Prepare bottles for your baby: this is how it works
If you don’t breastfeed your baby, it will get a special formula from the bottle. You will therefore prepare a bottle several times a day. But what should you pay attention to when preparing it? Can you prepare the milk for several bottles at the same time? Here you can find out what is particularly important when preparing baby’s bottle and what you should better not do.
When your baby is born, many parts of his little body are still immature. This includes his immune and digestive systems. If you don’t breastfeed your baby, it is therefore particularly important that you are very careful when preparing the bottle so as not to irritate your baby’s sensitive intestines and to provide his body with everything it needs for healthy development. In addition to impeccable hygiene when handling the bottle, care is required when choosing the water and the correct dosage of water and milk powder. In the following you can find out what you should pay particular attention to. We also explain step by step what you should pay attention to when preparing the bottle and give you practical tips for on the go.
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TogglePrepare bottles: the right water
You should always prepare the bottle for your baby with boiled water , at least during the first six months of life . Because water that has not been boiled could contain germs or bacteria that would later multiply quickly in the prepared milk. In order to reliably kill germs, you should let the water boil for two to three minutes. You can boil a large amount of water once a day and then store it in a clean container, such as a thermos flask. Before you close it, the hot water should evaporate a little.
Whether you use water from the tap or a special mineral water for boiling is up to you. However, pay attention to the following points:
tap water
- Tap water is one of the most strictly controlled products of all, which is why you can usually use it to prepare baby food without hesitation. However, since the pipes or taps could be dirty, it should definitely be boiled .
- If you want to use water from the tap, make sure to let the water run until cold water comes out of the tap and always use fresh water for boiling.
- Since water with a high level of lime can cause flatulence, it is advisable in this case to boil the water for a little longer, around five minutes , so that the lime can settle on the bottom.
If your house has old lead plumbing , the water should not be used to prepare the vial. The same applies if the nitrate content of your tap water is over 50 milligrams per liter . If you are unsure, you can ask the local waterworks whether the quality of the tap water is suitable for preparing baby food. If this is not the case, it is better to use a special mineral water. Alternatively , you can easily have the quality of your tap water checked here .
Mineral water
- If you don’t want to use tap water, it’s important to make sure the bottled water you use is “suitable for preparing baby food” . Corresponding information can be found on the label of the products. Other mineral waters may contain salts, such as sodium, in excessive doses.
- Bottled water should also be boiled, as it is not sterile.
- Store opened bottled water in the fridge and use it up as soon as possible.
Preparing the bottle: Dose the milk powder correctly
In order for your child to have a balanced diet in the long term, it is very important that you follow the manufacturer’s preparation instructions exactly. The milk powder packaging usually comes with a measuring spoon, to which the quantities given on the packaging refer . When changing products, it is therefore important that you make sure that you also use the measuring spoon that belongs to the new product, as these can hold different amounts.
You can find out more about the different types of milk food for your baby in our articles “ Bottles: Which milk for the baby? ” and ” HA Nutrition and Co.: Special Milk Food for Babies “.
When dosing, you should make sure that the measuring spoons are filled evenly and not heaped . You should also not press the powder into the measuring spoon . Both would lead to an overdose, which could result in the milk being too rich for your baby and so your baby not drinking enough liquid in the long run. This can easily lead to a vicious circle because your baby is still thirsty after drinking. If you then feed him again because you think he is still hungry, he will again be dehydrated and his thirst will be worse. Your baby could become dehydrated slowly. Conversely , if your milk is too thin, your baby will not gain enough weight in the long runand does not receive enough nutrients to develop healthily.
Therefore, follow the instructions on the packaging exactly. Always fill the measuring spoon loosely, but to the brim, with milk powder. You can scrape off excess powder with the back of a knife. Some milk powder manufacturers have also integrated a practical scraping aid into the packaging, with which excess powder can be removed without any additional tools. Of course, you should also pay attention to the correct number of measuring spoons.
Prepare bottles: step by step
Step 1: Pay attention to hygiene
Bottles, teats and caps should be sterilized and clean for at least the first six months of your baby’s life before preparation . The same applies to your hands, so that no germs get into the baby milk. You can find out exactly what you should pay attention to when cleaning and sterilizing bottles and accessories in the article “Cleaning bottles properly ”. You can also find some good sterilizers here.
