Anonymous wrote:it also depends on the brand.

What also depends on the brand? Not the OP, but this is not particularly helpful without more information.

Anonymous wrote:OP here, my baby is actually 14 months, but I just stopped BFing and he is underweight and the doctors do not want him on cow's milk yet. They want him to drink formula still for the added oils and calories and vitamins. I have never made formula before so I don't know what i am doing. I am using Baby's Only Organic formula b/c it's a Toddler Formula.

I started giving my DD formula at 10 months. I just mixed it per the directions on the package. I used regular tap water, usually lukewarm. I never heated the bottle. I preferred to mix each bottle as I needed it ecause you aren't supposed to use it after a certain number of hours. Mine took an overnight bottle until probably 18 months - also underweight and couldn't make it through the night without food. Advantage of not heating the bottles is that you can put the formula in the bottle and then when you need it, just add water from the bathroom sink.

OP here, my baby is actually 14 months, but I just stopped BFing and he is underweight and the doctors do not want him on cow's milk yet. They want him to drink formula still for the added oils and calories and vitamins. I have never made formula before so I don't know what i am doing. I am using Baby's Only Organic formula b/c it's a Toddler Formula.

it also depends on the brand.

OP - your pediatrician can be a help for this. Assuming that your DC does not have any health risks (preemie, low immunity, other illness, etc), it's pretty straightforward. Our pediatrician recommended the following (but again, consult your doctor):

- Use distilled water until 6 months old, then filtered tap water is fine after 6 months
- Can prepare forumla in batches as long as every bottle in the batch is consumed within 24 hours. Any formula that is not consumed within 24 hours should be thrown away.
- Dishwashing bottles is fine. Or you can sterilize by boiling or microwaving with water or steamer bags.
- When giving your DC a bottle, make sure that the formula is consumed within one hour. Throw away any remaining formula in the bottle after one hour. As importantly, do not save half consumed formula - do not re-refrigerate.

Hope this helps.

OP, how old is your baby? Was he or she a preemie? Any other health concerns?

if you know why you need directions?

Can someone point me to a resource on how to properly prepare baby formula?? I know there are tons of rules on how to prepare properly so it does not get any bacteria.