When feeding your little one, you want to get things just right. And if you’re wondering about how to prepare formula milk, you’re certainly not alone.

Below, you’ll find the answers to some common questions on how to prepare formula milk in a safe and hygienic way so that your baby feeds safely.

When it comes to how to make your baby’s bottle, it’s very important to follow the instructions on the pack very carefully. This will ensure your baby gets the right amount of powdered baby milk formula with each feed. It will also help you safely prepare your baby’s bottle feed.

Here’s our handy list¹: 

• Baby feeding bottles - anywhere between 6-8 should be enough to keep you covered. 
• Bottle teats. There are lots of different bottle teats available, but no evidence to suggest that one type is better than another. The most important thing is choosing the bottle teat with the correct flow for your baby - a slow flow is best for newborn babies. 
• Bottle brushes to keep your baby’s bottles and teats clean. 
• Sterilising equipment - take a look at our guide on how to sterilise your baby’s bottle. 
• Baby milk formula, either powdered or ready-to-feed liquid. 

Here are all the steps you need to follow to prepare your baby’s formula feeds. Failure to follow instructions could make your baby ill:
 

1. Wash your hands and sterilise all utensils according to manufacturers’ instructions. 
2. Boil 1 litre of freshly run tap water. Leave the kettle to cool for 30 minutes and no longer. Measure the required amount of water (refer to feeding guide) into a sterilised bottle. Be careful of scalding. Do not use artificially softened or repeatedly boiled water. 
3. Using the scoop provided, level off the powdered infant formula with a clean knife or the built-in leveller if provided. Do not press/heap the powder. 
4. Add the correct measure of powdered infant formula to the water (please refer to the pack instructions). Adding too many or too few scoops can be harmful. Place the sterilised teat and cap on the bottle and shake immediately, vertically and vigorously for at least 10 seconds until the powder is dissolved. 
5. Cool the bottle feed under a cold running water tap. Check the temperature and feed immediately.    

Here are a few handy parenting hacks to make formula feeds as fuss-free as possible:
 

• Keep everything you need to prepare your baby’s bottle in one place. That way, you’ll know where everything is, saving time when your little one is hungry! Seb's mum says, “We had a dedicated space in the kitchen where we kept all of the baby feeding equipment. It saved me from searching the kitchen for bottles, teats and baby formula.” 
• Ready-to-feed formula milk can come in handy for those night-time feed s, rather than using powdered formulations. “In those early days, I always kept a couple of bottles of ready-to-feed formula milk on my bedside table, along with a pre-sterilised bottle”, says George’s mum. “This meant that there was less disturbance and moving around. We could get straight on with feeding and enjoying those night-time snuggles.”        
• A top tip from Isla’s mum? “Have a couple of nappies and a spare change of clothes close by when feeding. It just made things easier if she needed changing - especially at night.”   

Breastfeeding is best for babies and provides many benefits. It is important that, in preparation for and during breastfeeding, you eat a varied, balanced diet. Combined breast and bottle feeding in the first weeks of life may reduce the supply of your own breast milk, and reversing the decision not to breastfeed is difficult. The social and financial implications of using an infant formula should be considered. Improper use of an infant formula or inappropriate foods or feeding methods may present a health hazard. If you use an infant formula, you should follow manufacturer’s instructions for use carefully – failure to follow the instructions may make your baby ill. Always consult your doctor, midwife or health visitor for advice about feeding your baby.