How do other moms prepare their baby's bottle for over night ?

Sandra - posted on 10/21/2011

I'm going to do what all my friends and my 2 younger sisters did which is you clean and sterilise the bottles and put the cooled down water in the bottles. Then you measure out milk into sterilised containers and use them. Also if you want the milk warm put the water in some warm water then add the powder. My nephews, my friends daughter and my son (big age gap between them and my son) didn't really care whether it was warm or cold but we all did same thing, 4 mom's, warm bottle at night to get them into knowing it's sleepy-time. So thats when we all filled our bottles weird fact but true.

Proud - posted on 09/21/2011

I don't pre-make bottles. I make a bottle up each time she needs one. I can make a bottle quicker than the bottle warmer could warm one up.

Danielle - posted on 09/06/2011

My son had the liquid formula. I would make up bottles for the day and make up more whenever we ran out. I used a bottle warmer. (I never liked the powered formula and still don't to this day.)

Christine - posted on 01/25/2010

I agree with Mary. I would never microwave the formula! If you don't have a bottle warmer, microwave a mug of water & let the refrigerated bottle sit in it (after it comes out of the microwave) for approx. 2 minutes.

Michelle - posted on 01/24/2010

i did the formala sitting in the bottles on the bence, boiled water in the fridge, put the water in the bottle, then heated the kettle up, n put it in jug of water... sometimes the mesurements aint correct from the formula being in the bottle first so i check before feedin to my son

Kelly - posted on 01/24/2010

i make up my bottle for overnight before i go to bed, and when my partner wakes up in the morning he makes me up a bottle for when me and bub wake up. they are put in the fridge and warmedup in the microwave as needed. i make up my day time bottles as needed.

as far as i've ever been told though, you're not supposed to rehaet ANYTHING more than once. in the microwave or on the stove. if he's just heating water and then putting formula in, it shouldnt't be too bad. but i wouldn't be reheating made up bottles that have already been in the microwave.

Tanya - posted on 01/24/2010

I have 4 children & they were breast fed for the 1st 6 months but when they did go onto bottles I used to make them a day at a time & put in the fridge & heat them in a bottle warmer or jug of hot water, you should nevere re-heat in a microwave cos it can create hot spots. It does not do a baby any harm to have to wait a few minutes for a bottle they will then be totally ready for & sleep better once they have taken it.

Hope this is of some use

Rohsaan - posted on 01/21/2010

I put boiling water into the bottles, put the lids on and leave them on the bench near the microwave.
At feed time I heat one up to body temp, add formula and shake. Cos it's warm, formula combines well.

When I go out I take a bottle of very hot water in an insulated bottle bag. I take the formula separately in a formula container (pre-measured). That way made up milk isn't carried around all day luke warm.

Krista - posted on 01/21/2010

Hm. I read from a bunch of mothers on here about how they just prep the water ahead of time and then mix up the bottles as needed. I tried that for the last few days with Sam and it was Spitup City -- too many air bubbles in the bottle from mixing it up and not having enough time for the air to rise back up to the top to be squeezed out. So now I'm back to my old standard: mixing up all of his bottles the night before and popping them in the fridge. Yes, they take longer to heat up, but at least I won't have to deal with Pukey McSpitup all day long.

And this:

Formula is only good for 1 hour after it has been mixed. Even if you put it in the fridge it's only good for one hour....so im not sure if it's a good idea to make 4-6 of them ahead of time. I understand it would be a great and easy way to have them made ahead of time but I just know after one hour of being mixed you need to toss the formula.

Dawn - posted on 01/21/2010

In the store you can find plastic formula dispensers. You can prepare the amount of formula and have a few amounts already measured for quick use. I find it easy to buy the nursery water that can be found in the grocery store, walmart, etc. I do not boil the water, definitely not microwave. My babies had no problem drinking room temperature bottles. The nursery water is safe to give without boiling. And I don't have any issues with the formula dissolving as long as I put the water in, formula, then shook the crap out of the bottle. Mixed just fine :)

Tamara - posted on 01/21/2010

I don't refrigerate or warm them up. I make them as he gets hungry and feed it to him room temperature. Its way better for me, u don't have 2 wait for it 2 warm up and he's satisfied sooner.

