Bottles and formula in the world...need tips.

[Camno's Mama]

Okay, so I was breastfeeding and this wasn't even something on my radar until about a month ago. I broke my collar bone, and had to have surgery. My milk production went way down, and I have had to start using formula and bottles as well. So, my question is...how did you all go about this while staying onsite?

We will be at POP, and I don't own a bottle warmer, but the little guy only likes it warm. So, if you can recommend a bottle warmer that travels well, that would be great, too. What about washing bottles?

I'm still new to all of this...having it happen right before vacation is a little complicated, but we want to make it work.

 

[vettechick99]

I would not take a bottle warmer. Just make the formula as you use it - with room temperature bottled water. DD would take formula however I gave it to her - cold, room temp, or warm! I would start getting your DC used to room temperature formula. Or if you are near a microwave, you can nuke it for 10 seconds. I know they say not to, but if you nuke it just long enough to take the chill off, it's ok. The problem is finding a microwave. Not sure if they have them at the Baby Care Centers.

They also have divided containers that you can put pre-measured dry formula doses in each. Or I think formula companies now make little packets. That would be easy enough!

What kind of bottles are you using? We preferred Dr. Brown's so we had to wash often, but they have Drop-Ins that are great when you are on the go. Just make sure you have enough bottles to last you a day, and wash in your sink at night.

 

[moxiecola]

You can purchase the small bottles of premade formula that are 8 oz per bottle. Or if you'd rather not, I purchased a plastic formula dispenser from Babies R' Us with 3 compartments (to hold the powder for 3 bottles)...I think it's made by Munchkin. Then just fill the bottle with room temp bottled water and mix it with the formula when your baby is ready to eat...no heating needed. Pack a bottle brush and fill a small travel size squirt bottle with dishsoap to wash the bottles in your room.

 

[Camno's Mama]

We are having trouble getting him to drink the formula if it isn't warm. Any tips? Did you just kind of get them to do it gradually? He is six months old, so he might just be a kind of particular stage when it comes to this kind of stuff. Babies...

Keep the suggestions coming!

 

[moxiecola]

My kids never would drink it cold....EVER. My 4th child wouldn't even drink milk cold when we made the change. He is 3 now and still very seldom drinks it at all (and not because he doesn't like it-he wants it warm borderline HOT-YUCK). My daughter just turned 7 months and she will not take a cold bottle either. Just like adults they know what they want/like. Save yourself the anxiety and don't fight it!

 

[MSSANDRA]

DS would ONLY drink it warm so I understand.

A bottle will warm in a few minutes in a VERY hot cup of water. You should be able to ask at any resturant for a cup or use the hot water from your faucet while in the room. They do have microwaves if you choose to use that (we did not but many people do) at the baby centers and in the food court.

What we did was to keep a tiny crock pot full of water turned on during the day at home and just stick a bottle in for just a few minutes to warm. Will not work at WDW but might be an idea for home.

good luck!!!

 

[McDuck]

This is what worked for me and my DD....we use the Playtex Nursers with disposable liners and powdered Enfamil. Fix the bottle with room temp water, dump the powder in, and shake it up. For warming--put the cap on the bottle (over the nipple), turn the bottle upside down in the sink, and let hot water run over the liner. Shake it up, test on your wrist, and serve it, or if it's not the temp he likes it at, run under more hot water, or adjust by running under cold water. If you don't want to do that, stand the bottle up inside a bowl or large cup and do the same thing so that it is warmed from underneath.

When we are out, we use premeasured Enfamil pouches, but someone recently gave me one of those sectioned containers so now I scoop out enough for whatever size bottle I think we'll use while out for each section, and carry the appropriate liner and fresh nipples. I also carry bottles of room temperature boiled water and just make the bottle as we need it.

To give you some hope...At some point around 4 months, my DD (now 6 1/2 months old) started taking formula at room temperature, although anything out the fridge still gets warmed under the tap.

Only thing if you decide to use the Playtex liners, they can NOT be microwaved. They aren't made to withstand the microwave. Hope this helps!

 

[wdwmomof1]

All of the parks have baby care centers and they have bottle warmers there. As well as other amenities for traveling with babies. We used them in Feb.