Everything you need ; How to properly prepare a baby bottle
What is the correct way to make a baby bottle?
To make a baby bottle, certain rules of preparation and storage are recommended. These principles are important to be able to give a well-measured bottle, at the right temperature. They also prevent the development of microbes in the milk.
What are the different types of milk that can be used?
Most infant formula comes in the form of a non-sterile powder , which must be mixed with water. Once opened, the can of powder will keep for about a month, tightly closed, in a cool, dry place.
There are also sterile liquid milks , ready to use. Once opened, they can be stored for a maximum of 48 hours, in their original packaging, between 0 and 2 °C. Store them in the coldest part of your refrigerator, usually on the bottom shelf, in the vegetable drawer. If in doubt, check the temperature using a thermometer. Your refrigerator must also be kept very clean (make sure to clean it at least once a month).
What water should you choose to prepare your baby’s bottle?
You can prepare a baby bottle with tap water. However, to reduce the growth of germs , take certain precautions:
- use only cold water (above 25°C, the water may be more loaded with microbes and mineral salts);
- Avoid water that has undergone filtration (in a filter carafe for example) or softening. In fact, these systems promote the multiplication of germs;
- If you have not used your faucet for several hours, let the water run for one to two minutes before filling the bottle. Otherwise, three seconds is enough;
- Do not put the neck of the bottle in contact with the tap, and clean the head of the latter regularly.
Moreover :
- If your faucet is equipped with a diffuser, remember to descale it regularly. To do this, unscrew the diffuser and place it in a glass of white vinegar. Leave it to act for a few hours, then rinse well;
- If you live in an old building built before 1948 , the water pipes may still be made of lead, which poses a risk of lead poisoning . In this case, to find out whether the water in your home can be used in baby bottles, contact your local town hall or your local Departmental Directorate for the Protection of Populations.
If you use spring water or bottled natural mineral water:
- make sure it is slightly mineralised, non-carbonated and marked "suitable for preparing infant food";
- refrigerate any opened bottle and consume within 24 hours;
- Abroad, in the absence of drinking or bottled water, you can use boiled and cooled water .
How to make a baby bottle?
To prepare a baby bottle, follow these steps:
- Clean the work surface used and wash your hands thoroughly with soap and water. Dry them with a clean cloth, or better, with a disposable paper towel.
- Check the cleanliness of the bottles, teats and utensils used. Be aware that the measuring spoon (or "dosette") provided with the box of milk must always be kept dry. It must also be thrown away once the box is finished.
- Put the necessary amount of water in the bottle, depending on your child's age and appetite.
- Dip the scoop into the milk carton and fill it. For correct dosing, do not pack the powder and do not make rounded doses .
- Then run the back of a clean knife blade over the spoon to remove any excess milk. To avoid contamination by bacteria, do not do this with your finger.
- Put as much powder as needed into the bottle, counting one level measure for 30 ml of water. Do not add more.
- When all the powder is in the bottle, shake it vigorously to reconstitute the liquid milk. Finally, check that there are no lumps or undiluted powder left at the bottom.
Should I heat baby milk?
Milk can be drunk at room temperature . It is therefore not essential to heat the bottle before giving it, unless it has been stored in the refrigerator. In all cases, reheating must be quick, so that the milk does not reach more than 37 °C. It must be done either in a bain-marie or in a bottle warmer, but never in a microwave oven . Indeed, this method of reheating can raise the temperature of the milk very significantly, with a significant risk of burning your baby.
After heating the bottle, shake it vigorously to obtain a uniform temperature throughout the liquid. Then check if the milk is not too hot, by pouring a few drops on the inside of your wrist.
Can you store a prepared bottle?
Once reconstituted, infant milk is very fragile and microbes multiply rapidly in it. As a result:
- If it is at room temperature, the bottle can be kept for one hour . Beyond this time, the milk must be thrown away;
- If the bottle is warmed, it should be consumed within half an hour, as germs develop even faster. As for ready-to-use bottles of liquid milk, they do not keep after reheating.
Exceptionally, you can prepare a bottle in advance and store it in the refrigerator, at a maximum of 4°C. To respect this temperature, place the bottle in the coldest part of the fridge, and not in the door.
In any case, never keep an opened bottle for the next feeding, even in the refrigerator.
Also, if you need to take a bottle for a short trip, carry the water in the bottle and the powder in another container. This way, there is no storage problem: you can reconstitute the milk just before feeding.
How to clean a baby bottle?
It is not necessary to sterilize the bottle , as has long been recommended. Simply wash it carefully, as soon as your child has finished feeding , according to the following steps:
- Rinse it with cold water.
- Clean the bottle with warm water, dishwashing liquid and a bottle brush, or "goupillon" (elongated brush, mounted on a long handle).
- Wash the teat, ring and cap in the same way, carefully removing any milk residue (especially in the grooves of the ring and the end of the teat).
- Rinse thoroughly.
- To dry the bottle, place it on a draining board in the open air, disassembled and upside down. Do not use a tea towel, to avoid the deposit of germs on the various parts.
- Wash and rinse the swab, then let it air dry as well, brush side up, in a clean place.
You can also clean the bottle and its silicone teat in the dishwasher (if it is made of rubber, it must be washed by hand). In this case:
- Rinse the various elements well to remove all traces of milk.
- Use a complete cycle, with a washing temperature of at least 65°C and drying (this last step is essential).
How to store a clean baby bottle until next use?
There are two options for storing the bottle before using it again:
- leave it out in the open on a vertical display stand, disassembled and upside down, in a clean, dry place (avoid the sink or cupboard below);
- reassemble the empty bottle, and keep it in the refrigerator .
In any case, before reusing the bottle, empty any residual drops of water it contains, without using a cloth.
