How To Prepare Formula Milk? Step-By-Step Instruction

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Breastfeeding is the best source of nutrition for your little one, providing essential nutrients and antibodies which help protect against many common childhood illnesses^[1]. However, if you’re unable to breastfeed, infant formula is the only safe alternative for feeding your baby until around 12 months of age. But how to prepare formula milk with the best flavour and quality?

This article provides a step-by-step guideline on preparing, storing, and warming formula milk to ensure your baby receives the best possible nutrition.

If you’re still choosing a product before preparing feeds, explore our infant formula range to compare age-appropriate options.

Step 1: Preparing

Before making formula milk for your little one, keep these recommendations in mind:

Feeding your baby on demand

This means offering a bottle whenever they show signs of hunger rather than following a strict schedule.

Babies usually have varying appetites, and their hunger cues can include rooting, sucking on their hands, or becoming more alert and fussy (see more details in our formula feeding instructions).

Keep everything clean

• Remember to wash your hands carefully before preparing bottles or feeding your baby.
• Clean and sanitise the area where you’ll prepare the infant formula to ensure a safe environment.
• Keep your baby’s bottles and feeding items clean and sanitised when preparing formula milk. Check out the CDC’s guides on cleaning, sanitising, and storing infant feeding items for more details on how to correctly clean and store these items.

Warm your baby’s bottle

There’s no need to warm your baby’s milk or formula before feeding, but if you prefer to do so, never use a microwave. Microwaves can heat milk unevenly, creating hot spots that burn your baby’s mouth and throat.

To safely warm a bottle:

1. Place the bottle under warm running water, ensuring no water enters or touches the nipple.
2. Test the temperature by placing a few drops of formula on the back of your hand to ensure it’s not too hot.

Step 2: Making Up

What is the correct way to make formula milk? To provide your baby with proper nutrition, it’s critical to follow the instructions on the formula label carefully. These instructions are specifically designed to give your baby the correct balance of nutrients, vitamins, and minerals they demand for healthy growth and development.

A study found that caregivers frequently make mistakes when preparing infant formula, especially when scooping the powder by hand, often resulting in mixing the wrong formula-to-water ratio^[2]. These errors in measuring both powder and water often result in a formula that is too thick, which can be dangerous for babies.

Thus, ensure to measure both the water and the formula powder accurately, as using too much or too little of either can impact the nutritional value of the formula and your baby’s well-being.

There are a few tips you should consider:

• The correct order is to add water first, then formula, then stir with a spoon (or even a fork works to mix it well) until the powder is dissolved.
• Always use the provided scoop, as scoop sizes vary between formulas.
• Keep the formula in its original can and cover it with the plastic lid to avoid contamination. Remember, never transfer the powder to another container.
• Follow the manufacturer’s instructions precisely when preparing feeds, using the correct amount of powder to ensure your baby receives the right nutrients.
• There’s no need to warm the formula before feeding. If you choose to warm it, place the bottle under running warm water or in a bowl of warm water for a few minutes. Ensure no water gets into the bottle or on the nipple, as this can contaminate the formula.
• The formula should be made using sterilised water. To do this, simply boil tap water in a kettle, then set it aside to cool. Once the water has cooled (after about 30 minutes), you can then prepare the formula as per the instructions on the tin.

Note: Be more cautious with special cases, such as when your baby is younger than 2 months old, born prematurely, or has a weakened immune system. They can get severe sickness if they drink formula that is infected with Cronobacter (a bacterium that lives in dry foods and powdered infant formula), according to the CDC’s guidelines.

To get rid of these germs, ensure to mix the formula with very hot water (at least 70°C)^[3]. Boil water and let it cool for about 5 minutes before mixing with powdered infant formula. After mixing, the formula may still be too hot to feed, so let it cool further to avoid burning your baby’s mouth.

Expert tip: You can transfer and store the boiled water in sterilised bottles and then store them in the fridge until needed. Remember to use within 24 hours^[4].

Step 3: Storing

How long can I keep prepared formula milk? It’s best to prepare a formula one bottle at a time, ideally right before feeding your baby. Singapore Food Agency recommends using prepared infant formula within 2 hours of mixing it and, if feeding has begun, within 1 hour^[4].

Abrie McCoy, a baby feeding expert and certified lactation consultant, explains that when a baby drinks from a bottle, their saliva mixed with the warm formula can create an environment conducive to bacterial growth. This can spoil the formula and potentially make the baby sick if the formula is consumed later^[5].

If you haven’t started feeding within 2 hours, store the prepared formula in the refrigerator at a temperature below 5˚C within one hour of preparation, and use it within 24 hours. Be sure to store the bottle in the coldest part of the fridge.

Any formula left in the bottle after feeding should be thrown away. The mix of formula and your baby’s saliva can promote bacterial growth, so it’s essential to clean and sanitise the bottle before its next use.

Unopened infant formula containers should be stored in a cool, dry place indoors—not in vehicles, garages, or outdoors. Once a container is opened, keep it in a cool, dry spot with the lid tightly sealed. Avoid storing it in the refrigerator.

Expert tip: Most infant formulas must be used within one month of opening, but always check the label for specific instructions. To help you remember, mark the date on the lid when you first open the container.

Step 4: Cleaning Up

Bottles should be thoroughly cleaned after each feeding. Germs can rapidly multiply if breast milk or formula is added to a partially used bottle or if a used bottle is simply rinsed instead of properly cleaned^[7].

Follow these steps to properly clean baby bottles by hand after each use:

1. Separate all parts of the bottle, including nipples, caps, rings, and valves.
2. Rinse each part under running water—either warm or cold. Hold the items under the stream instead of placing them in the sink to avoid contamination.
3. Use a clean brush dedicated solely to cleaning baby-feeding items to scrub each part thoroughly. Be sure to squeeze water through nipple holes to ensure they are properly cleaned.
4. After washing, rinse all items either by holding them under running water or submerging them in a separate basin filled with fresh water, only used for cleaning feeding items.
5. Place everything on a clean, unused towel in an area protected from dirt and dust. Allow everything to air-dry completely. Avoid using a dish towel to dry the items, as this can transfer germs.
6. After each use, rinse the wash basin, brush well, and allow it to air-dry. Every few days, wash them either in a dishwasher with hot water and a heated drying cycle (if they are dishwasher-safe) or by hand with soap and warm water. Also, you need to sterilise all feeding equipment after washing.

Note: If your baby is under 2 months old, was born prematurely, or has a weakened immune system due to illness or medical treatment, wash the basin and brush after every use.

For parents considering combination feeding approaches, you might also find our guide on mixing breast milk with formula helpful.

FAQs

How can I prepare formula feeds in advance?

If preparing formula milk in advance, you should store the formula in the refrigerator at a temperature below 5˚C within one hour of preparation, and use it within 24 hours. Be sure to store the bottle in the coldest part of the fridge.

Why can’t babies drink cold formula?

There is no evidence suggesting that cold formula causes discomfort for babies. If your baby seems comfortable and finishes their bottle happily, there’s no need to be concerned. In case you have any concerns, it’s always a good idea to consult pediatricians and family physicians.

Disclaimer: Breast milk is the ideal nutrition for babies, and it’s crucial to seek professional advice before using infant formula. Introducing bottle feeding can impact breastfeeding, so consider carefully. Besides, good maternal nutrition is critical for breastfeeding, and reversing the decision not to breastfeed may be challenging. Infant formula should always be used according to instructions to ensure the infant’s health. Social and financial implications should be considered when determining a method of feeding.