Managing bottles?

[ctnurse]

DD will be 10 months old when we go to WDW in May. I have no idea what to do when it comes to managing bottles. We went to DLPR when she was 3 months, but I was still BF. Will the restaurants heat them for you? Anywhere else? I know she will be eating more solids, but I'm guessing she will still take several bottles daily. I didn't have to worry about this for DS first trip since have was 2.5 yrs old for his first trip.

 

[mjkacmom]

My kids drank 4 bottles at that age - in the morning, around lunch, in the afternoon, and before bed. I used powdered formula, and mixed it with tap water (any temp you'd like - I got my babies used to room temperature formula - much easier).

 

[bjscheel]

What do you do now when you are out and about?

I haven't had a baby at WDW, but when my girls were babies, I fed them bottles at room temperature. So when we were headed out for the day, I filled several bottles with water to the appropriate level and put them in the diaper bag. I had a formula dispenser (2 of them actually). Each dispenser had three sections that you filled with the measured formula powder. When it was time for a bottle, I poured one of the fomula sections into the room temp bottle and shook. All done.

 

[MSSANDRA]

Since you have plenty of time, I would get your little one used to taking room temp bottles before the trip. May will be warm so not as big a deal. We have done two things. One is use powdered formula and bottled water and mix as you go. You can purchase the container that holds 6 or so, single serving amounts of formula and can be dumped into a bottle of water. You can prefill those from a gallon of purchased water in the room, or from individual water bottles as you go. If you use the bag in the bottle system, clean up is easy easy. If not, just be sure to pack a bottle brush and some dish soap to wash them. The other idea is to buy the ready to feed bottles. MUCH more expensive and heavy to travel, but so so easy. Feed and trash! You may want to time intro to a cup where she might enjoy a sippy cup of water or diluted juice during the day as it could be warm and she need more liquids. I'm big on not introducing any new foods right before, or during travel so you might want to consider this as you start to add more foods in the next few month.

 

[Mad4Dizne]

I used the single serve already mixed formula cans or used bottled, filtered water and the single pack powdered formula. We too gave room temp bottles, so it made things easier. I also bought a small plastic round container that I think I got at TRU that you could measure out your own "single serve" into three compartments, that was really helpful when away and cheaper than the single packs. Have a great trip!

 

[dsneygirl]

I ordered the 8oz ready to serve from amazon. They were room temp so no heating (I never heated a bottle ever) and then had a small cooler in the stroller for the unused portion. If it wasn't used for a while I just tossed it.

I didn't mind the extra $$ for less hassle. (mixing etc)

 

[ctnurse]

Thanks for the great ideas.

 

[SEA333]

What do you do now when you are out and about?

I haven't had a baby at WDW, but when my girls were babies, I fed them bottles at room temperature. So when we were headed out for the day, I filled several bottles with water to the appropriate level and put them in the diaper bag. I had a formula dispenser (2 of them actually). Each dispenser had three sections that you filled with the measured formula powder. When it was time for a bottle, I poured one of the fomula sections into the room temp bottle and shook. All done.

Thats exactly what I did when my kids were little. Actually by 10 months, we were already starting to wean to milk, and the majority of their food came from solids. I think they drank maybe about 24 oz of a formula/milk blend (3 bottles) by that age? I also think I had already started to give them sippy cups around then, too. Not that it matters when you do - nobody has to answer "When did you stop drinkng from a bottle?" on their college applications LOL, but if your child will take a sippy, it might make your trip a little easier!!

Good luck!

 

[FigmentFinder]

I took my DD at 8 months. I bought a gallon of water, Florida tap water can be a little off in flavor. In the morning we pre-filled bottles with water and used a formula dispenser for the day. She took 4 bottles a day at that point. So one in the room and the dispenser held the other three. Room temperature bottles are the way to go. I don't think I ever warmed my DD's bottles.

The ready to drink formula has a different smell and texture. If you want to use it, try it out at home first. It would be a pain to discover at Disney your baby won't take it.

I also bought some of those sticks which make one bottle of formula. I was afraid to take loose powder on the plane.