Stacey - posted on 01/20/2010

I am a qualifed Childcare worker (mothercraft) and both my girls have been/being bottle feed... even at the childcare centre and at home I boil the water, and only add half of the mls (for example my baby is only having 150mls so I put 75mls of boiled water in), then wait to it cools, put it in the fridge with my 6 other Sterlised bottles that I have done the same for and when she is due for a feed quickly boil the kettle with only a little water in it ( so it boils quicker) then add it to my cold water in the bottle which is perfect tempeture and then add the formula.... I have found this the quickest and eastiest way as bottle warmers took alittle longer to heat and Im trying to stay away from the microwave ( However with my first, I microwaved every bottle and she is a beautiful healthy 3 year old)
I also brought the formula divider container so NOT everyones hands where in the formula tin every feed and I personally found this the easiest way....
By the way we LOVE camping and I found the half and half way was VERY convienet when my little one woke for a night feed.... Good luck and Chelsea what ever you choose will be right for you and your child...

Jenny - posted on 01/20/2010

When we had our 5 yr old daughter... we did make a batch for the day using boiling water, stored them in the fridge & mircowaved them to warm them (shaking really good before giving it to her). But we wasted so much formula it wasn't funny. That is when we started made the bottles one at a time using warm tap water. I would wash the bottles after using them and boil the clean bottles & nipples about once a week. We never had issues with the kids getting sick other then allergy issues (daughter has tree & grass polline issues) - that is till they started headstart (pre-school).

But my kids weren't new borns when they started on formula. My daughter was about 6 weeks old, and my sons were 3 months and 10 months old when we started using formula daily. Before that they would only get a bottle of formula if we were somewhere I couldn't nurse them. Sorry, I'm not one to nurse in a resterant or at family's homes who find it offensive... I try to be respectful when it come to nursing, but in my home I do it even if I have to go to the bedroom when people are over.

Lauren - posted on 01/20/2010

Our doctors told us not to microwave the formula. It causes "hot spots" and it breaks down all the good stuff the formula is made from. We used to prepare it in bulk into a pitcher for the fridge. I thought it was great because it was ready when our son was ready. I was told that wasn't a good idea either. Apparently the more times the air hits the formula, the more chances are if it containing bacteria. So, as long as you do individual bottles not from microwaved water...you should be fine. My doctor also told me never to have our child drink from something for more than an hour. Once it hits their mouth, you should toss it within the hour. Thier saliva causes bacteria to form and it can get them sick. I had sitters feeding him milk, and if he didn't finish it they'd put it back in the fridge...they were using the same cup two days in a row if he didn't finish!!! Be careful with that.

Samantha - posted on 01/19/2010

NEVER MICROWAVE FORMULA! it breaks down all the "good" stuff in the formula. When preparing the bottles just use luke warm tap water. that'll do the trick. If you just make them as you go by using warm tap it will cancel out half the steps when your tired.

Simone - posted on 01/17/2010

I used a container (bonbelle in Aust) that was separated into 3 so you measure out the powder. so no measuring in the night. With the water I used 1/2 the amount cold distilled water and 1/2 boiling water add your powder and your ready to go. I had a thing about the microwave.

Tracey-ann - posted on 01/17/2010

i put the boiling water in the bottles than in the fridge than when needed i microwave the water than put the formula in than shake that way the formula is not siting in the bottle all that time an there is no way anything can happen

Tiffany - posted on 01/17/2010

i have read that u are not supposed to heat formula or breast milk. the way me and my husband do it is we fill the bottles with water before bed and then when our son wakes up we mix the formula in.

