Formula questions

When my babies are born I will be feeding them formula, not breastfeeding. I gave both my other children formula, both are wicked healthy, smart and at 14 and 11 they are doing great. With them I used powdered formula, and plan on doing that again. It was great. Before bed would measure out the formula and have the bottles set up and then would just have to add the correct amount of water, found it so great when not home, just always kept water in the car.

Ok, so here is what is going on. My MIL is freaking out for two reasons....first that we are using powder formula.."I have had powdered milk before and nothing could be more disgusting" Well I have a feeling no matter what form formula comes in, it is gross, but in my opinion any milk is lol Second issue, we plan on using room temp. water. I have read in many places it is fine and most babies take to it just fine. "Who the heck would want room temp milk? That is not soothing at all, no one wants room temp or cold milk! You have to warm it, it is the only way it is soothing!" She feels and flat out said we are trying to take short cuts. Hello!!!! I would not consider it a short cut. I am thinking of two crying/screaming/hunger babies and the best way to fulfill their needs.

So am I just totally not going the right way with powder and either giving it to them cold or room temp?

Last night at dinner with her she said "So I have been researching this formula issue." My husband cut her a look and told her that we have no issue..she dropped it, for the time being.

It is to the point now when we know she is coming over I hide all the bottles just so the topic isn't brought up. How freaking sad is that??LOL We have a china hutch in our kitchen, it will be used as the bottle prep area b/c we have very limited counter space and the hutch works perfectly. I of course have everything,just have to sterilize the nipples when I get home from the hospital. I love having the bottles sitting out, brings me happiness I hate having to put stuff away just to avoid being made to feel like I know nothing.

Dianna

 

We use powder and room temp water, they never spit up, they burp right away in upright position. They are healthy. It is nice if you go anywhere just add formula.
It works great for us and they seem to love it.

 

Well, my two cents is that you are doing what you belive is right and best for your family- and should not hide your choice. I was glad to read your DH is being supportive. Perhaps once she realizes you two are in full agreement and aren't changing your minds- she will drop the issue. I pump and bottle feed breastmilk as well as supplement with formula. The breastfeeding wasn't going well, and am getting ready to switch to formula exclusively in two weeks. We feed our babies the breastmilk and formula straight from the refridgerator, never warming it at all, and the babies do great! Once we move from liquid ready made (we got some free from the hospital) to the powder- it will be given to them at room temperature as well.
Keep strong- and put those bottles back out. Especially if it makes you so happy to think of those babies and how great it will be to feed them and hold them!

 

Feeding issues are YOUR decision. Your MIL had her time now its yours. I was a Newborn nursery nurse for 6 years prior to having my boys and we NEVER warmed the milk. Some nights I gave 18 feeding between all the babies. To this day the only time I warm a bottle is if I take it out of the fridge. And just to take the chill off. I used to get a lot of Grandmas that swore you had to warm the bottle for their grandchild to take it, but I promise you the babies never went hungry. Your best bet is to give her the same treatment as any unsolicited advice, and ignore it. I agree with PP that it is great that DH is on the same track with you, he is your best defence with her. And infact some times its better if HE is the one to say things to her.

 

We did powder formula with lukewarm water also with all 3 of my kids. They are thriving. My mom also gave me a shocked look when I told her I wasn't warming up baby food, just straight out of the jar. My point was my kids didn't know it was supposed to be warm and they never flinched about eating it. My DD was and still isn't a great eater, my twins devour everything in sight. Just stick to your guns - everyone "parents" differently.

 

Here's something - I work in an NICU and the formula that we give babies in the ready to feed bottles is at room temp.

 

I use room temp water and powdered formula and my babies are growing just fine. I think you should do what you feel is right. YOU and your DH are the parents. Your MIL should be supportive of whatever it is you decide to do.

I know my own mother was very disappointed when I gave up breastfeeding at three months, but I just had to tell her when she has her twins she can do whatever she wants. She has since become very supportive of my formula feeding.

Good luck with your babes.