 

[beckysko]

We took my then 8m son and he was on formula also at the time. We did what people said above, bring powdered - mix with room temp water (we took a cab and got a case of bottled water at Publix (and other baby items) and used that). If you NEEDED it to be warm, you could always make it up, and then run the bottle itself under hot water for a bit to warm it further. We also brought bottle brush and dishsoap to wash the bottles at nighttime. Also restaurants will provide free hot water (and free ice water) if you want, so you could always mix a bit of hot and cold to get your desired temp, and make plans to feed during your family mealtimes if you can.

 

[wiigirl]

I used the single serve already mixed formula cans or used bottled, filtered water and the single pack powdered formula. We too gave room temp bottles, so it made things easier. I also bought a small plastic round container that I think I got at TRU that you could measure out your own "single serve" into three compartments, that was really helpful when away and cheaper than the single packs. Have a great trip!

 

[Crystal824]

We took DD to WDW when she was 9 mo. old and still on bottles. We used the premixed formula so I pretty much opened package and put it in the bottle. We went in mid May and it was fairly warm so the formula was warm when I poured it into the bottle. If I were going to use powder formula, I would just get bottle water and let it sit out. It will probably be fairly warm just from the heat of the day when you are ready to use it. They will not heat bottles at restaurants, but they will bring you hot water. You can always heat bottles at the baby care center.

 

[Crystal824]

I took my DD at 8 months. I bought a gallon of water, Florida tap water can be a little off in flavor. In the morning we pre-filled bottles with water and used a formula dispenser for the day. She took 4 bottles a day at that point. So one in the room and the dispenser held the other three. Room temperature bottles are the way to go. I don't think I ever warmed my DD's bottles.

The ready to drink formula has a different smell and texture. If you want to use it, try it out at home first. It would be a pain to discover at Disney your baby won't take it.

I also bought some of those sticks which make one bottle of formula. I was afraid to take loose powder on the plane.

You are right. The ready to drink formula is a little different. I have heard of some babies refusing it or the powder. Our DD was easy. We always used powder at home and the ready to drink when we were out an about. I exclusively breast fed for about 6 mo. I guess she was just used to change. I would definitely try anything new at home before the trip.

 

[Betty Rohrer]

which ever you decide to use, make sure you try that formula at home before you head to WDW. it can be a long wait to get what your baby is used to. it will seem even longer esp if baby is already upset because of hunger. had one who would not touch the powdered mixed formula had to be either liquid mixed with water type or liquid ready to feed. found out the had way and it was a long 40 minutes to get the other type with a very upset baby

 

[tina.tina]

I used lactose free formula and it was difficult to find ready to use at that time in single servings. Whenever I tried powder, there were explosive problems!!!! So, we used liquid concentrate and 1 can was enough for the whole day when they were older but I had issues with storing the leftovers to use for later.

For anyone else in this situation, what I did was carry empty bottles, a can of formula, a container for mixing/storage, a bottle of water, and a can opener. Then, I carried a lunch style cooler with an ice pack in it to keep the leftovers in. In FL heat, you may need to take baggies and ask for ice periodically to keep it cool. If I needed to heat a bottle later, I would ask for a hot cup of water at a restaurant. Even McDonalds would provide this.

When my DS was 10 mos, he would barely drink formula. He also disliked milk for a long time. He was eating all solid foods by then, too, thanks to his daycare.

 

[ctnurse]

I used lactose free formula and it was difficult to find ready to use at that time in single servings. Whenever I tried powder, there were explosive problems!!!! So, we used liquid concentrate and 1 can was enough for the whole day when they were older but I had issues with storing the leftovers to use for later.

For anyone else in this situation, what I did was carry empty bottles, a can of formula, a container for mixing/storage, a bottle of water, and a can opener. Then, I carried a lunch style cooler with an ice pack in it to keep the leftovers in. In FL heat, you may need to take baggies and ask for ice periodically to keep it cool. If I needed to heat a bottle later, I would ask for a hot cup of water at a restaurant. Even McDonalds would provide this.

When my DS was 10 mos, he would barely drink formula. He also disliked milk for a long time. He was eating all solid foods by then, too, thanks to his daycare.

My DD loves to eat too, she does still take 4 bottles a day, but when she sees food she goes nuts.

I will pack the formula, which is powder, since it is not available in the States, and she really seems to like it.