Preparation of infant formula and
disinfecting equipment at home
Preparation of infant formula

Always wash hands before preparing infant formula, and clean and disinfect the
surface on which feed preparation is to occur. You should ensure the lid is kept on the
container at all times when not in use (to prevent bacteria entering).

Wash bottles, teats, caps and knives – careful attention to washing is essential – and
sterilise by boiling for five minutes or using an approved sterilising agent.

Boil fresh water and allow it to cool until lukewarm. To cool to a safe temperature, allow
the water to sit for at least 30 minutes (in places with clean water supply which meets
Australian standards, hot water urns such as hydroboils are safe to use for infant
formula reconstitution, provided the supply of very hot water has not been depleted).

If using an automatic kettle, wait until it switches off. Allow the boiled water to cool
before placing it in the fridge. Boiled water is to be prepared daily, labelled with date
and time, and kept in the refrigerator for use in preparing infant formula.

It is recommended that only one bottle of infant formula is prepared at a time and
ideally just before feeding.

Always read the instructions to check the correct amount of water and powder as
shown in the feeding table on the back of the pack. This may vary between different
infant formulas.

Pour the required amount of cooled boiled water into the sterilised bottle(s) first. The
bottle(s) may be sealed and refrigerated until required.

Always measure the amount of powder using the scoop provided in the can, as scoop
sizes vary between different infant formulas.

Fill the measuring scoop with infant formula powder and level off using the levelling
device provided or the back of a sterilised knife. The scoop should be lightly tapped to
remove any air bubbles.

Take care to add the correct number of scoops to the water in the bottle. Do not add
half scoops or more scoops than stated in the instructions.

Label bottle with date and time of preparation.

Keep the scoop in the can when not in use. Do not wash the scoop as this can
introduce moisture into the can if not dried adequately. When a can of infant formula is
finished, throw away the scoop with the can to ensure that the correct scoop is used
next time.

Place the teat and cap on the bottle and shake it until the powder dissolves.
Prompt Doc No: BAH0005382 v2.0
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
Warm bottle in container of hot water for no longer than 10 minutes and shake well to
ensure even temperature.

Test the temperature of the milk with a few drops on the inside of your wrist. It should
feel just warm; but cool is better than too hot.

A feed should take no longer than one hour. Any infant formula that has been at room
temperature for longer than one hour should be discarded.

Infant formula that has been at room temperature for less than one hour may be stored
in a refrigerator for up to 24 hours (in a sterile container).Discard any refrigerated feed
that has not been used within 24 hours.

Discard any cooled boiled water remaining in fridge after 24 hours, and discard
any unused formula that has been opened for one month.
Disinfecting equipment at home
After use, rinse bottles and teats in cold water straight away, then wash equipment in hot
soapy water and rinse thoroughly. Squirt water through the teat to clear the hole.
If you haven’t made a decision about a method of disinfecting bottle equipment, the
following options can be used:
Boiling
Boiling is the preferred option for sterilising bottles and other infant feeding equipment.
Boiling gives consistent and reliable results if the correct steps are followed:

Put all the utensils in a large pot.

Fill the pot with water until the utensils are covered, making sure to eliminate all
air bubbles from the bottle.

Put the pot on the stove (backburner), bring it to the boil and boil for five minutes.
Do not allow to boil dry.

Allow the equipment to cool in the saucepan until it is hand hot and then remove it. Be
very careful if children are present.

Store equipment that is not being used straight away in a clean container in the fridge.

Boil all equipment within 24 hours of use and boil implements such as bottle
brushes every 24 hours.
Prompt Doc No: BAH0005382 v2.0
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Safety when boiling water
If you have older children, you might want to use this method when they are asleep or out
of the house to reduce the risk of scalding them. To avoid scalding yourself, let the
equipment cool in the pot until it is cool enough to touch.
Using chemicals

You can disinfect your bottles with an antibacterial solution that comes in liquid or tablet
form. This is a type of bleach that is diluted with water, so it is safe for your baby but
strong enough to kill bacteria.

Follow the manufacturer's instructions EXACTLY when you make up the solution to
ensure it is the correct strength. Wash with warm soapy water and rinse thoroughly.
Then completely submerge all equipment and leave it all in the solution for the
recommended time before using. Equipment may be left in the solution for 24 hours
when not in use.
Safety when using chemicals

Store the concentrate and solution well out of the reach of children.

You can only keep the solution for 24 hours once it has been made up. After this time
throw it away, thoroughly scrub the container and equipment in warm soapy water and
make up some new solution.

If you use chemical sterilisers you need plastic or glass equipment (that includes the
container you use to mix the solution), rather than metal which will eventually be eaten
away by the solution.
Steam sterilisers
Steam sterilisers are automatic units that raise the temperature quickly to the range that
kills harmful bacteria.
Thoroughly cleaned equipment is placed inside the unit, water added according to the
manufacturer’s instructions, and the unit switched on (it switches itself off when
sterilisation is complete).
Microwave steam sterilisers: Sterilising units designed for use in a microwave oven are
available.
This document was developed by Maternity Care Barwon Health.
Prompt Doc No: BAH0005382 v2.0
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