Step 2: Fill with water
First, pour the required amount of boiled water into the bottle. If you put the powder in first, it could clump together at the bottom of the bottle and not dissolve properly. When measuring the correct amount of water in the bottle, it is important to make sure that you read the water level “at eye level” . It is best to bend your knees for a moment. This way the bottle is on an even surface and you can be sure that it is not subject to any fluctuations. When looking at the measuring scale from above, reading errors can easily occur.
Step 3: The right water temperature
If you have boiled the water in reserve, you can now heat it up again in the sterile bottle in the bottle warmer or in the microwave. If you boil the water freshly, let it cool down to about 50 °Cbefore you mix in the milk powder. Mixing with water that is too hot can destroy important vitamins and proteins. In addition, the starch contained in some milk foods is very sensitive to heat and it can happen that it clumps when prepared with water that is too hot and then blocks the drinking hole. You can tell the right temperature of 40-50°C by the fact that the water no longer steams when you fill the bottle. The fact that you can hold the bottle in your hand without feeling it is too hot is also a good indicator of the correct temperature. If you want to be on the safe side, you can also use a tea thermometer.
So that the preparation does not take so long, you can first put some cold, boiled water in the bottle . Then add the milk powder and fill the bottle with hot water . By mixing cold and hot water, you don’t have to wait as long for the hot water to cool down to the right temperature. It is best to test the correct mixing ratio a few times without milk powder.
Step 4: Add milk powder
Now put the precisely measured milk powder in the bottle. In the case of bottles with a wide neck, this is often easy to do without spilling. You may also use a funnel to fill the milk powder into the bottle. Many manufacturers will send you one on request. Usually, however, such a tool is not necessary.
Step 5: Mix water and powder
Cap the bottle tightly and shake until the powder is completely dissolved. You can insert a special lid between the cap and the bottle so that nothing spills out when you shake it. However, it is more time-saving to simply cover the suction holes with your fingers. When shaking, make sure that not too many bubbles form , as your baby will drink these air bubbles later, which can lead to stomach ache.
Step 6: Check milk temperature
It is important that you always double check the milk temperature before feeding your baby to avoid burning your baby. The ideal drinking temperature is around 37°C. Put a few drops of the prepared milk on the inside of your wrist to check. If you find the temperature there pleasant, the milk is usually drinkable for your child. If the milk is still too hot, you can cool the bottle under cold running water.
On the packaging of each milk powder you will find precise instructions on how much powder and water you should use. The right temperature for mixing is also recommended there. Read the instructions carefully before preparing the bottle and follow them exactly.
Always prepare bottles fresh
If your baby refuses to feed before the bottle is empty, don’t try to feed him the rest of the milk. However, do not save the mixed milk for later use. Leftovers should not be reheated as they are a very good breeding ground for bacteria and germs, which could then attack your baby’s immune system. For the same reason, you should not have milk in stock, but always prepare it fresh. If your baby is already able to hold the bottle himself and is given a bottle to fall asleep to, for example, you should remove it from the bed as soon as your baby is asleep. This way it cannot drink from it again later and you can prevent permanent sucking, which can lead to tooth decay.
Prepare bottles on the go
When you are out and about, it is practical to always take a thermos bottle with water that has already been boiled so that you can freshly prepare the milk powder in the bottle. Alternatively, you can also take a bottle filled with hot water, which you keep warm in a special insulating cover. Mixing cold water with hot water is also a good way to go when you’re on the go, so you don’t have to wait long for the milk to cool down. You can also dose the milk powder in a clean bottle beforehand. This way you can save space because you don’t always have to take the whole milk powder packaging with you.
Always remember to close the bottle with an intermediate cap between the bottle neck and the teat when you are on the move so that nothing leaks out. There are now also practical, rotatable inserts that are screwed on between the bottle and the actual cap. These prevent milk from leaking with a sophisticated system, but can be easily adjusted so that your child can drink without having to remove the cap beforehand.