How to make up formula

The water:
 

• Boil water and allow to cool. All water used for formula should be boiled until your baby is at least six months old.
• If you are pre-preparing formula you should always use boiled water regardless of the age of your baby.
• If you are using rainwater, you should boil it before use. All rainwater that is consumed by a child less than 5 years should be boiled first.
• Tap water is fine to use for making formula when your child is over 6 months.
• Spring water should be boiled until your child is 12 months.
• As filtered water doesn’t remove bacteria from the water, you should also boil filtered water until your child is six months old.

The formula:
 

• Always be careful to follow the formula's instructions.
• Make sure that you level off each scoop so that you use the correct amount of powdered formula.
• Measure the correct amount of water before you add it to the bottle. Always add the powder to the water, rather than the water to the powder.
• Don't pack the formula into the measuring scoop.
• Shake the water and powdered formula until they are thoroughly mixed.
• Any bottle of formula that are being stored in the fridge should be put in the back where the temperature is the most consistently cool.
• Make sure that you throw out any formula that hasn't been used within 24 hours.

Travelling with formula:

It is best to pack cool boiled water and powdered formula separately and then mix them just as you need the formula - this negates the need to carry an insulated bag of pre-prepared formula.

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This article was written by Ella Walsh for Kidspot. Sources include SA Government's Parenting and Child Health.