Amanda Jo - posted on 01/17/2010

im with mary rhames- u really shouldnt microwave bottles not only for radiation but sometimes cuz micros heat diffrently the bottle can heat unevenly and cause hot spots that you dont feel right away.. other than that as, we always used powder and did bottle warmers or just room temp bottled water.. as long as u shake it good and mix well it doesnt matter how its prepared..

Jennifer - posted on 01/17/2010

Formula is only good for 1 hour after it has been mixed. Even if you put it in the fridge it's only good for one hour....so im not sure if it's a good idea to make 4-6 of them ahead of time. I understand it would be a great and easy way to have them made ahead of time but I just know after one hour of being mixed you need to toss the formula.

Julie - posted on 01/16/2010

In prenatal classes they told us to never put bottle in a microwave - always use a bottle warmer. Microwaves change the molecular structure of the formula. We alwaysed used the bottle warmer. We bought one for the bedroom along with our mini fridge in the bedroom. We just grabed the bottle from the mini fridge and put it in the warmer. Easy peasy.



P.S. we used the ready to go liquid formula - no mixing.

Nakita - posted on 01/16/2010

what i do is boil the water put it in to a big jug and left the jug of water on the table, we used liquid formula so we would just poor water in to bottle and add formula be for each feeding, and put the left over formula in the fridge until i need it again. ( we use enfamil A+ and it says for open cans use withing 48 hours and thats what we did). no heating necessary, just room temp.

Kerry - posted on 01/16/2010

I used to buy powder formula and prepare the bottle with powder and when baby was ready to eat, I would pour room temperature bottled water into bottle, shake and then give to baby. It was easier because I didn't need to waste time heating it, and it was easy to prepare if I was out, I just needed a room temp bottle of water...

Michelle - posted on 01/15/2010

I used to do the same as u - mix them, so they are ready and then heat them in the mico. But now-a-days everyone gives cold formula after a few months old seems so strange to me, but my sister says her dr. says that's fine :)

Julie - posted on 01/13/2010

We gave our bottles at room temp. We had the water in the bottles on the counter, so that the water would be warm. Then we just put in the formula. At night we used a container that all ready had the formula divided out so all we had to was dump the formula in and shake. Hope I was helpful. I have 2 1/2 year old twin boys.

Amanda - posted on 01/13/2010

I bought a 16 ounce bottle that a person would make gravy in or a protein drink in. I mix the formula and stick it in the fridge they say it last 24 hours so it great for during the day and at night.

Megan - posted on 01/13/2010

You are not supposed to use warm water when preparing a baby's bottle unless they are going to be using it straight away. If you refrigerate the bottles then you need to use cooled boiled water. As for making up the bottles 24 hours in advance that is the way that all of my friends who have bottle fed babies prepare them - but remember that they can only be made up 24hr ahead - if they are in the fridge for longer just throw them out.

C. - posted on 01/13/2010

What I used to do with my son, and I'm not sure this helps you out any, but I would put as many scoops of formula as we used at the time in the Playtex Drop-Ins and put the ring/nipple/cap on it until ready to use. Add a little water, squeeze the bottom gently to break up lumps, add some more water, close it up and shake when we were ready to use it.

Sumanda - posted on 01/12/2010

For my one son, I used to boil enough water for 2/3 of his 24hr milk. This I let cool. Then I would boil the other 1/3. Mix the lot together and then add the formula. Water is warm to ease mixing the formula, but not hot. Then I would pour it into a sterilised container and into the fridge. I then just put the right amount of milk into the bottle and heated it in the microwave (usually about 20 sec) before feeding him.

Sandi - posted on 01/12/2010

It's advised only to make bottles as needed and not before as the powder isn't sterile. I found it frustrating having a screaming baby while the bottle cooled so when I made a bottle I'd put just plain boiled water in a bottle for the next feed. Then when the next feed was due the water would have cooled & I'd add 1 or 2oz of fresh boiled water to it and then add the formula & shake. This way the bottle is ready right away & the milk wont be sitting around or going off.
I've had no problems with this method. Hope it helps.

