Jug O Formula

So, I was thinking that when DH returns to work, I am going to need to have some short cuts to make my life easier. I am going to make the formula in big batches. I have an empty milk jug. Can I use it? If not, what do you ladies use?

Thanks,
Jenn

 

I wouldn't use it but I'm weird about stuff like that. I went and bought some rubbermaid pitchers that have snap close lids that I use. I bought 16oz, 32oz and 64oz ones

 

We also used big rubbermaid pitchers. Then I discovered the Pampered Chef pitcher with the mixer in it. FABULOUS! Put in the water, the powder and a squirt or two of generic mylicon for the bubbles and mix away.

 

I would prefer not to go with a milk-jug to mix the formula in. I'd suggest something like this: http://www.instawares.com/1-gallon-mixerma...e=22-18444200-2

I currently use a 32 oz jug [looks similar to the one on the link but smaller]. I mix 24 oz at a time and pour bottles from it. Usually have to shake about 3-4 per day, but it works well for us. We've done this since the beginning. I often make enough bottles for about 4 feedings at one time. You can make enough for a 24 hr period if you prefer ^_^ as formula is good [as long as it's kept refridgerated] for a day. It's really up to you

Here's what I do for mixing 24 oz[since formula often creates foamy bubbles during mixing]:
- Measure out 24 oz in a different container [like a water pitcher or something]
- Pour about 8 oz into pitcher
- Add 6 scoops of formula. place lid on and Shake [repeat.. 6 scoops and shake]
- Add the remaining 16 oz of water and do another shake
- Let pitcher sit a couple mins [to let the foam settle a little] then I get a big spoon and scoop out the foam
- Formula's ready to pour into bottles!

*Sounds like a lot of work after seeing in typed up :lol: but it's really no big deal once you get the hang of it*

 

I would go with something with measurements on it. My boys were small eaters so I only mixed 18oz at a time in case they didn't finish it.

 

We used to use a big Rubbermaid pitcher. I wouldn't use a milk jug. We now use the Dr. Brown's formula-mixing pitcher, which we love. You can only make 32-36 oz at a time in it so we just make one batch, pour it into bottles, stick those in the fridge, and make another batch right away.

 

you're going to go crazy trying to get the formula into the small mouth of the milk jug.

we bought a big ol' rubbermaid pitcher and at this point we do quadruple batches. which is something like 96 ounces of water if i remember correctly. it's a hell of a lot of formula but our guys eat through that much in just over a day.

 

QUOTE(ktfan @ May 31 2009, 12:15 PM) [snapback]1334970[/snapback]
Then I discovered the Pampered Chef pitcher with the mixer in it. FABULOUS!


I love my Pampered Chef pitcher! We marked a line on the side of it for the right amount of water to mix with 2 cups of formula powder. So just fill to the line, measure 2 cups of formula (no little scoops here!) and mix away. Takes about 2 minutes and makes enough for both babies for an entire day.

 

I use an electric hand blender and a large pitcher to mix up 60-70 oz of formula a day. Once mixed i pour into a 64 oz rubbermaid container with a snap spout on it. Makes enough for 24 hrs. The mixer ensures there is no chunks I usually fill several bottles tp store in the door of the fridge at a time to make one handed preparation easier.

 

I FEEL I HAVE THE BEST SOLUTION FOR MAKING A DAY'S WORTH OF FORMULA!

I had a glass pitcher with a lid that sealed tight. I ran it through the dishwasher on the high-heat setting so it was sterile. Then I filled with sterile water. Water that has been boiled for 5 minutes remains sterile for 24 hours at room temperature in a sealed container or 48 hours in the fridge.

If you have a pitcher of sterile water, you can just add to bottles and then powdered formula to the bottle and shake to mix, as needed. If someone finishes 5 ounces and wants a bit more, just put some water and powder in the bottle and shake. Easy! If the water is room temperature, you don't even need to warm it - room temp is just fine for babies.

I tried 100 methods before I finally settled on this one, which was easiest for me. No warming, no last-minute boiling, no need to use the microwave - nothing.

Here's the pitcher that worked so well for us: http://www.amazon.com/Frigoverre-Pitcher-2...ref=pd_sim_hg_2

 

sterile water? :blink: after the first couple of months we just started buying gallon jugs of purified water and going straight from jug to pitcher. :lol:

 

I think plain tap water is fine, personally, but I only came to that conclusion after months of boiling! I called the doctor's office when my boys were 8 months old and asked when I could finally stop boiling and sterilizing and they said, "Um, about 6 months ago!". But I know many people like to used sterile water, just for peace of mind.

 

my only concern about tap water is fluoride levels. exposure to fluoride under the age of 6 months can lead to dental fluorosis.

 

We just make up the feeds for the day in a morning, i would love to start making up a batch but i'm not sure how it would work with us any ideas please?

We have to add gaviscon powder for reflux, then 8oz boiling water, then 4 scoops shake and repeat.

How would we go abougt mixing the gaviscon powder equally? Just worried the gaviscon wont get distributede evenly, it tends to gather in the bottom.

tia

 

We have a brita ultra max: http://www.filter-outlet.com/product.php?product=172491 and keep it in the fridge. But I guess you could always leave it out if you prefer room temp water

 

I use empty milk jugs, i do 2 at a time...i make sure they are clean really good, dry really good, then use the funnels to pour the forumula scoops and water into them so there are no messes...i measure EVERYTHING out and it usually has to be used within 24 hrs, and they are, so i am making formula every 2 days, which is much easier than every day, and after i make the jugs of formula i let it sit in the fridge to settle down before pouring into the bottles. when i pour into bottles i make enough bottles for the day so all i have to do is reach in and grab the bottles...pretty easy...GL

 

I use an 8cup Pyrex measuring cup to boil water in the microwave. I then mix the formula directly in the measuring cup. It has a lid so I suppose you could store the formula that way, but I just go ahead and fill bottles. I have 24 playtex nursers (the disposable liner kind) that are just in a constant rotation. Making bottles when I have time, and never having a hungry baby wait more than a couple minutes for a warm bottle has simplified our life. At 3 months both babies are still eating between 7 and 9 times a day.

To warm our bottles I use a small crock pot intended for dip. I have one upstairs and one downstairs.

 

We had some tupperware pitchers that we hadn't used in awhile. I washed them out and wrote Max & Lily on each lid in sharpie marker because Max had to have more scoops in his formula for the calories due to his open-heart surgery. When they got put on the same blend of formula I still used the two pitchers because it gave me just enough for a day and half's worth of bottles. The worse was doing the math at each bottle increase to change our recipe for water vs. formula scoops. It was a TOTAL time saver though. I highly recommend it.