My wife makes a days worth of bottles at one time, and when she stirs the formula in the water she insists on using her bare hands. She says that it is the only way to break up the tiny crumbs of formula by squishing them with her fingers inside the pot. This irritates me greatly and I have tried to get her to use a wooden spoon, or shake it and recently I tried to get her to wear gloves. I just want it to be sanitary, but she says that since she washes her hands thoroughly first that everything is fine. She has done it this way for the last 7 months, should I give up? is there really anything wrong with the unconventional way that she chooses to prepare the formula?
I appreciate everyone's input, I read all the comments to my wife and we talked about it. After hearing peoples opinions, I have calmed down about how she prepares the formula. She has agreed to try the Dr. Brown's Formula Pitcher (I am picking one up this weekend) she even said that she had considered trying it in the past, apparently she had mentioned it to me, although I don't remember. Our son is still healthy and growing well!!! I also appreciated the information on Rotavirus... very informative.
I wouldn't do it that way, but you aren't going to get her to change, so just take solace in knowing that anything on her hands would end up in baby's mouth anyhow.
I does seem wrong, though...for other reasons. It isn't necessary to do that with formula...does she seem okay, otherwise?
There is such a thing as a formula mixing container. I have one from Dr. Brown's as I like to make the formula for the whole day too. I've never had a problem with lumps at all. It is a container where the lid has this handle that you pull up and push down several times, the handle has this fan-like contraption at the end of it that spins while you pull up and down.
http://www.toysrus.com/product/index.jsp?productId=3247691
Soap works. If the baby hasn't become ill from it then she is doing a good job washing her hands. Soap works. We make meatloaf with our hands, we form hamburger patties with our hands, meatballs, slice tomatoes, apples, other fruit, all with bare hands. We check the babies gums with our fingers to see if they are teething, we lick our fingers and wipe goo off their faces, at this point I think I have made my point. Soap works.
I don't think it's that big of a deal... as long as her hands are clean, what difference does it make? It is actually a lot easier to target and squish the lumps than it is to fight with it with a spoon. (have you ever tried stirring hot cocoa, and have all the little chunks left floating on the top? lol) The method used to stir it isn't going to make the least bit of difference as far as nutrition goes... BUT if it bugs you that much, just make it yourself. Heck, here in a few months everything in the world is going to be going into your baby's mouth... your wife's washed hands are going to be the least of your worries. LOL!
Unless doing an under the nail scrub, she is picking up bacteria from under her nails. To say that your child will get sick, can't, to say she won't, can't. I still couldn't take that chance as my daughter had rotovirus and and got really sick, ended up with meningitis as a opportunistic infection. We are currently dealing with memory loss, hearing loss, learning disabilities. All because of oral/fecal contamination. She should put a small amount of water in with her formula in a shaker(it has the blades that do what she thinks she needs her hands for) and shake, then add the formula and appropriate amount of water to complete the pitcher. Like I said she may never get sick with this method, she may get deathly ill. Spin the roulette wheel and decide what you want to do.
Have either of you asked the pediatrician? I would be upset if someone chose to prepare my child's food this way, however I read your other responses and it seems like you can find just as many people who wouldn't mind. Does the pediatrician's opinion carry weight with your wife? Good luck.
That's gross to me. What always got to me was the old diaper cream, dirt, germs and no doubt even trace amounts of urine and fecal matter that gets under your fingernails wherever you have to routinely change diapers. Handwashing alone won't get the gunk out from under your nails... Cut your nails down low to the skin line and you'll see all the groatiness that gets trapped under your finger nails.
(When I was making formula bottles, I bought a couple fancy small whisks. You can also try using the "brown sugar clay bears" to keep the powder from drying out and forming clumps.)
Seems extremely gross to me. I've NEVER heard of someone making formula like this...NEVER!
It works fine to add a little water to the powder, shake it and then add the rest of the water. There is nothing wrong with it even if it has little tiny crumbs of formula (which I never noticed) or bubbles. And way more sanitary. It is also safer to add the water to the bottles right before using rather than once a day, especially if you are contaminating them at mixing. That is why the instructions are to discard 'partially used' bottles within an hour - the bacteria from babies mouth or your hands have time to grow in the formula - an excellent bacterial culture medium. You have to consider yours 'used' if she is touching them. It is no less convenient to travel with a bottle of water and bottles that are just prefilled with powder than what you are currently doing.
