A step-by-step guide to preparing formula milk at home

Babies are considered as sensitive creatures on earth. As they are new to the surroundings of the environment and have an immature immune system due to which they are more prone to infections and viral diseases. Every feed which is being prepared must be close to the time of the baby’s feeding time in order to avoid the risk of stomach infections. Formula feeding is a smart way to feed your baby but make sure that you clean and sterilize the bottles carefully.

Process of preparing powdered formula milk

Now let’s have a look at the series of steps which are involved in the preparation of formula milk at your home:

1. Take a kettle and fill it with 1 liter of clean tap water and make sure that you do not reuse the boiled water for feeding purpose.
2. Now, heat the water at the boiling temperature and then let it still for at least 30 minutes so that the water temperature comes down to 70C.
3. Make sure that you clean the surface which you are going to use in order to remove all the bad bacteria which can cause infection to the child.
4. The next step involves washing your hands with a clean soap or a sanitize just to make sure that they are neat and disinfected.
5. In case you are using cold water sterilizer then you need to throw the excess portion of the solution from the bottle or the teat and rinse some cold water from the kettle. Please do not use tap water as it can hamper the digestion of the child.
6. Now keep the bottle at still where the surface is neat and disinfected.
7. If you are making the formula milk for the first time make sure that you read the manufacturer’s instructions carefully and follow them accordingly. Also, check the amount of water level that is needed in the bottle.
8. Always make sure that you put the water first in the bottle and not the powdered formula because water is the foremost ingredient of formula milk and it can be easily used as a dissolve while it is still hot to put the powder milk in it.
9. Read the manufacturers instructions again and add the appropriate amount of scoops of formula powder as mentioned. Take a leveler or use a dry knife and level the powder off in the bottle. Moreover, there is a huge variety of powdered formula milk available in the market and each tin contains its unique scoop so make sure that you use the one that comes with your powdered formula milk.
10. This step comprises off holding the corner edge of the teat and put that on the bottle. Next, screw the retaining ring onto the bottle in order to contain the ingredients in the bottle avoiding the intake of any kind of bacteria in it.
11. Now cover the teat and shake off the bottle very well until the powder gets completely dissolved in the water. Also, make sure that the bottle is covered properly and the powdered formula does not fall out while dissolution.
12. It is very crucial to check whether the bottle is too hot to drink or it is at the normal temperature. In case it is too hot just hold the bottle under the running water and make sure that the lid of the bottle is on.
13. Now here comes the duty of the mothers to check for the last time that the temperature of the formula milk is normal which is either warm or cold but not too hot to drink before delivering to your baby. To test the temperature you can simply put a few drops of bottle formula on your inner wrist and feel the body temperature.
14. And your powdered formula milk is all ready to feed the child.
15. In case there is any leftover in the bottle then you need to throw it away and not reuse it for the next feeding as it can cause vomiting and diarrhea to the newborn.

Do and Don’t for making a perfect bottled formula feed

Given below are some of the precautions that must be taken by the mothers for the preparation of a perfect formula feed for their babies:

1. Try not to boil the water in the microwave as it can add on extra heating to the water than required and can even burn the baby’s mouth.
2. Always read the manufacturer’s instructions very carefully and then add the ingredients as mentioned in it.
3. Try to avoid the addition of oats, sugar, salt or cereals in the powdered feed as it can cause vomiting or stomach infection to the kid.
4. Never add less amount of powdered milk in the bottle as it can affect the baby’s health by not providing him the essential amount of nutrients and minerals to his/her body. Whereas, extra amounts of powdered milk can cause constipation or dehydration in the baby’s body.
5. Never use bottled water to make up the powered formula feeds as it is not well sterilized and also it contains large amounts of sodium or sulfate that can hamper the digestion of the baby.
6. Make sure that you clean and sterilize the bottles every time before preparing the next feed.
7. Try to prepare the exact quantity of baby’s feed as required by the baby in order to avoid the extra wastage of the ingredients.

Final Words

Thus, this article is very helpful for the first time pregnant women as well as the new mothers with their only child. It will not only provide you a better understanding of the powdered milk and baby’s digestion but will also enhance your feed preparation skills. You need not visit a motherly care center or expert to learn the tricks for making a perfect formula feed. Just follow the given steps carefully and make a healthy and nutritious feed for your loving baby.