Bottle feeding panic!!

[amystevekai&bump]

Hi - I've been so worried about whether to take powdered milk or cartons for DS8mths - I hadn't even thought about sterilised bottles!!!!

Can someone give me some advice - what did you do about sterilising bottles abroad???? I thought of disposables but I guess that would be very expensive over 3 weeks??

Thanks for any ideas!!

 

[london75]

You know what, our trip to Florida brought about the end for us sterilising bottles for Daisy who was also 8 months at the time. You can get a cheap microwave tray while you're out there and use a microwave but for us it was the right time to stop being so meticulous.

She didn't seem to suffer for it!

 

[stevechase]

hi there

We took Josh to Tunisia when he was 8 months old, we took some of those ready mixed small cartons for the journey, it was cold but he seemed ok with it. We took the usual powder stuff and just washed the bottles with scalding water (we took our travel kettle)

He was fine

Steve

 

[Obi Wan Kenobi]

We just bought some steralising tablets out there and the same for the powdered milk.

 

[mrsminniemouse]

In May we took our DS age 10 months to WDW. We had taken DD at 6 months, 11 months and 16 months too.

This last trip, our cartons of SMA Gold were taken away from us at the airport because I refused to open them, test them then reseal with sticky tape! As if! I knew about the liquid restrictions for flying but thought sealed cartons would be ok. They allowed boiled water in bottles (I overfilled a bit, so i could pour a tiny bit into lid to test at security) plus sachets of SMA Gold and my powder dispenser pot. We packed a tin of SMA Gold for the villa and sachets for going out. Both my kids would drink formula at room temperature so i just tip the powder in, shake...ready to go. Perhaps try getting baby used to that from as early as possible.

Security also took away some of our pouches of baby food (Ella's baby purees in screw top pouches- very good) even though I had tested them, as they were 120 g so they said they were too big.

They took loads of my stuff then I walked through security and bought it all again in Boots. Sigh.....

We bought sterilising bags from Babies R Us (Mothercare do them also) You use them in the microwave, very impressed with them. We have used sterilising tablets before but i hate the smell so the microwave solution was better for us. If you dont have a microwave cold water sterilising is the only way I guess. You can but bags with tablets in, the bags are drawstring and you hang them in the bathroom.

Hope this helps
Mandy

 

[Amyrlin]

Wal Mart sell the sterlising tablets and the units to put the bottles in.

 

[Sazuburns]

When we went away with my first when he was 6 months, I bought a travel steriliser from Boots (I think!) which could be used with either tablets/fluid or in the microwave. It took two complete bottles, but I was using Playtex bottle holders with disposable bags (similar to the Avent ones) so I only had to sterilise the teats/rings/lids.

With my second child, I'd stopped sterilising by 6 months!

I tried the disposable sterilised bottles once, but found that a) they leaked and b) my son didn't like the teat.

Sarah x

 

[AlanUK]

During our last trip with our 10 month old we used lindam microwave sterilizing bags to do all the sterilization. I got ours in Tesco but I think Boots and other shops stock them. We also took with us all of the powdered formula we needed packed in with our luggage and lots of nappies. Our thinking was as we used them up we were just freeing up space in the luggage for all the stuff we were going to buy

If you don't have access to a microwave then I suspect cold water sterilising tablets are the way to go

 

[BevS97]

we used some microwave sterilisatin bags, you put 2 bottles in the bag and then put it in the microwave.

i have also used chemical sterilsation in hotel rooms - you just fill a plastic bag with water, and it already has a tablet in it. However, if your baby isn't used to chemiacls then they may object as it does have a certain smell to it

To be honest, at 8 months i wouldn't worry about it, the reason sterilisers are hard to find in the USA is because they don't sterilise at all (only the first few weeks), and I find it hard to believe that our kids are more sensitive than theres, we stopped sterilising at 6 months and DD was absolutely fine.

They allowed boiled water in bottles (I overfilled a bit, so i could pour a tiny bit into lid to test at security) plus sachets of SMA Gold and my powder dispenser pot. We packed a tin of SMA Gold for the villa and sachets for going out. Both my kids would drink formula at room temperature so i just tip the powder in, shake...ready to go. Perhaps try getting baby used to that from as early as possible.

This is definitely the way to go with bottles in the Florida heat - carry around water, and add the powder at the last minute, shake and serve. The water isn't particularly cold in Florida heat so there is no need to warm it up, and you aren't carrying milk which can go off. I used this method for both kids all the time, even in the uk - it was brilliant in the middle of the night, I kept a bottle of water and a pot of powder next to the bed, just tipped it in and served it up without even getting out of bed.

 

[DisneyJo]

My sister has just gone to Barbados with her 4 month old and Mothercare do a range of bottles that sterilise themselves in the microwave (although they're out of stock till September!) She says they're great and she only needs to take a few with her

 

[BRobson]

I also took the tablets and the powdered milk and cartons for the flights. I did take a few of the disposable bottles to use as well.

It always stuck me that although the USA obviously has a bigger baby market they have less choice in a lot of things. One thing I would recommend you take your own wipes as the ones out there are quite rough - they do the job but I always like the softer ones. The huggies wipes here and over there are soooo different.

 

[disneyholic family]

don't they still have those sterile bags inside bottle bottles?

that's what i used with my kids (albeit 17 years ago)..

i never sterilised a bottle in my life...

 

[lawlesslovewdw]

Hi there, when we took our 15wk old we used microwave sterlising bags, and used the microwaves in the resort food courts (if you arent staying in a villa), we went to walmart where they sell infant water (as didnt want to use local water) and bought a few gallons. Filled the bottles with that water and carried powered milk in dispenser. By the time he needed a bottle the water had warmed up in the florida heat(even though it was nov). Only had one accident the whole trip where i hadnt put the lid on the dispenser so nipped back to hotel and refilled it.

On the plane i used throw away bottles so wasnt carting all stuff on plane etc.

Last year used the bottles of toddler milk which they let me carry on board (after threat)

Going to have to take some on board this year to as he still likes a drink of milk to help him sleep and prevent his ears blocking!

 

[Verity Chambers]

We tookn sterilising tablets and sachets of powder.

 

[Lauren101]

I had a travel steam steriliser that just took 2 bottles - so was perfect for taking abroad as you don't need tablets or a microwave- just water and an electricity supply to plug it in. It was great.

 

[T16GEM]

We use a cold water steriliser at home anyway so we just packed that with socks and stuff and then put it in the bathroom in out hotel room in Portugal when we took Shelby at 6 months.



The best bit of advice I think is to try and get the baby to take milk at room temp - we have never heated Harley's up and he loves it at room temp - much easier when you are out esp as a lot of places wont warm bottles these days.

We used an Avent Powder Dispenser too which we use every day at home, very useful item. Then all you need to do is take a couple of cans of the babies usual formula in your case.

 

[amystevekai&bump]

Thank you all so much for replying, I didn't get on the boards yesterday so sorry for the delay in responding - thats some great advice from everyone!!!

I guess its not as difficult as I was imagining- so thank you all fr puttin gmy mind at rest!!