 

I want to thank you all very much. I feel better after reading your responses. This is just one of many issues that have come up with her telling us what we should do. And yes my husband is very much on my side. We are in total agreement on how we plan on taking care of the babies. I am guessing she will get the point. Just causes so much extra stress. Stressed enough about getting ready to have two babies that I don't need any added stress.

Dianna

 

I make up all the bottles ahead for the day (using powder) and when it's time to eat just pop the bottle out of the fridge and into their mouths, they don't mind. Like the PP's have said, it's your decision and do what works for you and your babies! I think the bigger issue is that you seem to have a meddlesome MIL, my only advice, put your foot down now and be firm, otherwise she will walk all over you. And when she does make comments, just roll your eyes and let it go in one ear and out the other.

 

QUOTE(SoBlessed @ Feb 17 2008, 12:02 PM) [snapback]625809[/snapback]
Here's something - I work in an NICU and the formula that we give babies in the ready to feed bottles is at room temp.


I was just going to say, my girls got used to room temp formula in the NICU. Everyone I talked to said if they will take it, don't warm it and you'll say yourself the hassle of listening to 2 hungry babies scream while you wait for their bottles to warm up. I returned the sealed bottle warmer to BRU and never looked back. Sounds like your MIL has boundary issues. Its none of her business and you should not be ashamed the decision you and DH made about bottles. Its her problem if she has a problem with it. GL with the rest of your pg! -Leighann

 

QUOTE(Dianna @ Feb 17 2008, 11:13 AM) [snapback]625733[/snapback]
When my babies are born I will be feeding them formula, not breastfeeding. I gave both my other children formula, both are wicked healthy, smart and at 14 and 11 they are doing great. With them I used powdered formula, and plan on doing that again. It was great. Before bed would measure out the formula and have the bottles set up and then would just have to add the correct amount of water, found it so great when not home, just always kept water in the car.


That's exactly how I did it. Room temp, powdered formula. 5 healthy kids! :hug99:

 

I agree, she does have boundary issues. I know she doesn't mean harm, she loves us, wants the best for us, and wants the best for the babies, but it does get out of hand.

I am so glad I posted about this, glad to see many others have/do not heat bottles....I knew I wasn't alone in this LOL

Dianna

 

QUOTE
My MIL is freaking out for two reasons....first that we are using powder formula.."I have had powdered milk before and nothing could be more disgusting"


Ummm... I'd think most adults would find RTF formula, or even breastmilk, pretty disgusting to drink too! That's why we have COFFEE!!! :lol:

I'm sorry she's giving you grief. The last thing you need is more stress! Hopefully she'll cut it out when she realizes that DH is on your side and this stuff is not negotiable. :hug99:

 

We use room temperature water and powdered formula. If it was in the fridge we heat it enough to take the chill off....we tried right out of the fridge when they were younger and they didn't like it. Now at three months they find it refreshing. No warm bottles here. If your baby never has it warmed up then they aren't gonna know that room temperature isnt the only way. Your babies your choice. I had Grandma say they will get a tummy ache if it is cold out of the fridge. WELL that is an old wives tale...PERIOD!!! We all drink cold milk out of the fridge and our tummies don't ache.I agree..when you have two screaming babies it makes it tough to warm formula..especially running warm water over it in the sink....trying that in the middle of the night would exhaust me. Of subject we do the wierd thing and have a wipe warmer though. Funny huh..cold bottles and warm wipes. The babies necessitated that. They screamed bloody murder every time we changed them until i got the warmer. It was a good investment for us. My older son didn't care for warm bottles or warm wipes.LOL

 

Sometimes well-meaning parents and in laws just get stuck on the way "they did things" but that doesn't mean you should necessarily change your ways. Please tell your mother in law that powdered formula is safer because cans are lined with plastic that contains BPA. Liquid formula absorbs more of the BPA than powdered formula BY FAR. BPA is considered toxic by many. Also, room temp is perfect for most babies, especially if that's what they're used to from the beginning. I don't think there's any evidence to suggest that babies served warm milk are happier or healthier!