Gross. IMO. Not healthy for baby- she can't possibly get every bit of dirt or bacteria off of her fingers, fingernails, nail beds etc. I would encourage her to buy a formula mixer---they have those at the store and it will stir even the little crumbs---- its very inexpensive and will solve your problem! Best wishes!
M
That would totally gross me out, wrong or not. I'm with ya...
At any rate, in our house we used to make a day's worth of bottles as well. Initially there were clumps but as they sat in the fridge the clumps dissolved.
She could probably just let them be and they'd dissolve on their own.
Well I guess it is safe to say that your child has not become sick in the last 7 months. If she is washing her hands then it should be fine. Yes, it seem to be strange. She could us a wire whip or put it in a blender to break up those clumps of formula that would probably disolve eventually when the bottle is shaken. I never made formula in advanced. I made bottles as needed so no formula would get wasted. I had a container with 2 scoop in each of the 4 compartments and I would put it in the bottle as needed so the formula was fresh. I was always able to shake the clumps out. As long as you child is not gettin sick just let it go.
It does seem kinda icky...but like you said it has been going on for 7 months already and your baby is doing fine. As long as her hands are clean I guess there really nothing terribly wrong with it. Maybe consider getting a formula pitcher like this one.
http://www.amazon.com/Dr-Browns-Formula-Mixing-Pitcher/dp...
I think it is much more clean and simple to make a bottle at a time and just shake it to mix it, but to each her own. While the fingers to squish the bubbles sounds gross, consider how many put their fingers directly in their babies mouth to feel for teeth, sooth their fussy baby, etc. Just a thought...
It would not be my preferred method. But she is washing her hands and it isn't healthy to put our kids in a bubble away from any germ exposure. Not ideal but it works for her. Either let it go or take over bottle prep.
weird but I doubt if it is going to hurt anything....it has been going on this long with no problems.
Does she cook food for the family? What I mean is does she make meals for you? Do you make her wear gloves when she does that, or is it ok that she simply washes her hands?
I don't see anything wrong with it as long as she is washing her hands before she does it.
Her clean hands (providing they really are clean) are probably safer than gloves. The chemical coatings that they put on gloves are dangerous. Babies have their hands in their mouth all the time. We need to keep them clean as well.
M.
You can't see germs, so how does your wife know they are gone off her hands? Some of the worst and most dangerous bacteria and virus' live for a long time on skin. This is, for lack of a better description, unsanitary and potenially very harmful (not to mention disgusting). Would she drink chocolate milk or kool-aid you mixed with your hands? Gross.
Well if she properly washes her hands before hand..I don't think there is a major issue. Even so, if you kind of swirl the bottle at first...and then shake vigorously for a good 30 sec. or so, you don't end up with any crumbs. I had to make twice as many bottles (twins) and they were a bit early so I was huge on being careful about germs. I don't think her using her hands will hurt the baby, especially if she washes good with hot water and soap (and doesn't have long nails), but I would try alternate ways. A good way to make sure the crumbs dissolve is to use slightly warm water...it really makes a difference. If she is using cold water at all, that might be her problem.
Keep in mind though that no matter what you do, kids are still going to be exposed to germs, and this isn't always a bad thing. It helps build their immune systems in a great way. If baby never seems to have any health issues with it, it's probably not a big dea. Though I do see why it bothers you lol.
That's why I prefer the concentrated formula - none of the clumping! However, since it's happened this long, probably not going to change! And it seems nobody sterilizes anything anymore!
Sounds pretty disgusting to me. I don't care if babies put things in their mouths that are unsanitary like some of the other posters mentioned, it's not the same thing. Sorry, but why would she even think to do something like that?! Shake it, mix with a spoon, buy a formula mixer at Toys R Us. Gross.
If you watch cooking shows there are still plenty of cooks who use their clean, bare hands. I know how aggravating it could be, however if baby survived the last seven months, perhaps mom is doing okay with this. However I am sure you will hear from all sorts of other people who are screeching about the germs.
