, we did not heat.

[Giltine]

We used to sterilise the bottles on an evening, make up the bottles, for the next day, with boiled water then leave on the counter, add the formula at the time of feeding (shaking side to side) then feeding, we did not heat.

We do this. DD won't take them heated so this saved some time. We just boil the kettle, I don't bother with the 5 minute boiling in a pot. I've even given her bottled water when I've run out of her boiled water when away from home. I just wash bottles as normal and rinse in hot water if I'm not at home and she feeds more than I planned for.

DD is fully FF, on S26 Newborn.

[bunnee]

I stored boiled water in the fridge. Made up bottle then heated by placing bottle in a mug of boiling water until it was warm.

[Katie_bella]

Boiled water doesn't need to be stored in the fridge, but made up formula does need to be.
Grab a microwave steriliser, it will make your life easier.
Don't add formula powder to hot water, it destroys some of the nutrients, only add it to cooled/room temp water.
I just used water from the jug that had boiled, so much easier.

Essentially, you are doing nothing wrong, but as pp have mentioned there may be an easier/quicker way to do things, but you'll figure out what works for you.