 

We ARE CURRENTLY DOING exactly what you did and my twins are almost 8 months old and doing GREAT!!!!! I did it for the EXACT reasons you stated. Good luck with your MIL but always remember"Mommy knows BEST"

 

I think we share a MIL!

mine picked fights with DH and I over cold formula until Tony basically told her that this was the way we fed the kids and they didn't seem to have any issues...she then tried with me and I told her (as she warmed DSs formula one day) that if it was too warm he'd throw up - guess what he did all over her!

 

My MIL had the nerve to go to her family doctor and ask about me waking the boys up to make sure they ate at the same time. The boys were 3 weeks old! Tiny little William had just gotten home from the hospital. She told me her doctor said you should never wake a sleeping baby to feed them. I quickly told her perhaps the doctor should have twins. She actually pressured me to get the babies to sleep through the night at 3 weeks!

I now regret warming our bottles. When we had our first power outage the boys would not take their bottles straight from the fridge. We had to scramble and find some room temp boiled water to make a new batch of bottles and they thankfully took it at room temp. Now when the weather gets bad (every few days this winter!) I make sure we have plenty of boiled water on hand sitting at room temperature.

 

My DD gets hers right out of the fridge and she drinks it just fine. I just dont have the time to warm it up especially if both are hungry and screaming.

 

I use powder ( i make it in two different pitchers since at 4 months they have been on differnt formulas) and it worked fine... I also use concentrate ( i like it best) and i can get it cheap at CVS with the checks that i use... Also i always used warm temp milk, she needs to understand that these twins are your babies... She raised hers so tell her to back off a little. Once they are here you will tolerate someone telling you the way to do it for so long then it might explode so confront her in the beginning. Both my MIL and Mom knew it was my way and no other way. I co-parent because i have two step-kids and by golly these twins were mine and it is always done my way. Someone does not like it then they can complain to someone else i am not listening to it! Good luck!

 

oh dianna we should call each other and have a big MIL blowout. mine lives downstairs from us and i am about to rip my hair out. i use powdered soy formula and yes it is room temp too. my kids r healthy but not acording to her

 

I didn't read all the responses, so sorry if repeating. We also use powdered and either at room temperature or right out of the fridge. Warming bottles just seems to cause my little ones to spit up more. I have 3 older children. I did the same with them if I wasn't BFing.

 

More fuel for your fire: I also read in one of those plastic bottle danger reports that liquid formula containers are lined with that nasty bad plastic stuff, and powdered formula is safer (I think some powdered formulas are lined with it too, but it doesn't leach into the powder like it does into the milk or something like that).

We have fed our kids powdered formula made with room-temp filtered water from the get-go. (I also pumped breastmilk for them, but they got that room-temp as well.)

 

I make all my bottles in the morning for the day and they drink them right out of the fridge with no problems. Who wants to warm bottles at 2:00 in the morning?? That's a lot of unnecessary work. In the beginning, I was making each bottle as needed, but again, who wants to do anything more than just feed their babies in the middle of the night?? I quickly figured out what a waste of time that was and now they're pre made and I'm done with feedings so much quicker! I think what's "soothing" to a baby about breast or bottle feeding is getting a full belly! Good luck!

 

my mom is the same way... i think there is some kind of old school mentality that you have to boil all the nipples and warm the bottles- who has the time with two screaming newborns?? not me! i use costco formula (it rocks) and i use filtered water-room temp- my boys do not seem to care if it is warm or not- just as long as they are getting their 6 oz in!

don't even get me started on breastfeeding- i gave up after two weeks- power to anyone that can do it- i was ready to jump off a cliff!

 

QUOTE(mystich @ Feb 17 2008, 10:19 AM) [snapback]625742[/snapback]
We use powder and room temp water, they never spit up, they burp right away in upright position. They are healthy. It is nice if you go anywhere just add formula.
It works great for us and they seem to love it.



Same here. I do heat up the last bottle before bed though, just because I think warm milk before bed helps them to sleep better. But I'll admit I don't do that EVERY night, some nights it's all I can do just to get them to bed, lol.

 

Oh for goodness sakes! That would make me very angry. Tell her when she has her twins she can feed them however she wishes.