https://boards.hellobee.com/ Pregnancy, Baby and Parenting blog, by Hellobee en Tue, 28 Apr 2026 09:41:20 +0000 https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-do-you-prepare-formula-in-advance/page/2#post-2605780 Wed, 17 Aug 2016 22:27:55 +0000 FannyMae 2605780@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Goldengirl: yep totally! I bought a cheapy from Ikea because I was there at the time, and the size was perfect as it fit into my bottle bag neatly. if you have one at home already, give it a go! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-do-you-prepare-formula-in-advance#post-2605773 Wed, 17 Aug 2016 22:14:03 +0000 Coffee-lover 2605773@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>My dr told me there was no need to boil. I used filtered room temp water that I pre-poured into bottles. When i needed a bottle in the middle of the night all I would have to do was scoop the formula in and it was ready to go. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-do-you-prepare-formula-in-advance#post-2605771 Wed, 17 Aug 2016 22:09:36 +0000 Goldengirl 2605771@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@FannyMae: I'm guessing any type of thermos will work? </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-do-you-prepare-formula-in-advance#post-2605725 Wed, 17 Aug 2016 20:47:06 +0000 FannyMae 2605725@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@looch: looking at the melbourne water website, our water goes through a few different treatments (including chlorine). Our water tastes clean, it can be drunk straight from the tap without an extra filter, but I would still boil it for a baby, just in case. <a href="http://www.melbournewater.com.au/whatwedo/supply-water/pages/water-treatment.aspx" rel="nofollow">http://www.melbournewater.com.au/whatwedo/supply-water/pages/water-treatment.aspx</a></p> <p>@Goldengirl: the thermos was an absolute LIFE SAVER when travelling. I went to Greece when my eldest was little, and the water where we were staying was't great at all - I boiled a batch at night, put it in the thermos, and used it for night feeds as needed. Bottles were always perfect temp because of the mix of hot boiling water and pre-boiled cooled water that was already in the bottle. Obviously, just be cautious with the boiling water when you're sleepy and mixing bottles! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-do-you-prepare-formula-in-advance#post-2605693 Wed, 17 Aug 2016 20:00:41 +0000 The Dowager Countess 2605693@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Goldengirl: I do let it cool a bit, only because i worry about melting the plastic pitcher! I normally make a cup of tea at the same time, so once I've finished that, I pour the water into the pitcher and it's cooled down enough. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-do-you-prepare-formula-in-advance#post-2605593 Wed, 17 Aug 2016 16:29:34 +0000 looch 2605593@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>If the formula also contains probiotics, you don't want to heat it up too much or it negates the benefits...at least this is what my husband told me (I couldn't read the package, not my native language). </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-do-you-prepare-formula-in-advance#post-2605486 Wed, 17 Aug 2016 14:00:50 +0000 Cherrybee 2605486@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Goldengirl: I just checked our formula box and it doesn't say anything about letting it cool first. I haven't heard that before. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-do-you-prepare-formula-in-advance#post-2605478 Wed, 17 Aug 2016 13:53:02 +0000 Goldengirl 2605478@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Thanks everyone! So it seems the popular options are:<br /> A)Mix the formula ahead of time, keep in fridge, warm up before giving to baby<br /> B)Keep the boiled water in a thermos on counter and mix in formula as needed - no need for warming</p> <p>Those both seem like good strategies, I'll have to see what works best. The second option seems great for night feedings so as not to have to warm bottles in the middle of the night.</p> <p>@Cherrybee: @The Dowager Countess: Do you wait for the boiled water to reach 70 degrees before mixing? I've read it should be cooled first before mixing, but not really sure why.</p> <p>@looch: Canada! I feel like a lot of the recommendations here are the same as in the UK.</p> <p>@FannyMae: Good tip for on the go... I don't even own a thermos so will have to get one!</p> <p>@Mama Bird: Do you warm once you take out of the fridge, or give yours cold? </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-do-you-prepare-formula-in-advance#post-2605407 Wed, 17 Aug 2016 11:57:47 +0000 alphagam84 2605407@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>We just use normal tap water to fill her bottles, add the formula, shake to mix, and put in the fridge. We prep them at night for the next morning and for her to have enough at daycare. We've never boiled the water, sterilized anything, etc. It's really not a big deal. You have 24 hours to use the formula once it is mixed. We warm it up in the microwave for 25 seconds for a 6 ounce bottle without the nipple on it. Works great. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-do-you-prepare-formula-in-advance#post-2605401 Wed, 17 Aug 2016 11:56:19 +0000 lioneyes 2605401@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>my baby nurses would pre-mix the formula with filtered water and store in a pitcher in the fridge for 24 hours, pouring it as needed, and then warm up the bottles under a hot tap or in the warmer.</p> <p>i preferred to measure out the powder for all bottles of the day the night before, and then add filtered water as needed. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-do-you-prepare-formula-in-advance#post-2605398 Wed, 17 Aug 2016 11:53:38 +0000 Mama Bird 2605398@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I live in NYC and they say you don't have to boil the water, but I do it out of habit (plus you never know if something gross gets into the supply randomly once and gets missed by testing). </p> <p>I add the formula when it's warm or room temp, then keep it in the fridge. We've kept it for a day, sometimes longer, and it doesn't spoil. