WDW with a 6 month old on formula

[kroy2004]

Hi! I am taking my soon to be 4 year old and 6 month old to WDW in March. I am so excited for them but extremely nervous as this is there first real vacation away from home.

I am taking an umbrella stroller and a carrier for the baby but I am really unsure of what to do about his formula. He is used to powder mixed (tried the concentrate but he never seemed to like) so I have to premix it before I head to the parks and than keep it cold all day.

I am staying with family at a Villa off site so I really have to take his bottles for the day in a cooler.

Any idea on how I can keep his formula cold all day? Most ice packs I have used are only good for a few hours in hot weather.

Thanks so much! And any other tips for WDW with an infant would be awesome!

 

[roliepolieoliefan]

Why do you have to pre-mix it? Can't you take the powder in a pre-measured container and when the baby is ready to eat, buy some bottled water. I think it would be easier than carrying around the pre-mixed all day. Plus I always thought they had to be consumed a certain time after they were mixed.

 

[kroy2004]

As long as the mix is refrigerated, its good for 24 hours (thats what the can says). I have always made a days batch up in advance.

But that is a fab idea (never thought of it)! So I just put however many scoops I need in a bottle per oz and add bottled water? Shake it up and that's it?

 

[Nina]

Just bring bottles filled with water & put the formula in when the baby is ready to eat.

 

[mom2maggie]

But that is a fab idea (never thought of it)! So I just put however many scoops I need in a bottle per oz and add bottled water? Shake it up and that's it?

No, you can't store the powder in the bottle and then add water...but you can keep your bottles full of water and then buy a container for your formula like this:
http://www.amazon.com/Sassy-Powdered-Formula-Dispenser-Multiple/dp/B000067PIZ
to carry your formula in. If you kept the formula in the bottle you intend to feed in, and then add the water to that to make however many ounces, it would be more concentrated than it should be, if that makes sense. You must always add the powder to water, not the other way around!
We'll be going in a month and I'll be carrying my bottles in with water in them and then adding the formula from my formula container and mixing as we go. Does your little one prefer the bottles warm?

 

[kroy2004]

Just bring bottles filled with water & put the formula in when the baby is ready to eat.

Thanks so much, I honestly never even thought of doing it that way! That's so easy, ha! My sister (another mom) and I were trying to figure out a way to take it premixed (she does it that way too) and never thought about mixing it there!

Any other advice on what to bring or do with a 6 month old? He's a good baby, I figure he will be easier than my 4 year old!

 

[kroy2004]

mom2maggie: My son does prefer it warm, I kind of assumed the baby centers have a place with hot water to warm it up? Is that correct?

 

[simba20]

No, you can't store the powder in the bottle and then add water...but you can keep your bottles full of water and then buy a container for your formula like this:
http://www.amazon.com/Sassy-Powdered-Formula-Dispenser-Multiple/dp/B000067PIZ
to carry your formula in. If you kept the formula in the bottle you intend to feed in, and then add the water to that to make however many ounces, it would be more concentrated than it should be, if that makes sense. You must always add the powder to water, not the other way around!
We'll be going in a month and I'll be carrying my bottles in with water in them and then adding the formula from my formula container and mixing as we go. Does your little one prefer the bottles warm?

We live 45 minutes away from civilaztion, as I liek to say (in the boonies) so on Saturdays when we "head to the big city" (aka run to Wal-Mart, the mall, Target, etc), I'd always have my bottles filled with powder and then add water as needed -- knowing to go past the line for whtever amoutn I was making, due to the volume.the powder took up in the bottle before adding water. A little concentrated formula (i.e only having 5 oz of water for a 6 oz bottle) or a little watered down formula (i.e 6.5 oz of water for a 6 oz bottle) isn;t really going to do much damage. My daughter was on the bottle until just before she turned 2, makign it either way did not do harm...and my husband can attest as first time parents we had many debates over putting the powder in the bottle first and then adding water or measuring the water and then adding the powder. Six of one......

There are also premeasured packets that we'd buy and take along with us. Sure they are more expensive than buying a canister of powder formula, but they were nice in a pinch.

 

[*dreamit*doit*]

Hi! The first time we went as a foursome my dd's were about the same ages (4 yrs old and 5 mos old) - my advice to you would be to use the baby care centers. There is one in every park and they are awesome! They have nursing rooms, changing tables (very clean and much better than the bathrooms), microwaves, a water cooler (you could easily fill up your baby bottle here and not even have to buy bottled water ), highchairs, bathrooms, and some basic neccesities for purchase like some baby food, snacks, possibly formula but I'm not sure, bibs, diapers, wipes, tylenol, etc. We have used it several times, especially in the summer as a nice break from the heat for the babies. They also have TV w/ a Disney movie playing and some seating for older siblings while they wait. Of course, it's Disney - they've thought of everything! Hope this helps! Have a great trip!

 

[strmtroopr96]

Why do you have to pre-mix it? Can't you take the powder in a pre-measured container and when the baby is ready to eat, buy some bottled water. I think it would be easier than carrying around the pre-mixed all day.

