Bottle Preparedness for powder formula users

I was just reading about bottle preparedness safety and was wondering what everyone here does...

It says you have to use boiled water left at room temp within 24 hrs. Do you? We have a big rubbermaid jug we keep out filled with boiled water that we refill when it gets low... usually every 1-2 days, but we just add the new eater to the eater in there already. Never thought twice about it...

Also... we've been making 5oz of water, which means I have to make a half scoop. The directions call for packed scoops, which is impossible with a half scoop. Could I be throwing off the water/formula ratio in a dangerous way by simply eyeballing the half scoop?

FYI, we make the formula as we go to not have to worry about warming it up each time.

Message edited 9/28/2011 5:30:40 AM.

Re: Bottle Preparedness for powder formula users

I'm so afraid of mixing it wrong that I use the Dr. Brown's mixing pitcher. Every night after DD goes to sleep I make all her bottles for the next day.

Even when we are out I mix more than she eats because I don't want to do it wrong. She eats 5 or 5.5 oz so I make 6.

I do use a warmer but I only warm it to room temperature

Re: Bottle Preparedness for powder formula users

I never boiled the water. I just used the Brita filtered water and either warmed it up or room temp.

I would NOT eyeball 1/2 scoop. That could throw their tummies off. You are probably getting a different amount of formula each time you do it.

We got the Dr. Brown's pitcher and made 1 pitcher for the day. We only did full scoops and it mixes it really well. Gets out all the bubbles rather than shaking it.

If the pitcher wasn't clean or available I always rounded up and gave more ozs. and pored the rest into another bottle or tossed it.

Re: Bottle Preparedness for powder formula users

I never boiled the water, always uses filtered water in a clean pitcher which is left on the counter. I usually refill it everyday.

I always eyeballed a half of scoop, never had a problem.

Re: Bottle Preparedness for powder formula users

we make 5oz bottles too and i eyeball the half scoop and its never been an issue. i use filtered room temp water.

Re: Bottle Preparedness for powder formula users

I don't boil water. We just have a Brita pitcher on the counter that we keep filled for him.

As far as the 5 oz, I would just make 6 and toss the last oz. I hated doing it as I thought it was wasteful, but he didn't stay on 5 oz for long so it wasn't that bad. I probably wouldn't eyeball, too much rrom for error IMO.

Re: Bottle Preparedness for powder formula users

i keep a jug of poland spring water from our water cooler on the counter. ive never boiled it.

i eyeball the half scoop and have never had a problem.

i also have the dr browns pitcher but since DS goes to a sitter, i dont like making it for the days worth of formula because i wouldnt go through it all since the sitter has her own container of formula. i only use it on the weekends.

Re: Bottle Preparedness for powder formula users

I use room temperature bottled water and make them as needed- DD is 4.5 months and has never taken more than a 4oz bottle (doctor thinks she self regulated because of her reflux issues), but when i tried I would just estimate 1/2 a scoop and there were never any problems.

Re: Bottle Preparedness for powder formula users

I use room temp bottled water. DD usually eats 5 ounces, but I make 6. Eyeballing the 1/2 scoop concerns me because I'd be afraid it would be different each time and throw her off. It kills me to toss that ounce (or 2 occassionally!) since we're on Nutramigen, which is , but this is just what works for us.

Re: Bottle Preparedness for powder formula users

Re: Bottle Preparedness for powder formula users

We boiled the water and put it in an empty container and left it to room temp. I think I read about the throwing it away after 24 hours late in the game so we never did that and DS never had any problems.

As far as eyeballing, well, I thought I rememberd the packaging saying NOT to pack the scoops so it felt like every time DS was getting a slightly different amount anyway (air pockets and all) so I don't think I worried too much about it. Again, we never really had a problem.

Sometimes we would try to make the formula up in 2oz bottles so we could give him more or less depending on how he was feeling, but having to wait just the time it took to pour formula into the premeasuerd bottle and shake would send him into a huge fit and then he would refuse it!! Yeah, my boy...not so patient. Sadly, that hasn't improved all that much in his two years.

