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Helpful guides

How To Prepare Baby Infant Formula

Bottle-feeding is a great time to bond with your little one. And because we’re here to support you on your feeding journey, we’ve got you covered with our top tips on how to prepare your baby’s formula. 

What do I need to bottle-feed my baby? 

✔ ️ Sanitized bottles with teats and bottle caps 

✔ A clean bottle brush and nipple brush

✔ Baby formula (we recommend Kendamil Infant Formula, naturally)

Can I prepare my baby formula in advance? 

Ideally, you should make a fresh bottle every time. If you do need to make your baby formula in advance, then you should use it quickly and store it safely. 

Prepared infant formula can spoil if it is left out at room temperature, especially in those states where the weather is hot all year round. Use prepared infant formula within 2 hours of preparation and within one hour from when feeding begins.

If you do not start to use the prepared infant formula within 2 hours, immediately store the bottle in the fridge and use it within 24 hours.

Always throw out any infant formula that is left in the bottle after feeding your baby. The combination of infant formula and your baby’s saliva can cause bacteria to grow. 

For more information, check out the CDC guidance here.

How do I sanitize my equipment before making up my bottle?

It’s really important that you sanitize the equipment before making your baby’s bottle to prevent your little one getting sick. According to the CDC, you should be doing this until your baby is at least 2 months old. After this, daily sanitizing of feeding items may not be necessary for older, healthy babies, as long as those items are cleaned carefully after each use.

Before sanitizing, make sure to thoroughly clean your bottles, nipplesand other feeding equipment in hot, soapy water as soon as possible after feeding. Use dedicated brushes to clean out bottles and nipples (you can also turn out nipples to wash them). Check with the item’s manufacturer about which method to use.

Once everything is clean, you can start sanitizing. There are two main ways to sanitize; sanitizing by boiling or steam sanitizing

Boil:

  • Place disassembled feeding items into a pot and cover with water.
  • Put the pot over heat and bring to a boil.
  • Boil for 5 minutes.
  • Remove items with clean tongs.

Steam:

Place disassembled items in a microwave or plug-in steam system and follow the manufacturer’s instructions for sanitizing, cooling, and drying the items.

If you can’t boil, steam or use a dishwasher, you could bleach your infant feeding items using the following method:

  • Prepare a bleach solution of 2 teaspoons of unscented bleach per gallon (16 cups) of water in a clean wash basin.
  • Put all items completely underwater. Make sure the solution touches all parts and there are no air bubbles in the bottles.
  • Squeeze solution through nipple holes.
  • Soak items in solution for at least 2 minutes.
  • Remove with clean hands or tongs. Do not rinse because germs could get back onto the sanitized items. Any remaining bleach will break down quickly as it dries and will not hurt your baby. This process is similar to what is done to sanitize dishes in restaurants.

After sanitizing, place items on a clean, unused dish towel or paper towel in an area protected from dirt and dust. Allow to air-dry thoroughly before storing. Do not use a dish towel to rub or pat items dry because doing so may transfer germs to the items.

Making up your baby’s bottle: 

Always follow the manufacturer’s instructions. A general guide is the following:

  1. Clean the countertops and wash your hands with soap and warm water before preparing bottles. Use a clean bottle and nipple
  2. To kill germs in powdered infant formula, the formula must be mixed with hot water that is at least 158F. Tap water is usually safe, but contact your local health department if you are not sure. Boil a liter of fresh water and then wait for 30  minutes before mixing with powdered infant formula.
  3. Use the exact amount of water and formula listed on the instructions of the infant formula  container. Always measure the water first and then add the infant formula powder. NEVER dilute formula by adding extra water. This can make your baby sick.
  4. Shake infant formula in the bottle to mix. Do not stir.
  5. After mixing, the formula will be too hot to feed your baby, so it’s important to wait for the formula to cool first so you don’t burn your baby’s mouth. You can speed up this process by putting the bottle of formula into a jug of cold water or running under the cold tap.
  6. Test the temperature of the formula before feeding it to your baby by putting a few drops on the inside of your wrist. It should feel warm, not hot. 

If taking formula from the fridge to give to baby, never warm infant formula in a microwave. Microwaving creates hot spots, which can burn your baby’s mouth. To warm slightly, run the bottle under a running tap of warm water, keep the cap on the nipple.

If you find yourself during or after an emergency, and the water is not safe to use, you can find more information on what to do here. Remember bottled water is not sterile and will still need to be boiled. 

And don’t worry, it might seem like a lot to remember to begin with, but you’ll learn the steps really quickly. Soon you’ll be a pro at preparing formula! 

If you need extra support, don't hesitate to contact our Customer Support Team of moms and dads. They have helped thousands of parents, and are here to support you. Get in touch.

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