Originally Posted by Unregistered:
I'm looking for advice on bottle feeding one child in a mixed-age group home daycare setting (routines for preparing the bottles, warming, washing, ect.) I'm opening home daycare soon, and I have no experience with formula to base my approach feeding procedures on, since my dd nursed exclusively.
I understand the instructions regarding the ratios of fomula to water, ect. Mainly, I'm looking for advice regarding any policies and tips anyone has to offer. 
Sorry if the question sounds silly... I just don't have experience in this area, and want to avoid any potential headaches.
I will be on the USDA food program, and my rates will be higher than others in my area partly because I'm offering organic foods, and would also like to include parents choice of formula (even organic), for those who choose it, as an amenity--as opposed to only offering one kind. Do I ask parents to provide x number of empty bottles? Enough bottles for one day or two? Do I wash them? Or do they? Dishwasher or by hand? Would it be easier to premix a day's worth of formula in a formula mixer/pitcher and refridgerate, or just mix each bottle individually? Would one can of formula per week for 4 or 5 days of care be sufficient to plan for?
I do not allow parents to send pre mixed bottles. Parents could add things to it and not tell you. The risk is too great. Also, the food programs in some areas require the provider to prepare. I out them in the dishwasher every afternoon.
I have a few of every kind of bottle so I just use my bottles. I generally make up each bottle or just a couple at a time. I don't want to take the chance they'll get picked up early etc and maybe stay out sick the next day and waste the formula.
I'm not on the food program but parents provide whatever formula they desire. One small can a week generally does the trick. My dcb infant gets bottles thickened with rice cereal and the parents bring that also because his bottles are VERY VERY thick and he uses a lot of cereal a week.
And they bring a can a week and that works. He eats two bottles a day. They feed him before he arrives. When he's here on days he eats at 4:30 am and arrives at 5:00. Then eats exactly at 8:30 and exactly at 12:30 and the. Is picked up at 3:30 and eats at home again at exactly 4:30 . Yes, he rarely gets off schedule. He's awesome lol.