Jocelyn - posted on 01/12/2010

You should never heat formula in the microwave. It can heat unevenly and cause "hot spots" in the bottle that can burn.
Plus I think it kills some of the nutrients in the formula.

Shamila - posted on 01/12/2010

i had a flask with very hot water, and a bottle with regular temperature water. 9she's two now, but I still don't use tap water) I would just mix the two to get the required temperature, put in the required formula and shake!


Be wary of microwaves, it causes uneven heating and can cause scalding.

Felicia - posted on 01/12/2010

Hello! We would make all water bottles every morning for the whole day. At night we would just add the powdered formula to the desired bottle in use. It was way easier for us at least. All of our daughters bottles were at room temperature.

Cassandra - posted on 01/12/2010

You are not supposed to heat up formula in the microwave, it can cause the milk to spoi, formula spoils very easy. It apparently wrecks the properties that are in the milk. I use bottled water to make my babies formula. I make each bottle one at a time. Mix the water and formula, shake, and then place the bottle in boiling or hot water to warm it. If you want to store your pre-mixed bottles in the fridge dont heat the formula/water mix before hand.

Jennifer - posted on 01/12/2010

I use room temp water. During the day we make them one at a time unless we are going to be gone the I put water in the bottles and add formula when ready to feed. At night we put water in a bottle and place on the counter so when she wakes up all we have to do is put the formula in and mix. My oldes son liked to have cold bottles so we would mix up a pitcher of formula and then put in bottles.

Rosie - posted on 01/12/2010

i found it took just as long of a time to prep the bottle from the fridge and nuke it n the middle of the night so i stopped making them ahead. just plain old tap water add the formula and no worrying about using the microwave. my kids even liked it cold, so if i did get an incling to make some ahead i just took it out and fed straight from the fridge cold. i never boiled water i found it an unnecessary step, but if you do feel the need to boil, then try feeding it to your baby cold.

Carol - posted on 01/12/2010

I use nursery water and prepare a couple of bottles. I just add the formula when needed. It works really well. It doesn't have to be boiling water. Nursery water is only a dollar a gallon and its the fastest and easiest way to prepare a bottle and not worry about microwaving or boiling and all that other stuff. I do sterlize his nipples when I buy them and use cold water and Green works to clean them. It says that cold water takes the soap off better.

Mandi - posted on 01/12/2010

i make 2 bottles up for my 6 mnth daughter n keep 1 in fridge n take 1 in rm with me

Chrissie - posted on 01/10/2010

i used 2 use the ready to use ones at ight time it was easier 4 me

Nancy - posted on 01/09/2010

we put the formula (for how much he normally drinks) in first then we bring them upstairs and place them on our nightstand and when he wakes up all we add is the bottled water. It saves time and works great.

Tiffany - posted on 01/09/2010

yeah not everyone could breastfeed. my daughter could only do it for a few days and then suddenly couldnt do it anymore. i was under enough stress in hospital because my baby was perfectly healthy, but i wasnt. i had pre eclampsia and a very traumatic labour and birth. i tried so hard to breastfeed her but after two days of her screaming because it wasnt enough for her (she couldnt get her technique right) i switched to formula. it was easier for her and easier for me when i was trying to get better. was in hospital for 4 days before birth, and two weeks after birth.

Charlene - posted on 01/09/2010

Not everyone breastfeeds....

For the first few months I had to supplement my daughter. I always washed my bottles in the dishwasher and then boiled them and set them out to dry in a long, shallow casserole dish, lined with paper towel. At first I made enough formula for about three or four bottles at a time. I always took a mason jar (that had been previously boiled) measured out the boiled, cooled water and then added the powdered formula, added the lid and shook. Then I stored it in the fridge and poured out each bottle as needed. I always warmed the bottles in a glass of water. Only to body temp though. Sometimes I would nuke the glass of water before putting the bottle in it because it would take for ever for the taps to heat up.