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-do-you-prepare-formula-in-advance#post-2605392 Wed, 17 Aug 2016 11:47:37 +0000 looch 2605392@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@FannyMae: Is your water treated with ozone or chlorine? My husband (European) was horrified to read that drinking water in the US is treated with chlorine (where we currently live), so when we visited the US, he insisted we use nursery water, becuse in his home country, water is ozone purified. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-do-you-prepare-formula-in-advance#post-2605390 Wed, 17 Aug 2016 11:45:40 +0000 BSB 2605390@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Oh, I like to make my formula ahead of time because even with the Dr. Brown pitcher and Dr. Brown bottles, I try to reduce the bubbles. My DS was particularly gassy when he was a newborn. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-do-you-prepare-formula-in-advance#post-2605387 Wed, 17 Aug 2016 11:44:09 +0000 BSB 2605387@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@FannyMae: Yeah, I think most nursery water includes fluoride. </p> <p><a href="http://www.nurserywater.com/products.php" rel="nofollow">http://www.nurserywater.com/products.php</a></p> <p>ETA: Apparently this company makes nursery water without fluoride.</p> <p>I am curious to hear what a pediatric dentist or maybe even a pediatrician would say about fluoride in nursery water. When the babies were born, I was thinking that added fluoride might not be necessary. I'm curious now because my family has very soft teeth and always had dental issues. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-do-you-prepare-formula-in-advance#post-2605382 Wed, 17 Aug 2016 11:40:21 +0000 hellobeeboston 2605382@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I make tea every morning and I fill it to the top - so usually when we're making bottles we use that cooled pre-boiled water since it's available.... If there is nothing in there we just use our tap water. I don't usually make bottles in advance but if we're going out I'll make one and keep it cool (LO will drink cool/cold bottles) for a few hours then give it. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-do-you-prepare-formula-in-advance#post-2605256 Wed, 17 Aug 2016 09:00:14 +0000 BabyTsMom 2605256@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Regular water from my refrigerator water dispenser (so I guess it's filtered?), using Dr. Brown's formula pitcher (can't recommend the pitcher enough!). I did that every morning and poured some into a bottle as needed. Never once boiled water. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-do-you-prepare-formula-in-advance#post-2605218 Wed, 17 Aug 2016 07:43:36 +0000 FannyMae 2605218@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I'm in Australia, and as far as I can remember the recommendation has always been boiled water - and we generally have excellent tap water here. </p> <p>I used to boil water and half fill bottles, then when I needed to make a bottle I would boil the kettle, fill to the required level and then add the formula. always ended up perfect temperature. When I needed a bottle on the go, I used to take a small thermos from Ikea with boiling water in it and make them like that.</p> <p>Edited to add - I've never ever heard of using distilled water or nursery water before. I don't think you anyone here even retails bottled water specifically for the purpose of making formula. Seems a bit wierd that in some parts of the US its ok to use tap water but then there is also a market for using bottled water for babies? </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-do-you-prepare-formula-in-advance#post-2605193 Wed, 17 Aug 2016 06:49:26 +0000 looch 2605193@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Goldengirl: Are you in the US? I can't remember.</p> <p>I followed the instructions on the can. I was in Europe, and the instructions basically said not to premix too far in advance, make a bottle at a time. They were primarily concerned about separation, and that if you made a big jug, you would get separation in the fridge and that you wouldn't be able to get perfect ratios of powder to water per portion.</p> <p>So what I did was boil water in my electric kettle, transfer to a glass pitcher and let cool to room temperature. Then, I would pour the water into the bottles (I had enough bottles for one day of feedings). When it was time to eat, I heated the water again in the bottle using a small warmer and then I would put the powder in and feed. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-do-you-prepare-formula-in-advance#post-2605190 Wed, 17 Aug 2016 06:38:01 +0000 Mrs. Goose 2605190@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I worked in an infant program at a daycare and we would boil the water in the morning and put it in a jug on the counter. When we needed to make a bottle we would use the room temp water and mix it with the baby's formula and then give it to them. If we ran out of water we would boil more and leave it to cool. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-do-you-prepare-formula-in-advance#post-2605172 Wed, 17 Aug 2016 03:43:10 +0000 Bubbles 2605172@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I'm in the uk and we are supposed to not only boil the water, but add the formula to it while it is still boiling. I have a tommee tipee bottle machine that makes it easy, but all the machine does is put a little bit of boiling water in, you add the powder and shake - then it tops it up with cold water to get to the right volume. When we are going out I just use the cartons although it's so expensive as my LO takes 10oz so 2 cartons each time! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-do-you-prepare-formula-in-advance#post-2605171 Wed, 17 Aug 2016 03:29:43 +0000 The Dowager Countess 2605171@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Boiled water is recommended here in Australia so I boil some up each night and then fill a Dr Browns pitcher up, mix in the formula and then make up individual bottles for the next day. I keep the leftover in the pitcher in the fridge just in case LO needs an extra bottle during the night. </p> <p>I find that mixing bottles as I go makes the anti reflux formula we use clumpy so making them all up in one hit means the milk is smoother and doesn't clog the teat. