if you FF.. can you share how you prepared the bottles?

i just want to come up with the easiest system on prepping the bottles.

i also wanted to do room temp formula.. is this okay to do?

Re: if you FF.. can you share how you prepared the bottles?

If you want to do room temperature, you have to use powder and you can't pre-make the bottles. I did this for my son. I left a bottle of filtered water on the sink counter and made his bottles as he needed them. I started doing this with the twins but it just didn't work. For the twins I use either ready to feed or I make a big batch of powder and put it in the fridge. The powder mix lasts 24 hours in the fridge. I warm the bottles but they are not super warm and sometimes, if they are screaming, they'll get it cold and they are fine with it. Especially now that they are older.

Re: if you FF.. can you share how you prepared the bottles?

The only way I was able to do room temp. bottles was when the can of RTF formula was not opened. Once it went into the fridge I needed to heat the bottles. I never used powder in the beginning b/c my ped said it sometimes gives the babies more gas. At about 3 months my boys were switched to Elecare and that only comes in powder so I had no choice. I would boil water and put it in a glass canister(sp?) and then once it was cooled I would put into rubbermade bottles. That is when I started giving them room temp. containers. So much easier. Then you can make the bottles as needed.

When they were still on the RTF, I would prepare their bottles at night and put in a bottle bag and bring up into my room at night so I wouldn't have to come back downstairs. Then I had tea pot type thing that plugged in and boiled water and that's how I would heat the bottles at night.

I hope this kind of answered your question. Not sure what bottles you're going to use but, I began with Dr. Browns and they were a pain to clean. Besides that when you put the middle piece in you can't shake the bottle to mix b/c it forms bubbles that can cause gas. I went through a ton of bottles before I found what worked best for my boys. They have been using the avent bottles since 4 months and they loved them.

Message edited 4/14/2010 10:42:38 AM.

Re: if you FF.. can you share how you prepared the bottles?

Re: if you FF.. can you share how you prepared the bottles?

No matter how much you prepare before they are born you are never fully ready when they arrive. It will all work out and you will find what works best for you.

Re: if you FF.. can you share how you prepared the bottles?

Re: if you FF.. can you share how you prepared the bottles?

Sorry I keep posting. . .Also, I bought one of those powder formula cup holders (not sure what it's called but you put the powder in it when you're going out) I would bring the bottles up to my room with the measured water in them and then have the powder in the container measured out. When the babies would wake up I would just add the powder to the water and all done. Nice and quick!!

Re: if you FF.. can you share how you prepared the bottles?

Re: if you FF.. can you share how you prepared the bottles?

My boys ended up having a lot of gas. When we switched to elecare for some reason the powder would not come out of the nipple. I went up a size but it was too fast for the boys. I then tried the playtex drop ins, playtex ventaire. One boy liked it the other hated the nipple. After weeks of frustration on all of us I tried the Avent and everybody was happy. Very easy to clean also. I bought the battery operated mixing wand to mix in the bottles. Only 4.99 at BRU

Re: if you FF.. can you share how you prepared the bottles?

Re: if you FF.. can you share how you prepared the bottles?

Re: if you FF.. can you share how you prepared the bottles?

Posted by mom2mgn

Posted by DNR

Sorry I keep posting. . .Also, I bought one of those powder formula cup holders (not sure what it's called but you put the powder in it when you're going out) I would bring the bottles up to my room with the measured water in them and then have the powder in the container measured out. When the babies would wake up I would just add the powder to the water and all done. Nice and quick!!

Yes, this is what i did and it worked great.

As for making the pitcher and using it within 24 hours, I almost always do use it all. I'll also go a little beyond the 24 hours. However, no matter how hard you try, you will waste some formula at one time or another so don't drive yourself crazy with that.

As for the Dr. Brown's bottles, I always mixed the formula in it with my son. I would just let it settle a minute before I gave him the bottle so there weren't any bubbles.

With the twins, we had bottle and formula problems too. Nicolas was so gassy. It took several tries but he now uses Similac sensitive formula and born free bottles. Gia uses similac advance and playtex bottles. It was a pain at first but we've gotten use to it now.

Don't worry, you'll make it through. The anticipation is worse than anything else. Once they're home, you'll get into a groove and it will be fine and we'll always be here for you if you have any questions.

Re: if you FF.. can you share how you prepared the bottles?