This is what we did when took our youngest DD on her first trip to WDW at 3 months. We brought along 2 travel container that each had 3 sections for the pre-measured powder formula. Then we packed an empty bottle or two along with bottled water and were good to go.

 

[mjkacmom]

This is what I used with my babies as well. The beauty of it was I could just mix it with tap water at night or when I was out and about (I got my kids used to room temperature water right from the beginning). If you don't want to use tap water (although it's perfectly safe), bring some water bottles along.

 

[mjkacmom]

No, you can't store the powder in the bottle and then add water...but you can keep your bottles full of water and then buy a container for your formula like this:
http://www.amazon.com/Sassy-Powdered-Formula-Dispenser-Multiple/dp/B000067PIZ
to carry your formula in. If you kept the formula in the bottle you intend to feed in, and then add the water to that to make however many ounces, it would be more concentrated than it should be, if that makes sense. You must always add the powder to water, not the other way around!
We'll be going in a month and I'll be carrying my bottles in with water in them and then adding the formula from my formula container and mixing as we go. Does your little one prefer the bottles warm?

Or you could just add extra water. Maybe with my first 1 or 2, I'd be concerned about the exact measurement. But with a 6 month old, I'd be okay with guestimating the water.

 

[Tricia's mom]

I purchased one of those containers with the sections that are pre measured and brought bottlesof water with me, left the water in the stroller and naturally it got warm from the florida sun and had a perfect temp bottle everytime.

Its all very easy actually. He will be easier than the 4 yr old.

 

[jpeka65844]

No, you can't store the powder in the bottle and then add water...but you can keep your bottles full of water and then buy a container for your formula like this:
http://www.amazon.com/Sassy-Powdered-Formula-Dispenser-Multiple/dp/B000067PIZ
to carry your formula in. If you kept the formula in the bottle you intend to feed in, and then add the water to that to make however many ounces, it would be more concentrated than it should be, if that makes sense. You must always add the powder to water, not the other way around!
We'll be going in a month and I'll be carrying my bottles in with water in them and then adding the formula from my formula container and mixing as we go. Does your little one prefer the bottles warm?

I've never heard this......

I don't understand why this wouldn't work. If I need 4 oz of formula, why couldn't I put the appropriate amount of scoops for 4 oz (isn't it 2 scoops?) in the bottle? Then continue to add water until the bottle is full to 4 oz??? I shake it up frequently to make sure the powder is dissolving....

Oh well.....I always mixed my bottles with formula first, then water. Never even thought about it and DS turned out just fine.

 

[DisneyAndRedSox]

I did the three-part container and bottled water as well and it worked out great.

Just a tip if baby likes the bottle warm and there is no way of warming it up nearby. Go someplace where they serve tea. Ask for some hot water they use for tea in a large cup (only filled 1/3 to 1/2 up). Dunk most of the bottle in it for a few minutes and it will warm it up just enough so it is not cold.

 

[DisneyAndRedSox]

I've never heard this......

I don't understand why this wouldn't work. If I need 4 oz of formula, why couldn't I put the appropriate amount of scoops for 4 oz (isn't it 2 scoops?) in the bottle? Then continue to add water until the bottle is full to 4 oz??? I shake it up frequently to make sure the powder is dissolving....

Oh well.....I always mixed my bottles with formula first, then water. Never even thought about it and DS turned out just fine.

You don't end up putting in enough water if it is done formula first. The lines there so you know how much water to put in, if you put the formula in first it will take up space and less water will be used.

 

[kroy2004]

Thank you so much for the great advice!! I am going to try to track down one of those sectioned containers at ToysRUs. And leaving the bottles of water in the stroller to make it warm is great advice!

Thanks everyone!! And your so right, I know the baby will be easy that day (he's an easy baby anyway), its my 4 year old that will be the challenge

 

[DisneyAndRedSox]

Thank you so much for the great advice!! I am going to try to track down one of those sectioned containers at ToysRUs. And leaving the bottles of water in the stroller to make it warm is great advice!

Thanks everyone!! And your so right, I know the baby will be easy that day (he's an easy baby anyway), its my 4 year old that will be the challenge

When DD was a baby I know Avent made them and so did Munchkin (I liked the lid on the Avent one better, but that was back in 2006). I am pretty sure Target and Walmart also had them.

 

[JessZacc]

Yes you do if you shake the bottle a few times as you are adding the water so the powder disolves.
The easiest thing to do is just to put the appropriate amount of power in a bottle and take another bottle to measure water. Pour bottled water into the empty bottle so you get the right amount of water and shake. We have always done it this way and it has always worked perfectly.

 

[mom2maggie]

I've never heard this......

I don't understand why this wouldn't work. If I need 4 oz of formula, why couldn't I put the appropriate amount of scoops for 4 oz (isn't it 2 scoops?) in the bottle? Then continue to add water until the bottle is full to 4 oz??? I shake it up frequently to make sure the powder is dissolving....

Oh well.....I always mixed my bottles with formula first, then water. Never even thought about it and DS turned out just fine.

I did that with my first daughter and then realized that I was making too concentrated of formula. If you read the directions on the can, it indicates to add the formula to 4, 6, 8 ounces of water.