How do you organize bottle feeding on the go?
May 21, 2015 4:38 PM   Subscribe

What is your setup for bottle-feeding your infant on the go? We are interested in things like - How do you keep the leftover formula from spoiling, what does your on-the-go kit look like, how do you keep things clean, how do you heat up the bottle (or do you?) when you are out for the day, or at the park, or wherever. We have a 3 week-old who needs to be partially bottle fed but we are struggling with how to get outside and not starve him out, and not end up throwing away most of a bottle of formula.

Right now we are breastfeeding and then supplementing after each feed with formula. (please believe me when i say that exclusive breastfeeding is not an option; this is not a question about how to increase my milk supply so i don't have to bottle feed, trust me, we have tried everything. for real.) We tend to be out in locations that don't necessarily have kitchens with fridges and kettles, but we still need to feed the babe.

Any insights into this logistical conundrum would be appreciated. Thank you!
posted by andreapandrea to Food & Drink (24 answers total) 1 user marked this as a favorite
 
I pre measured the powder into bottles and kept bottled water in the diaper bag so I could shake up a bottle when I needed one. I never heated bottles, so my baby never got used to having them warmed up. If you know you your baby taps out at one or two ounces after a feeding, then pre-powder two or three bottles with only one scoop so that you run less risk of wasting formula. Good luck, breastfeeding and bottle feeding was basically my full time job for a year and it was sometimes tough.
posted by annathea at 4:48 PM on May 21, 2015 [10 favorites]


If you're using bags in bottles they usually have a zip close so you can bring one or two bottle bases, several bags of pre-measured formula (as little as possible per bag, usually one scoop), and a couple of nipples and rings if you'll be out for awhile. Pick up a box of microwave sanitization bags and keep one of the bags in your diaper bag - they can be used to sanitize nipples if you're out but have access to a microwave. I usually sanitized nipples and breast pump supplies in the mornings before packing them in a ziploc bag in my diaper bag and then I had them ready when I needed them. I'm sure I'll post again if I think of something else but in a couple of weeks you guys are going to be pros at this.
posted by annathea at 4:57 PM on May 21, 2015


I always brought more than I thought I'd need with me - powdered formula in a Tupperware type container with the proper measuring scoop and extra water and bottles. Have some sort of idea of where you'll be and what facilities are available, and a plan b. I mixed what I thought the baby would eat and then mixed more if he was still hungry. As long as it wasn't too hot outside, I used the same bottle for about 2 hours, iirc. My babies didn't like it cold, but room temp or a bit warmer was fine.

Used bottles that weren't clean/ed to my satisfaction were put in a separate bag space than the rest of the supplies so I wouldn't accidentally reuse them.

The first few times are a learning curve, but it really does get easier!
posted by cestmoi15 at 4:59 PM on May 21, 2015


In the rare occasions I was alone with our kids and not at home I would put formula in baggies, take a water bottle and then mix as needed on the go. With our first I actually started with the pre-made Similac bottles that are shelf-stable and sterile until opened, but that would be a pretty expensive option if you had to do it regularly.
posted by any portmanteau in a storm at 5:03 PM on May 21, 2015 [1 favorite]


Basically what others have said, and I will add that a small thermos or to-go coffee mug is great for just bringing along some warm water. Put it in slightly warmer than what you'd want, and it'll probably be just right when you want it (and it's easier to add cold while out than to add hot).
posted by hought20 at 5:04 PM on May 21, 2015 [1 favorite]


Any formula that is not consumed after being made up needs to be thrown away though. Sorry, but that is a non-negotiable. Making it up on the go as others have suggested is helpful in reducing some wastage.
posted by Youremyworld at 5:05 PM on May 21, 2015 [2 favorites]


For us the price of formula alone at Costco paid for the membership, I think their brand was half the cost for the same quality product. Make tossing what is not consumed that much easier.
posted by nickggully at 5:17 PM on May 21, 2015 [2 favorites]


We always made it with lukewarm water specifically so they wouldn't get picky about temperature ... it makes bottle feeding a real hassle! Also, it seems like FOREVER away, but at 12 weeks baby will be feeding a little less often, and depending on your routine you can dodge a lot of feedings out. By 12 weeks I could manage to run a lot of errands BETWEEN feedings without risking running into one, and when you go to people's houses it's pretty easy to manage formula. You'll also by then have a very good idea of how much baby wants to eat at one feeding, and it won't fluctuate so fast as it does now, making it easier to pack for a whole day out. Also, by 12 weeks or a little later, depending on baby's weight gain, etc., you may find you can do a "full" feeding with the bottle supplement before you go out, have a boob-only snack while out, and then another full feeding with bottle supplement when you get home. Even if baby's still eating every two hours then, that gives you a four-hour window to be out-and-about without having to make formula.

Even though it's a huge hassle now, I want to reassure you that it will get a lot easier in a couple months! And if you want to use the premade bottles that you just screw a nipple on for a few weeks so you can keep your sanity and leave the house, feel free to DO IT even though it's expensive ... baby can still have powdered at home or when you're visiting friends, but having a pre-made bottle in hand in case you have to feed baby at Target is a nice convenience.

