Thoughts on Formula??

Question

I am currently using premixed similac formula for my 6 week old. I am getting ready to switch over to powder. Any thoughts on how to make getting bottles prepared easier? Premixed formula is wonderful, but expensive!

Answer 1

I sterilized all my bottles (washed and then boiled on the stove) and filled them with sterilized water that I boiled also. Have them ready on the counter or whatever, then when you need some, put powder in however many you will use in 2 days, shake em up and put them in the fridge. When you get a few more empty bottles, do the same thing over again. It's nice because you can take the bottles of water and a can of formula with you when you travel somewhere, and mix them as you need them, and not need refrigeration for them like if they were pre-made.

Answer 2

since you will probably want to use boiled water, but want to have cool water (or warm) on the ready, keep sterile bottles of already boiled and cooled water in the fridge. when the baby wants a bottle, boil some water and add to the cool water to make it the right temperature, and then add the formula. when going out, you can leave the house with bottles of boiling water, some bags or containers of ready measured fomula. chances are that the water will be the right temp when you are ready to feed. in any case, breast milk is lukewarm, and doctors now recommend that you give lukewarm bottles as opposed to warm.... try to wash the bottles immediately after the baby has fed - or at least rinse them. the formula tends to stick after a while, making for tough scrubbing. make sure to shake the bottle well before a feed and look for lumps! good luck!

Answer 3

Hi!. I always pre-made bottle for a whole day or two. If your son takes 8 bottles a day then you can mix up all the milk you need in a big jug then pour it out into bottles and line them up in the fridge so when he's ready you can grab one heat it and give it to him. I agree with the other poster on the WIC idea however they will not give you the coupons for pre mixed. It has to be powder or concentrate that you add water to. Good luck.

Answer 4

try getting ur formula thru WIC.govt program.u have 2 income qualify.if u cant the cheapest place would be wal mart,i think!!my son needed NUTRAGIMEN...now that's some expensive formula,however since it was Dr. recommended it went thru my insurance and didn't cost me a cent!!now he's going back on isomil,which is similac soy formula.there is no less expensive route unless u breastfeed.sorry.i use SOOTHIE bottles,the necks of the bottles r huge there's no missing or spilling the formula.i also always have the bottles full of water so when he's hungry just add the scoops...no time wasted.

Answer 5

I use powdered formula, and as others have said, just take the can wherever you go, lol. What can make things easier though, is to go to Wal-Mart and buy gallon jugs of Nursery Water. (around a buck a gallon)Because you need flouridated water, and my baby likes his formula room temp. I just measure out around 3 ounces of the nursery water in his bottles then just add 1 1/2 scoops. Makes night time feeding really easy.
Besides, the formula they gave him in the hospital was just room temp. so it made it better not trying to change what he was already familiar with. Congrats on the baby~!

Answer 6

They sell little bowls at Wal-Mart, I think Parent's Choice makes them. They have 3 compartments to put the powder into. You just put in however many scoops you need in each compartment, for each bottle (one scoop for ea. 2 oz. of water), then dump it in when you are ready to use it. It has a lid that turns to each compartment. I had 2 of them, so I was always ready! It makes carrying formula in the diaper bag MUCH easier!! I think they are like $2-something. Not expensive at all!

Answer 7

I tried mixing when needed and baby got a lot of painful gas!!

I highly recommend mixing up several bottles and putting them in the fridge...when needed just give a quick shake and heat up. If you mix the powder into the water right before feeding, you are basically feeding foam!! Good luck!


For on the go....

Get a cooler pack that holds a couple of bottles in your diaper bag and put them in there right out of the fridge. Warm the bottle under hot running water in any restroom when needed.

For shorter outings, put the cold bottles directly in your diaper bag, they will warm slightly and by the time you need one, it should be a good temp.

Answer 8

WIC is really helpful, but my personal opinion do not change the formula similac advance is the best, I got 3 children and I used this formula for all my children because is really good.
The way you mixed is one full scoop for every 2 oz of water, and 1/2 scoop for one oz of water. is really simple.

Answer 9

I loved using powdered formula. It didnt need to stay refridgerated after opening and you make it at your leisure. I had one of those containers that you could keep in your diaper bag to have the formula in (example your baby drinks 6 oz bottles you put 3 scoops of formula in the one section of the container). Then you can keep bottled water or keep water in ur baby's bottles in teh diaper bag and mix it when they're hungry. No need to worry about refridgeration or anything.

GOOD LUCK!!!!

Answer 10

I'm a WIC Coordinator @ my Job- Call 1-800-WIC-1007 -
Touch base with them and see what your income guidelines are. Just make sure you get a letter from your peditrician called "Request for special formula form" (RSFF) - So, you can get the formula. I believe they give about 8 cans of 12oz a month. That should help....