Infant
formulas are available in many different forms, including those
that are ready to feed, which comes in 32oz cans and requires
no preparation. Once opened, ready to feed formula must be refrigerated
and used with forty eight hours. Ready to feed formulas are usually
the most expensive.
Formula
can also be concentrated in 13 oz cans, and require dilution
with water on a 1:1 basis (one ounce of water for one ounce of
concentrated formula). Powder formulas are prepared by mixing
one scoop of formula with two ounces of water. Powder formulas
are usually the least expensive. When comparing formula prices,
check to see how much formula the can makes, since many cans
that look like they are the same size do not make the same amount
of formula.
If
you live
in a city
with sanitized
water and
you are
preparing
bottles
one at
a time,
then boiling
water or
sterilizing
the bottles
and nipples
isn't necessary.
You may
be able
to use this water
out of
the tap
and bottles
can be
washed
in hot
soapy water
or in the
dishwasher.
If you
are not
convinced
that your
water supply
is safe
or if you
are using
well water, then you
should
boil the
water for
five minutes
before
preparing
formula.
Boiling
the water
when preparing
infant
formula
was universally
recommended
and was
then thought
to be unnessesary.
In 1993,
an outbreak
of cyclosporiasis
from contaminated
water in
Milwaukee
prompted
officials
to again recommend
that water
be boiled
when preparing
infant
formula.
However,
the American
Academy
of Pediatrics
does recommend
that water
that is
going to
be used
for infant
formula
be boiled. If you
don't want
to boil
the water
first,
you could
use 'sterile'
bottled
water instead.
Bottled
water that
isn't marked
sterile
should
probably
still be
boiled.
You
should
discard
any formula
in the
bottle
that is
not finished
during
the feeding.
Your
baby may
accept
formula
prepared
with cold
water,
or he may
prefer
to have
the formula
warmed.
You may
warm formula
by briefly
placing
it under
hot running
water, using a
bottle
warmer
or on the
stove.
Do not
warm formula
in the
microwave,
as it can
produce
hot spots
in the
bottle
that can
burn your
baby. And
always
test warmed formula
before
feeding
it to your
baby.
If
you are
using ready
to feed
formula
or are
preparing
concentrated
or powder
formulas
with bottled
or filtered
water,
then you
may need
to give
your baby
fluoride
supplements when he
is older.
Check with
your doctor. |