These Enfamil single-serve "tube" packets fit nicely inside an 8-oz. bottle; each packet makes 4 oz. of formula. I used to shove a couple inside a tall bottle for the road, or to leave with sitters, so they didn't have to measure scoops. They're very convenient! (My drugstore and supermarket both had them, they're not quite as common as the liquid pre-made bottles, but any good-sized baby section.) They're also very convenient for having a back-up supply of formula in the cabinet in case everyone gets the flu at once and you run throw all your regular powder while having no desire to go to the store.
posted by Eyebrows McGee at 5:20 PM on May 21, 2015 [2 favorites]


There are gadgets for this! Buy a formula caddy, fill each hole with the formula you need for each bottle. Fill each bottle you bring with needed water. When baby is hungry, add formula from caddy to water already in bottle, swirl, and there you go! The water will be room temp which should be sufficiently warm for the baby. And I'll second the Costco Kirkland formula; very well priced and just as good as the brand name (so says my pediatrician).
posted by ThePinkSuperhero at 5:22 PM on May 21, 2015 [3 favorites]


We also used the bottled, ready-to-feed formula for emergency feedings away from home, but it wasn't a regular occurrence for us. That stuff may be too pricey if this is an everyday need.

On the other hand, you'll only pour as much of the ready-to-feed into a bottle as you need at the moment; the container can be capped and the rest stored for later (up to 48 hours refrigerated, I think). It would keep okay in an insulated lunch bag with freezer pack insert, assuming you're not out for a ridiculous amount of time.
posted by trunk muffins at 5:23 PM on May 21, 2015


At that age, we used the small formula bottles that 'any portmanteau' references. They are more expensive, but the convenience factor won out for us, you don't have to worry about refrigeration or sterilization, and the 2 oz size might be just about right if you are topping up after a breast feeding. I believe this is good for 2 hrs after you open it.

We always fed it room temperature or cold from the fridge, so we never had to warm it up. If you ever end up pumping and are feeding breast milk, that can be served cold as well, although you may have to run it under warm water just enough to get the fat to go back into solution.

When we did use mixed formula rather than the premade bottles, we used Brown's bottles which you can get little plastic disks for that go in the top to keep them from spilling or leaking. (Mixing on the go didn't work for us because the shaking would make bubbles that upset little tummies.) We got a little insulated pack that we'd stick the bottle in with an ice pack. If you keep the mixed formula refrigerated, it's good for 24 hrs, but not once they drink from a bottle, the theory being that when they drink from it that introduces bacteria that can then grow.

On preview, we used the tube packets as well at times. The formula caddy didn't work for us, the lid didn't fit on tightly enough and the powder spilled everywhere, but I know other people have used them successfully, so maybe some sort of user error there.
posted by pallas14 at 5:24 PM on May 21, 2015


When our daughter was younger, cold formula would upset her tummy so we always have her a warm bottle.

We packed pre-measured formula into containers like these, stored those in the empty bottles (we used Comotomo bottles, with wide mouths, easier to clean), and brought along a travel mug of warm water from home. That worked even in the winter.

We only kept and offered mixed formula for a couple of hours (with our pediatrician's okay). My daughter has always been a snacker so she'd sip on her bottles like they were filled with fine bourbon. That stopped us from throwing gallons of the stuff away.
posted by lydhre at 5:41 PM on May 21, 2015


It depends on where I'm going and how long I'm going to be. Usually we just measure boiled & cooled water into the bottles and take a caddy loaded with several pre-measured doses of formula, then just get the water microwaved up to temperature and put one of the formula powder in.

If we don't think we'll be around a microwave, for instance if we're travelling a longer distance, we'll put boiling water in a thermos and then mix it that with the cool water in the bottles to get the right temp - it stays hot enough to do this for many hours.

The answer to your question about keeping bottles of leftover formula from spoiling is you probably shouldn't. Once your child drinks from the bottle, give them a good opportunity to drink, but once they're done with a bottle, dump whatever is left.

With an infant you're probably talking about a single scoop in a mix, it's not a heck of a lot of the stuff. The cans start to go down really quickly once you get up to four scoops per bottle, you'll forget about a few dumped single scoops pretty fast at that point. :)
posted by The Monkey at 6:00 PM on May 21, 2015


We have a lunchbox cooler like this one from REI - put in an ice pack or two, a cloth napkin for drips and two full bottles. The bottles stay cool all day with the ice pack and then we are good to go for the day.
posted by Toddles at 6:32 PM on May 21, 2015


Also we don't warm up the milk because the baby doesn't care.

(And also, also sorry if people are giving you grief about formula vs. breastfeeding. I've found it best to ignore everyone when it comes to unsolicited advice on baby issues).
posted by Toddles at 6:34 PM on May 21, 2015


ThePinkSuperhero: " And I'll second the Costco Kirkland formula; very well priced and just as good as the brand name (so says my pediatrician)."

