Biberons : Comment les préparer et les conserver ?

Feeding bottles: how should they be prepared and stored?
Using powdered preparations for infants

The conditions for preparing, handling and storing feeding bottles are essential and help to prevent microbial contamination that can cause serious infections, particularly in premature or low-weight infants.
Regarding nutrition for infants, a mother's milk is the reference. It is therefore recommended to breastfeed exclusively for the first full six months, and if this isn't possible then at least for four months. However, even for a shorter duration, breastfeeding is still beneficial for the infant.

However, breastfeeding isn't always possible or desired. Infants are then fed with formulas containing soy or cow's milk proteins in compliance with European standards.
These products can come in:
- liquid form, when they are sterile and ready-to-use
- in powdered form when they need mixing with water to reconstitute the milk. These powders are not sterile and can on rare occasions contain very small amounts of microorganisms (microbes)

Preparing the feeding bottle

Feeding bottles should ideally be prepared just before giving them to infants. At room temperature, the milk must be given within the hour, or it must be thrown away.
When going out, carry the water in the feeding bottle and the powdered milk in another container. Add the powder to the feeding bottle at the last minute. Mix well.
Feeding bottles may exceptionally be prepared in advance and stored in the coldest compartment of the fridge, at or below 4°C (not in the fridge door).
Prepare the feeding bottle on a clean worktop. Wash your hands thoroughly with soap. Dry them with a clean towel or preferably with disposable kitchen roll. Use the measuring spoon from the original powdered milk tin. The spoon must stay dry and be thrown away when the tin is empty.

What type of water should you use for feeding bottles?
Tap water (mains supply) can be used to prepare the feeding bottle. However, some precautions must be taken:

- Let the tap water run for a few seconds before filling the bottle with the quantity desired
- Only use cold water (over 25°C, the water can contain more microbes and mineral salts)
- Clean the tap head regularly (descaling especially)
- Don't use filtered water (filter jug for example or any other type of domestic filtering treatment) or softened water as these systems can increase microorganism levels.
- In old housing (before 1948), the mains pipes may still be lead. Contact the DDASS in your département (in France) or the town hall where you live to find out if you can use tap water to prepare feeding bottles.

If you use bottled water, spring water or natural mineral water, check that it can be consumed by infants. Moreover, an opened bottle must be put in the fridge and drank within 2 days.
Sparkling water is not suitable for preparing feeding bottles.
Abroad, when there is no drinking or bottled water, water that has been boiled and cooled can be used.

Cleaning the feeding bottle
Once feeding has finished, rinse the bottle in cold water.
To wash it by hand, use hot water and washing up liquid with a bottle-brush. Rinse well and leave the bottle parts to dry separately in the air. Don't use a tea towel to dry the bottle or the teat as it contains microbes. Turn the bottle upside down on the draining board.
You can also wash the bottle, ring, top and teat in the washing machine. In this case, use a full cycle at a wash temperature of at least 65°C, with drying. Rubber teats cannot be machine-washed. They must be washed and rinsed by hand.

If reheating

The feeding bottle only needs reheating if it has been kept in the fridge. It must be reheated quickly, either in a bain-marie (double-boiler) or a bottle warmer. Once reheated, the bottle must be drank within half an hour to stop any microbes developing.
Heating in the microwave is not recommended. This is because the temperature can increase sharply in the milk bottle and burn the baby's mouth and throat. Whatever method you use to heat the bottle, it must be shaken well to avoid burning and the temperature should be checked by pouring a few drops on the inside of your wrist.

>The report on "Hygiene recommendations for preparing and storing feeding bottles" (PDF - July 2006)

>Le Questions/réponses "Recommandations d'hygiène pour la préparation et la conservation des biberons" (Questions/Answers - PDF - in french)

>La fiche "Comment bien recueillir, conserver et transporter le lait maternel en toute sécurité" (PDF - in french)

>Le rapport du Comité d'experts spécialisé "Eaux" concernant les critères de qualité des eaux minérales naturelles et des eaux de source embouteillées permettant une consommation sans risque sanitaire pour les nourrissons et les enfants en bas âge ("Water" scientific panel report on quality criteria for natural mineral water and bottled spring water to ensure consumption without health risks for babies and infants - PDF - September 2003 - in french)

>L'avis relatif à la fixation de critères de qualité des eaux minérales naturelles et des eaux de source embouteillées permettant une consommation sans risque sanitaire pour les nourrissons et les enfants en bas âge (Opinion on setting the quality criteria for natural mineral water and bottled spring water to ensure consumption without health risks for babies and infants (PDF - December 2003 - in french)