After a while I just started pouring the boiled water into the bottles and storing them in the fridge and adding the powder as needed and warming them the same way.

Thankfully I eventually was able to get my milk production back up so now she is solely breastfed unless I need to leave her with someone (which is rare) and was unable to pump enough. Then she gets some ready to feed formula.

Tassia - posted on 01/09/2010

What ever happen to breast feeding? My daughter never got a bottle until 7 months...during the evenings there was no need to make bottles or anything just put her on the breast. I stored breast milk in the freezer and use a bottle warmer if my nipples were sore. Easy as pie! Boil bottles and nipples and then wash in the dish washer with hot water. When she did get formula I made it as needed with boiled water, even if they say there is no need to boil, or use the ready to drink formula if we are out.

Elizabeth - posted on 01/09/2010

I had bottles of water sitting out on the counter with little containers (like the 4 ounce breast milk bottles that come with the pump) of formula next to them. When my daughter got up at night, I nuked the water for 10-15 seconds, changed her diaper, went in kitchen and added formula, shook, walked back to bedroom and fed her. Put dirty bottle in soapy tub of water til AM. I never put the formula in the micro, and never heated (even in warm water) more than 1x. Despite what my daycare moms say I can do with their kids formula, I still don't.

Cassi - posted on 01/09/2010

You can microwave formula right before feeding, the only thing you have to remember is to shake it really well after you microwave it to make sure there are no hot spots. And do not leave the nipple on it.

Cassi - posted on 01/09/2010

you are not supposed to microwave the bottle then put it in the fridge, you are to only heat the bottle once. When i prepared bottles i did it once a day, I had made about 10 bottles. I used to just make formula like I would concentrated juice, I used a sterilized pitcher (only used for formula) and mixed it with a big spoon. Then i just poured the right amount in each bottle. Worked for me, you just gotta find what works for you.

Faith - posted on 01/09/2010

I just fill the bottle with water so that it is ready to go and get a little container of formula set out and when I am ready to feed her, I just scoop in the formula and shake up the bottle. I do the same thing for on the go. I just give the bottles at room temperature.

Danielle - posted on 01/09/2010

I washed and sterilized bottles and water until my son was 4 months old. Now I just wash them in really hot, soapy water and rinse them out really good. I let the water faucet run on cold for a couple of minutes before i actually use it, then I mix all of my formula in a great big mixing bowl...I whisk it. I find that gets it mixed well as opposed to shaking or using a spoon. I make 10 bottles at a time...enough to last me 24 hours and then some. I always use cold water to mix the formula. I know it's supposed to be room temperature but it doesn't make a difference. The mixing bowl I have has a spout on it sort of so I can easily pour it into the bottles. Then I put any leftovers in a jug I use only for formula. I wash out the mixing bowl and leave it to dry in the dish rack with the bottle brush and that's about it.

Melissa - posted on 01/09/2010

to make 6 bottles i use to use a large jug and put the amount of scoops in...then i add the total amount of boiling water from the kettle in to the jug....mix it through till its all disolved...and then pour into bottles to the desired amount need......placed into the fridge until required.....discarded after 24 if they did not drink it...this is how i used to do it ...it might be helpful for u or maybe not ....each person has there own method

Brandi - posted on 01/09/2010

Quoting Jennifer:

when we were in the hospital with our first a Nurse told me never to even begin warming a bottle. serve with room temp water. the baby does not need it warm. what we did with both girls and it worked amazing was to fill a bunch of bottles with water, cap them and leave them on the counter. all you had to do was uncap, scoop in the formula and voila. bottle in under a minute. made things so easy.

this method works wonders for if you're away from home, too. We had a container that we used that was 3 seperate stackable containers and we kept a pre-measured amount of formula in each part of the container.  Just add to a bottle of pre-measured water and anyone could make the bottle exactly right.  Worked wonders for times when we had a sitter, I knew the bottle was properly mixed even when I wasn't there to mix it. :-)))