Just to build on, in the United States, infant formula is very strictly regulated by the FDA, and any brand you find at a national chain store -- generic or famous -- will be safe and healthy. New factories must be inspected and existing factories are inspected yearly (which is a lot of inspections by FDA standards). You do not need to worry about the nutrition or safety of generic brands -- it's just a matter of finding one that suits your child's digestion, as they all have slightly different formulations, but they all must meet nutritional standards and safety standards. The FDA is very aggressive about recalls on infant formula. Similar measures are the case in most First World countries with good food safety protections and safe tap water.

(Bottled water has to meet tap water standards to market itself as appropriate to make infant formula with. Some of it does not. But if it's not making marketing claims regarding infants, it doesn't have to meet those standards. If you're in the US, your tap water is almost certainly excellent for making formula, unless the utility has specifically told you differently or you have well water, in which case, investigate further.)
posted by Eyebrows McGee at 6:44 PM on May 21, 2015 [2 favorites]


we are 100% formula. for overnights we were using mixie bottles which have a separate compartment for formula in the base. measure your formula and screw it on the bottom, then measure your water and pour it in the bottle. when baby gets hungry you push on the bottom to pop the formula lid inside the bottle and mix it up.

nowadays we just pre-measure water into bottles and use a formula dispenser that holds three measured bottles-worth.

ps- we use the target store-brand baby formula. our doctor told us that they're all pretty much identical aside from the milk/soy base.
posted by noloveforned at 7:03 PM on May 21, 2015


and wasted formula is just part of baby-life. our nearly four month old gets 6-7 five ounce bottles a day and only finishes 3-4 of them entirely. the others he'll drink anywhere from 1/3 to 2/3 of and we'll keep it around for 15 minutes or so but usually it's pretty clear he's done. so we're probably wasting at least an entire bottle every day.
posted by noloveforned at 7:06 PM on May 21, 2015


Back in the day, I had bottles with powdered formula in that I'd fill with warm tap water.
posted by Ruki at 7:09 PM on May 21, 2015


My friends who formula fed did exactly as annathea mentioned. Our LO got breastmilk so if there was an occasion where we had to offer breastmilk in a bottle I usually asked for a cup of hot water and then set the bottle of milk in the cup to warm up a bit (we traveled with the bottle in a little insulated bad with a small ice pack).
posted by vignettist at 7:49 PM on May 21, 2015


I used a container that was designed for holding powdered formula. It had four or five different compartments so that I could premeasure. I always kept a water bottle handy for mixing. When I was worried that an entire bottle would not be consumed, I would only put in half of the pre-measured serving, with reduced water. I would then lay baby tummy down across my lap for a gentle burp while I mixed up the other half, if it looked like I needed it.
posted by myselfasme at 6:13 AM on May 22, 2015


Have you done a weighted feed with your LC to see how much baby is actually taking in when he/she nurses? If not, that's really the first step. Afterwards you'll have a much better idea of how much you need to supplement with at each feed. For example, if baby is already taking in 2 oz. while nursing, you shouldn't need to supplement with much depending on how often you're feeding. If he's only getting an ounce, you'll need to give more. Etc.

Are you doing paced bottle feeds? It's easy to overfeed a newborn when using a bottle; paced feeds can help avoid this. Basically, preparing appropriate amounts of formula = less leftover/wasted formula. As others have said, unused formula needs to be discarded.

(I'm assuming you've seen an LC since you mention trying everything. If not, and one is available to you, I highly recommend you see one. They are not only for EBF moms. I'd just recommend letting her know up front that you are not interested in EBF-ing, rather in how to appropriately supplement.)
posted by pecanpies at 7:06 AM on May 22, 2015


I was in a very similar situation for a while, topping up a nursing wee baby. What saved my sanity was using the 'newborn nursers' (the tiny, premade bottles) of formula. They were expensive, but I found coupons and some samples. It meant I knew I always had a feed ready to go, on the go. I then moved on to the 4oz of powder tubes someone else has mentioned above and bottled water (the size marketed for kids lunches were super handy and easier to mix into). My daughter never graduated into 'big bottles'...literally we used wee ones the whole way to solid food. I think I got some of her nursers off amazon, and I know I bought some of the pre sterile nipples in a bag of 50, which were not cheap but well worth it! Good luck with it all and congrats on your wee one.
posted by Northbysomewhatcrazy at 10:50 AM on May 22, 2015


The powder tubes are super great, especially when you're dealing with semi-clueless grandparents who don't really catch on very well to your desired procedures. Plus you can toss them in your purse and not need a full on diaper bag. If we're carrying bottles, we put them in an insulated lunch bag.

We use the tubes for going out and about, but we usually just prepare stuff from a giant Target tub. She has never seemed to care about the difference between breastmilk and formula, or Enfamil and Target.

We have the ~6oz Medela bottles that we switched to when she was maybe three months old, and we're still using them now that she's 10mo and eats regular food. Still working great.
posted by St. Hubbins at 1:54 PM on May 22, 2015


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