Deanna- you have FM.

Re: if you FF.. can you share how you prepared the bottles?

I don't use Dr Browns...we use playtex drop-ins. But, I can tell you what I do for the formual

When the babies were little, they only got RTF, they were very gassy. I would make a bunch of bottles during the day and refrigerate them. WHen it was time to east I would heat them in a mug of hot water for a very short time, only to take the chill off and make them room temp. At night, I used the smaller bottles. of RTF. For me, it was worth the added expense the first few weeks. I would bring everything I needed upstairs with me at night. (bottles, formula) I originally was buying the 2oz similac RTF and then once they upped the amount they ate I woul.d use one 8 oz RTF bottle for them to share.

Now at just over 5 months they are OK on the powder. I measure out the powder into bottles in the morning and leave a pitcher of water on the counter. I add water and mix before I change their diapers and then they eat. But with the drop-ins I can mix it right in the bottle, so I guess you'd have to make a pitcher if you are using Dr. Browns.

Re: if you FF.. can you share how you prepared the bottles?

Hey - I have tried it all. (1) Premixing formula in the pitcher (I have one for you, I will give it to you with the clothes) and preparing bottles on the fly (2) premixing with pitcher, making the bottles and keeping them in the fridge (3) using RTF (4) leaving pitcher of filtered water on the counter and making bottles on the fly and (5) prefilling bottles with filtered water and leaving them on the counter. FYI, I use Dr. Browns and love them.

FOR ME - two ways worked best. I mostly used (and now exclusively use) powder. The little scoop that comes in the container makes 2 ounces per scoop. When they were eating odd numbers of ounces (so when I was making 3 or 5 ounce bottles), I would pre-make batches of formula in pitchers, fill the bottles, keep them in the fridge and heat them as needed. When they were eating even numbers of ounces (2/4 and now 6), I fill the bottles with filtered water, leave them on the counter, and use those formula measuring container things. Trying to "make" (i.e., assemble & fill) bottles when the babies are screaming or its the middle of the night is a nightmare. I like to have everything as set up as possible, KWIM? HTH.

ETA - you should try all methods and see what works for you and your kids. try not to get worked up about it now - EVERYTHING is a trial and error process.

Message edited 4/14/2010 3:43:35 PM.

Re: if you FF.. can you share how you prepared the bottles?

Right now we are using the Platex drop ins and that seems to be agreeing with the twins. I leave a Brita Filter pitcher on the counter so it is at room temp along with the bottles already filled with water and I use the formula measuring containers and make the bottles as we need them.

Re: if you FF.. can you share how you prepared the bottles?

Re: if you FF.. can you share how you prepared the bottles?

Deanna-I have a poland spring cooler and we use the hot water spout as room temp that way we always have room remp water. I prefer the powder over the ready to feed. I actually hate the ready to feed with a passion.

What formula will you use?

Re: if you FF.. can you share how you prepared the bottles?

Posted by MetsGirl07

Posted by DNR

Sorry I keep posting. . .Also, I bought one of those powder formula cup holders (not sure what it's called but you put the powder in it when you're going out) I would bring the bottles up to my room with the measured water in them and then have the powder in the container measured out. When the babies would wake up I would just add the powder to the water and all done. Nice and quick!!

please, i am so glad you are posting !! i need all the help i can get

i know exactly what you are talking about! i got 2 of them at my shower and i thought it was a great idea!

now i just have the mixing problem with those darn dr. brown bottles. .haha

Re: if you FF.. can you share how you prepared the bottles?

We use rtf formula b/c the girls are very gassy and have reflux, the powder just didnt agree with them they were miserable. The big cases of RTF formula give you the same amt of formula as a 32oz of the powder( for similac) WE have about 20 dr browns bottles for dd's. they are a pain in the *** to clean but I make all the bottles after dinner and they last me a little over 24 hours. We also have the bottle cooler and heater in our room so you can keep 2 bottles cool at night right next to you and heat them up in about a minute to feed them so its really not that much of a pain to heat. During the day I just place them in warm water for a few min before they are supposed to eat.
Also I love the RTF beacause mixing enough formula for the whole day for twins is a pain, you cant add them to the bottles and then shake them all b/c they clump up real bad.
We use the 8oz rtf bottles for when we"re out i always keep 2 in my diaper bag incase i'm out longer than i planned.