I'm about to have my 2nd c-section, and need to get a mini fridge for the formula for nighttime feedings. I had a very difficult recovery the first time (& had to use formula because I wasn't blessed with the ability to breast feed, so please, no judging), and formed very painful adhesions, partly due to having to go up & down the stairs at night to get to our main fridge in the kitchen (my DH works night shifts, so I had no choice).
Does anyone have any recommendations for a specific brand or make of small mini fridges that will keep the formula cold enough to store overnight? I've been looking online, but I see so many different reviews, it makes it hard to know. I'm mainly looking at the portable size mini fridges to fit in my bathroom, but want to make sure to get one that will maintain the cold temperature that's necessary for storage (35-40F, I believe). With my first son, he preferred formula (& the very little breast milk that I could produce) cold, so I don't look to warm. Pre-making the formula is not the issue (we stored everything in the fridge, and took as needed, and put leftovers back), it's keeping everything (especially the leftovers) cold.
Powdered formula and room temp water is the way to go. My oldest always had warmed bottles for her kids but daughter #2's doctor said there's really no reason to warm the bottles. Room temp water will mix the formula just fine and there's no issue with feeding formula that's too hot. It's been working out great.
I had bottles with the correct amount of water in them. When my son woke up, I'd put a scoop in there and shake. I had them on my nightstand, ready to go. I only ever gave him room temperature bottles. Will you be heating the bottles? Not many babies like them cold! Save yourself the warming time, and just put the bottles with water near your bed. It couldn't have been easier for me.
ETA: My son is 3 1/2, and has been mildly sick once in his life. (Over a year ago.) He handles the "microbes" just fine. So have thousands to millions of other babies.
If you are going to use powdered formula, I second the suggestion to serve it room temp and leave the water next to your bed. If you are going to use liquid formula, you will need some sort of refrigeration, but I'm guessing a cooler with ice in it would likely keep it good overnight.
Are you going to serve the formula cold? If not, they do make fridge/microwave combos designed for college dorms. I would get this. They are expensive, but you could probably get good money for it on craigslist when you are done. Otherwise, prefill the bottles with water at night, or have a pitcher of water in your bathroom and then mix the formula when the baby wakes. This is what I did with all my kids and they drank the bottles at room temperature.
We had this problem at my MIL's house. At home our fridge was just down the hall, so no biggy. But at her house it was on a different level. I would fill a couple of bottles (with maybe 4 ounces at first?) with water and used a formula dispense:
http://www.amazon.com/Munchkin-Powdered-Formula-Dispenser...
I put two scoops in each section and set it buy my bed. Easy to make a bottle that way.
Yep, everyone here has the right ideas. Either pre-made, single serving bottles if you must give premixed formula.
Or, bottles with the right amount of water in them, a bottle warmer on your nightstand to warm the water, then add pre-measured powder and shake.
Either way, a bottle warmer for your bedroom is a lot less expensive than a mini-fridge. Put the baby in your room at night, and you don't even have to leave your room, no more than few steps to get it all done.
Why don't you just use the pre-made bottles. I used to put bottles on the window sil during the winter. To buy a refrig, even a mini, for a few weeks seems like a waste of money. Pre made bottles is the way to go. It's only for a couple of weeks.
I second (third?) the suggestion to bring some water upstairs with the powder formula and make it right as you need it. To save time and mistakes caused by drowsiness, I measured the formula into a bottle or two (whatever I thought my son would need during the night) and also pre-measured the ounces of water separately. Then when I needed it, I simply combined the two, shook it up and gave it to him. And I used powdered formula even as a newborn and he's a pretty healthy kid!
My kids are college age, but I did the powdered formula thing. It worked for me all those years ago.
It was easy... I had the bottles with the powdered formula on the dresser with the water pre-measured next to that. Pour, shake, and feed. Easy peasy.
YMMV
LBC
I used a bottle warmer which had a little cooler and ice pack that went along with it. The ice pack kept 2 bottles plenty cold for hours, pretty much all night when they didn't end up getting used.
If you are set on a mini fridge, I have a Frigidaire 4.4 cu ft that is really good. It has a freezer section and a good size fridge section. I have it in the guest room and was using it when I had a lady renting the room. Honestly, if my master bedroom was on the second floor, I'd probably keep one in my room for ice and drinks. I am constantly getting water and it must be chilled and in a cup full of ice. I would hate having to go up and down just to get some water.
May I suggest, having gone through same challenge, that you get a coffee pump, fill it with warm water (if you want - we had one baby who could care less if it was warm and one picky one) pre-measure the formula in the bottles and then have a measure for the water so you can just dump it in. Gently shake and you've got your baby bottle. It worked great for me since I was half asleep there was no thinking involved. I used to set up 3 every night - it was so easy. It's especially easy if the baby doesn't care about temp and you just have the water pre-measured as well and forget the pump pot. Good luck to you and sleep well.
I do not like powdered formula for newborns.. powdered formula is not sterile. (it doesnt have to be).. older babies can handle the stray microbe in the powdered formula.. but not delicate newborns..
i would buy the premade bottles for nighttime.. super easy for you.. yes they are a bit expensive but .. you only need 1 or 2 a night for a month or so till you recover. i think they are about 1 or 2 dollars each.. store they room temp.. and serve them room temp.. or buy one of those bottle warmers for upstairs..
Well....
I had to cut my son off the breast, cold turkey, at 15 months because I had to have a hysterectomy PRONTO.
He was obviously eating solid foods, etc, but had never had a bottle. He'd never had formula. My poor husband was left for a week while I was in the hospital to care for a baby that was used to the boobie and loved it.
We had a gigantic house. My son actually had two cribs. One in his own room and one upstairs in our room. While Mommy was away, my husband just had the kids upstairs with him at night which was on the total opposite end of the house from the downstairs kitchen.
He made bottles for the baby at night, but was so worried about anything spoiling. So...male ingenuity.....he put ice cubes in the bottles estimating melting time and liquid ratio.
Guess what. When I got home from the hospital, my son was totally weaned from the breast BUT, he would NOT take a bottle unless he could shake it and hear the ice rattle in it. It turned out he liked his bottles cold and I guess the shaking it like a rattle comforted him in some way.
Then, we had to break him of that eventually. And, he wouldn't take a sippy cup unless it rattled either.
I'm not sure you really need a mini fridge. My bedroom took up the entire top floor of our home and we certainly had room for one, but it wasn't a necessity at all.
I'm pretty sure that formula will be fine at room temperature overnight.
Just my opinion and best wishes to you.
I'm sure you'll work something out.
