Three years ago I had an invention idea for a baby product, it came about out of pure necessity. It was the middle of winter on Smith Street Fitzroy, my six month old twins were overdue a bottle, and the double pram plus all of our baby-related paraphernalia was barely fitting down the narrow footpath without having any hope of parking in a warm cafe. We ended up sitting on wet grass that had a distinctive urine smell, while I unloaded formula powder canisters and teats with my frozen fingers to make up their bottles. After getting more powdered milk on me than in the bottles I was preparing we packed up, all three of us in tears at this stage in search of a cup of boiling water to heat the now made up bottles. The second cafe we entered, took pity and handed over a paper cup of boiling water.

 

It was at this point that I fantasised about walking up to a vending machine or corner store, being able to buy a pre-made and warm bottle for the babies that I could simply throw out when they were finished drinking. About half of their milk was actually drunk, then they were hungry an hour later and I had nothing to give them. Having hungry, grumbly babies and no formula left we headed home, carting a back pack full of dirty bottles covered in old milk and formula residue back to repeat the process of washing, formula measuring and repacking for tomorrow’s adventure.