Saturday, March 3, 2012

Five Minute Formula

Here's how to make a bunch of formula PLUS two ready-to-go bottles in around five minutes, less if you're hustling.

Disclaimer: I'm pretty sure that doing this risks damage to everything involved, and it may not sterilize stuff as much as I'm hoping. But so far so good.

You will need:
  • 1 Dr. Brown's Mixing Pitcher ( http://www.amazon.com/Dr-Browns-Formula-Mixing-Pitcher/dp/tags-on-product/B001I481LM). Maybe you just finished off the pitcher, maybe it's been dirty for a little while. Either way, it needs cleaning before you use it.
  • 2 Playtex DropIn-style bottles. And because you've got a new baby in the house, the bottles are shamefully dirty too. That's fine. I'm not judging.
  • Dry formula of your choice.
  • A sink.
  • Soap.
Step 1: Clean everything.
Half-fill the pitcher with hot water. Add soap, plus the nipples and rings from the Playtex bottles. Fill to the top with hot water. Agitate vigorously. Water will probably come out the top (it should if you're going hard enough) so do this in the sink. When it's all foamy-soapy in there, let it rest for a minute. Clean off the bottom parts of the drop-in bottles. Pour out the soapy water, then, using the lid of the pitcher, lift out the bottle parts. Rinse the nipples and rings thoroughly and set aside somewhere clean. Rinse the pitcher thoroughly. Put about an inch of clear fresh hot water into the bottom of the pitcher.

Step 2: Sterilize everything.
Slide the lid/stirring wheel back into the pitcher, then add the nipples and rings from the Drop-In bottles. The nipples and rings should rest on the stirring wheel just above the water level; it acts like a little steaming rack. Put the whole pitcher, closed, in the microwave for 2 minutes or so on HIGH. It should be boiling within a minute. When the microwave beeps, take out the pitcher, carefully slide the top up, and pull out the nipples and rings. Put them somewhere clean. BE CAREFUL, THEY'RE REALLY HOT.

Step 3. Make formula
Use the pitcher to make formula. Put some drop-in liners in your bottles, pour the just-mixed formula into the bottles, put on the nipples and rings, and you're ready to go.