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-do-you-prepare-formula-in-advance#post-2605160 Wed, 17 Aug 2016 01:36:26 +0000 BSB 2605160@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I use bottled distilled water that I buy by the gallon at the grocery store. I use the Dr. brown pitcher and make up 24 hrs worth of bottles. Babies are drinking 150 ml at each feeding so I make a pitcher by adding 550ml of distilled water first and then 10.5 scoops of powder. (My babies are on higher calorie formula (24 cal) so more scoops are needed then what the can says. I try to make sure the formula is used within 24 hours per the directions on the can. Not sure if the formula goes bad. Though, there have been instances where the bottle is not used within 24 hours and I still give it to the babies. There's usually one bottle ready for the next feeding.</p> <p>Oh, I use distilled since I'm not sure if I wanted all the extra minerals and sometimes fluoride that is added to nursery water. I figure the multivitamin that I give them each night is enough. If I'm traveling, yeah, I'm completely fine using tap water.</p> <p>As for warming up the bottles, I have an electric kettle that I use. I turn it on and boils the water and I place the bottles in mugs and pour hot water from the kettle to warm the outside of the bottles. I do this before I wake the babies so by the time I change their diaper, the bottle is warm. It's not too warm, sometimes enough to take the chill out of the refrigerated bottles... I said early on I wanted to babies to take room temp bottles. The babies don't like cold out of the fridge bottles.</p> <p>Oh, if the formula is just made (using room temp water), I don't need to warm up more. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-do-you-prepare-formula-in-advance#post-2605146 Wed, 17 Aug 2016 00:14:21 +0000 Cherrybee 2605146@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Goldengirl: I'm in the UK and we are advised to use boiled water. </p> <p>I boil a kettle then fill a bunch of bottles in advance. Once cooled, they go in the fridge. Then I warm in the bottle warner and add powder at the time of feeding. The advice here is to use freshly boiled water every time, to kill the bacteria in the powder, and then stand the bottle in cold water to cool it to drinking temp but I cant be doing with that. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-do-you-prepare-formula-in-advance#post-2605142 Tue, 16 Aug 2016 23:34:54 +0000 auggiefrog 2605142@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@raspberries: Great tip! I feed my LO BM at night, but I plan on weaning soon. I was pretty sad about the thought of having to get up and warm a bottle if he still needed an overnight feeding. I started doing this with formula when we are traveling and never thought to do it overnight. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-do-you-prepare-formula-in-advance#post-2605141 Tue, 16 Aug 2016 23:29:31 +0000 auggiefrog 2605141@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I just use nursery water found in the baby section. I premix it the night before in a dr. brown's formula pitcher and make my bottles from that. I have to have my bottles ready for daycare anyways, and it's easier for me to do it the night before. As long as your baby eats it before the 24 hours are up, it's perfectly fine. I warm the bottles up with a bottle warmer (or they do it at daycare) at his feeding time. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-do-you-prepare-formula-in-advance#post-2605128 Tue, 16 Aug 2016 22:24:49 +0000 gingerbebe 2605128@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>We supplement and the easiest thing for me was to get a hot water dispenser, keep it filled with filtered water, and then mix a fresh bottle with a mix of the boiling water and cold water. Then it's already warm and ready to go. We have a water filtration system in our house so it comes out of a countertop faucet. Both my boys had problems with gas so I put gas drops in the bottle when I mixed it up (key is to swirl the bottle) and you had no bubbles. When we are out I just keep warm water in one of those Swell thermal hot bottles. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-do-you-prepare-formula-in-advance#post-2605126 Tue, 16 Aug 2016 22:23:03 +0000 jhd 2605126@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I boiled water and left it on the counter. LO didn't mind room temp bottles. I pre measured the formula and put it in these formula containers that had space for three feedings. I'm in the states. No one told me to boil water but my mom used to do it for my younger siblings so that's probably why I did it! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-do-you-prepare-formula-in-advance#post-2605107 Tue, 16 Aug 2016 21:41:17 +0000 gentlelunette 2605107@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Pollywog: this is what my sister did, except she kept the pre-boiled water on the counter in a jug. If she was away from home, she would premeasure the water into the bottles and then just pour in the powder when baby needed to eat. We're in Canada, if that makes a difference. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-do-you-prepare-formula-in-advance#post-2605093 Tue, 16 Aug 2016 21:19:38 +0000 Pollywog 2605093@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I'm not a formula feeder, but babysat for a kid who was. They boiled water once a day and then refrigerated it and made new bottles at every feed. No one I know boils at every feed. I'm sure making a batch of formula works too. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-do-you-prepare-formula-in-advance#post-2605087 Tue, 16 Aug 2016 21:14:43 +0000 Mrs Green Grass 2605087@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I didn't boil. Made large bottles and poured into smaller...served cold. </p>