Hi, Tonight I spent an hour making bottles! I just had to switch to the Doc Browns bottles, so some extra time was spent on that. The rest of the time was trying to stir the formula lumps out. I use Enfamil Gentle formula, Browns bottles..add water, add the rice cereal (1/2 tsp per 2oz due to reflux) and formula and stir. I have tried a fork, a butter knife and if I could find a wisk small enough I would try that! Am I missing something? Please educate me if I am!
Thanks for any insight!
Stephani,
I don't know if I missed something or not, but why are you adding rice cereal to the bottle? Normally pediatricians don't recommend that because of choking hazards. Feed your baby rice cereal separate from the bottle.
As far as the formula goes, try making the bottles with warm water and then add the formula. If you use cold water, it tends to get lumpy.
Take care,
Molly
I have seen a small battery powered wisk at Wal-mart and at Target, less than 4 dollars. It's on the bottle isle. I thought about getting one but we'll be off formula soon (maybe, if mommy can handle him becoming a big boy)
Good luck
My ped. suggested using a blender :)
I always put the water in first. I found lumps and clumps when I did it formula, then water. I just shook the heck out of the bottles. The blender idea below is a good one. You can make batches and just fill bottles to store in the frig. Wish I had thought of that!
I say avoid warm anything. If they get used to warm formula, they will want it.
I have never put cereal in a bottle... when I gave my older daughter cereal it was with a very small amount of milk (I breast fed.) All I can say is try mixing the cereal with a very small amount of formula until it is smooth (no lumps) and then add it to the rest of the bottle. Good luck!
I use to use my old bottles and shake it in that and then poor it into the Doc Brown bottles; but that may be why they didn't do much for my daughter.
I use the same bottle and formula and also have lumpiness problems. Plus, I'm too lazy/time-starved to use a blender :) Even though the Dr. Brown's pamphlet recommends against it, I give the bottle several good shakes. This generally works for me. But be careful - as you probably already know, the bottle leaks unless you have the straw part in.
I invested in the QuickShake container from Tupperware (currently $11 it says on their website). You can mix (shake) 16 ounces in that at once. Thirteen years later we still use for mixing instant iced tea, gatorade, and other powdered things.
When I worked in an infant program we used to have that problem. I found that using very hot water helped. I would put some water in that was boiling hot and mix the entire ration of formula and cereal with that. When there was no more lumps add the rest of the water. All you need is a little really hot water.
Hi Stephani,
We used to make a large container of formula (Alimentum) each day and then pour it into bottles as needed. However, unless Alimentum (used because of reflux) is less lumpy, that doesn't really help. We also used Dr. Brown's. Are the BPA-free now? I wish we had known about BPA five years ago. The last thing I want to mention is that our son's pediatrician and two pediatric GIs (one from CPMC and one from UCSF and considered by many to be the best in SF) were adamant that we not add rice cereal (or any other solid) to our son's bottle, despite his reflux, which was relatively severe. I do not remember the exact reason why, but I do know that if it had not been compelling, I would have tried it anyway in lieu of meds. We went with a combo of meds. Please ask a good pediatric GI about adding rice cereal/other cereals to bottles. I know lots of people do this (and some books/pediatricians) may even recommend it. However, both pediatric GIs were strongly against our doing this, and they are the experts. Best to you, and get lots of cheap cloth diapers to keep on your shoulders!
Karen
I always found putting the water in first then putting in the formula, mixing and then putting in the cereal and mixing worked best for me. Or just put formula and cereal in then water and mixing. I've never used the brown bottles but I would think it would work similarly. As well, you may be able to find a really small whisk at walmart or target.
Are you using warm water to help dissolve the formula? With my kids, I used to make the formula the night before (for daycare).
I would put in the powder formula, then use about 1-2 oz hot water to dissolve the formula (and shake to make sure it was all dissolved), then add the rest of the water cold. I noticed that most brands require the warm water to actually mix properly.
I hope this helps!
: ) Erin
Pampered chef makes a measure mix and pour for salad dressings, and all sorts of other uses, I used to use it for formula all the time. It has a whisk inside that you pump up and down it's big enough to make 2 8 oz bottles ( I think) or we (I am a consultant) have a pitcher that has it's own paddles in the bottom that you pump up and down to mix if you want 2 qts. They work great for formula!
Let me know if you have questions.... I'd be happy to let you see the items! they are only about 11 -15 dollers.
779-8072
Stephanie,
I'm a daycare provider and for a while I had 4 infants at one time and the were all on the Dr. Brown's bottles and the Gentle formula and you're right it is frustrating especially for me making about 16-20 bottles a day. I find putting the water in the bottles first (slightly warm it disolves better) then add the formula but the caps on and shake it vigioursly and they always turned out fine for me. Make sure your formula isn't expired (I'm sure you did that). Hope this helps.
Ms. smooth formula!
Hi stephani,
When this happened to me I made to use warm water, and I also did my batches in the blender, and then poured it into a pitcher to store in the fridge! This made totally lump free batches, even with the cereal added in! I too used Dr. Brown's for all 4 of my boys, they saved my sanity! All of my biys had colic, and the last two were twins, so you can only imagine the joyous songs of life we all had the privilege of listening too! I hope this helps!
A little about me:
I am 34, and married to my best friend for nearly 11 years. I am a stay at home mama to 4 boys ages 9,6, and twins that are 4. We are a Christian family, and I home school my two oldest boys. I love to sing, cook, hike, camp, and spend time with friends and family!
First of all if you put the water in first then the formula/cereal that helps a lot. Also I always shake the bottle to mix it and that works too. Before you shake it though give it a swirl to start the mixing or else dry formula gets up into the nipple and it is hard to get out.
Sarah R
Stephani,
Get yourself a Tupperware quick shake with a blender wheel...it's the best for blending!!
Email me a [email protected] if you have any questions...be glad to help!!
You can get little formula whisks at babies r us. very handy. Although I'm not sure whether you can get cereal/formula non-lumpy.
Elly
you should combine the formula and then add the cereal to the completed milk after. it's the cereal powder and the formula powder reacting and causing it to be lumpy. I always shook the formula and water and never had a problem (my Godson was recently on that formula). you can also premake it in bigger quantities in a larger vessel so you can use a regular wisk if you're more comfortable with that. You don't NEED to spend the extra money on gadgets. I don't know anything about the brown's bottles but I quickly looked on a website and did find a product specificly for mixing from them. I hope I was a little helpful.
http://www.babyearth.com/dr-brown-s-formula-mixing-pitcher.html
Diana-mother of 8 (19-12yrs old) foster mom to 2 and Godmom to 2 Good Luck!!