Re: Bottle Preparedness for powder formula users

We use room temp bottled water and I always eyeball the half scoop. The Similac Advance Powdered says not to use packed scoops, so eyeballing a half was always fine by me.

We have never had any issues and DD is 6.5 months old.

ETA: I bought this handy dandy mixer which works wonders and does not create a lot of air.

Munchkin Formula Mixer (bought at BRU)

Message edited 9/28/2011 10:03:22 AM.

Re: Bottle Preparedness for powder formula users

I put the boiled water in the fridge and just keep in with at least 24 oz in it. As for the "scoop" mine says a "level, unpacked" scoop. I would be fine with eyeballing it.

Re: Bottle Preparedness for powder formula users

Re: Bottle Preparedness for powder formula users

I boil water every day and store at room temperature on the counter in a pitcher. I make bottle by bottle so I don't have to warm. I eyeball half scoops and never thought that it might be a problem.

Re: Bottle Preparedness for powder formula users

Re: Bottle Preparedness for powder formula users

Well....I am on DC #3.
I always just used filtered frig' water and as for level packed scoops Half the time in the middle of the night , I have my eyes closed when I make the bottles

All 3 have lived to tell about it and have fared well.....

I'm sure if you consistently gave heaping mounds of formula, the baby could become constipated (or if there was way too little, the baby would not get their needed calories) , but eing somewhat off I'd say is just fine

Re: Bottle Preparedness for powder formula users

WOW, am i the only one that doesn't use bottled or filtered? when i was in the hospital they told me not to. I was told tap water is perfectly fine & my husband who is a plumber said NY has the safest, drinking water

Re: Bottle Preparedness for powder formula users

I have used bottled water for both of my kids. Our ped even told us it was ok to do so. We never used boiled water. Before we started using the Dr. Brown's pitcher (which has been a life saver) we used to make a 6 oz bottle even if he was only drinking 5. I didn't feel comfortable eyeballing it.

edited for spelling

Message edited 9/28/2011 11:36:42 AM.

Re: Bottle Preparedness for powder formula users

i buy distilled water for DD and make her bottles using the Dr. browns Pitcher. I make all her bottles the night before.

I have in the past done half a scoop if need be.

Re: Bottle Preparedness for powder formula users

Re: Bottle Preparedness for powder formula users

Posted by mommyIam

Posted by MrsMeloyellow

WOW, am i the only one that doesn't use bottled or filtered? when i was in the hospital they told me not to. I was told tap water is perfectly fine & my husband who is a plumber said NY has the safest, drinking water

Its amazing you would only know this, if you know a plumber

I just boiled because in the old country water was bad, so my parents always boiled, and that's just ingrained in me.

I never heard of 24 hour rule for bottled water.

NYC tap water is the best in the world, I don't know about LI. NYC water has been tested by more independent testing and always found to be amazing - proof is in the bagels

I'm just weary of plastic, I would store it airtight glass pitchers. I used old school milk jugs, I just washed them, poured boiled water hot in there, and cover it with a glass while its hot, as it cools it forms a seal from the air pressure.

Re: Bottle Preparedness for powder formula users

let me guess...this is your first kid?

My daughter weighs about three pounds more than most kids her age...and I have been eyeballing half scoops for more than 8 months...so clearly there is no issue. Wait until you have your second kid...you will be so relaxed that you'll just dust off their binky on your pants when it falls off the floor and stick it back in their mouth! good luck!!!

Message edited 9/28/2011 3:26:19 PM.

Re: Bottle Preparedness for powder formula users

I use cooled boiled water in a pitcher on my counter and mix the bottles as needed. I eyeball the half scoop.

Re: Bottle Preparedness for powder formula users

We used bottled room temperature water. Sometimes we boiled but, we didn't use it within 24 hrs (I'm in Rockland County though and the water is sub par compared to NYC and LI - it doesn't taste as good).

When DS was on powder, I eyeballed the half scoop - like pps said, since it wasn't packed, it was a different amount each time - I could tell if it was too much based on the consistency of the bottle so I'd add a teensie bit more water.

Message edited 9/28/2011 3:55:00 PM.