How to safely feed your baby infant formula

Formula manufacturers do not acknowledge the potential risk of bacterial contamination of their products (and probably never will), and continue to advise mixing the powdered milk with COOLED boiled water. Even worse, I recently saw advice on a formula tin which recommended making up multiple bottles of formula in advance! This excerpt from “New Baby 101 – A Midwife’s Guide for New Parents” (page 64) provides accurate and safe information about feeding baby with infant formula.

Formula Feeding In years past it was common practise for a number of bottles to be made up at once, so they were ready to use when needed. The current advice is to make up each bottle of formula just before baby needs to be fed. This recommendation is due to the increased risk of bacterial growth in the formula after water is added and it is stored, even if the bottles are refrigerated.

Powdered Infant Formula (PIF) is not a sterile product, and any powdered milk can contain contaminants such as Cronobacter Sakazakii and Salmonella. For this reason the World Health Organisation (WHO) recommends using hot water no less than 70 degrees Celsius to make up powdered infant formula, as these bacteria will be killed by the hot water if they are present in the powder. This ideal temperature can be obtained by boiling water in a jug and waiting 20 minutes – which will allow the water temperature to reduce to 70 degrees Celsius. When hot water is used the bottle of formula needs to be cooled under a running tap or sat in cold water to cool it to lukewarm temperature before giving to baby.

Some Australian health authorities have not yet adopted the WHO recommendation and still advise making formula up with cooled boiled water. (Parents can decide for themselves which advice to follow). Formula made with cooled boiled water may be warmed by sitting in a mug or jug of warm water. Always check the temperature of the bottle of formula by shaking it, then dripping some milk onto the inside of your wrist to check it is not too hot for baby.

Heating baby’s bottle in a microwave oven is not recommended because the heat can be unevenly dispersed with some parts of the milk overheated, and there are also concerns about microwaves causing changes to the nutrients in the formula. Good hygiene is essential when handling any of baby’s feeding equipment. Hands must be washed and counter surfaces should be wiped clean before beginning to make up each bottle of formula. It is also not advisable to keep the powder scoop in the tin after use, as it is handled many times during the life of the tin of powdered formula which increases the risk of germs being transferred to the powder.

For more reliable information about bottle feeding, cleansing and sterilisation of feeding equipment and breast pump parts visit www.NewBaby101.com.au and get your copy of this informative, concise book -eBook $9.95; Print book in Australia $23.95; Booktopia and Amazon.

08 Jan 2023| no comments.