Rules with Formula

[Anonymous]

Hello! TGIF! I stopped breastfeeding Sarah about 4 weeks ago. I gave her expressed milk in bottles 90% of the time so I was familiar with how long breastmilk could sit out, be refrigerated, etc…

Now that we are on formula I was wondering if someone could tell me the ‘rules’…Keep in mind I am not trying to make Sarah sick or risk giving her bad formula, but I know with most ‘expiration dates’ there is a window of time after the date has passed that the product is still good.

1) If I make a bottle and immediately refrigerate it, the formula can says it is good for 24 hours in the fridge. Is that accurate? Has anyone stretched it longer than that?

2) Sarah will take a cold bottle. If I take one out of the fridge, she doesn’t finish it, and it’s still in the “1 hour” time frame that it can be out at room temperature, can I go ahead and put it back in the fridge to finish later since I never warmed it up?

3) If I do warm up a bottle for Sarah and she doesn’t finish it, can that bottle be put back in the fridge for later use or do you really have to discard immediately?

A friend of mine says those time frames with formula are so limited because they want you to have to buy more formula. I was just wondering from others experience how strict those time frames really are with formula.

Thanks!
Amy

[Anonymous]

I always go by what the can says. I don’t want to push it and then have it upset her reflux. I would suggest warming the bottle up to at least room temp. I always thought for me it would be hard to sit down and continuous drink something that just came out the frig. So I have always warmed put all of my daughters bottles. I think it would just be more comfortable. When they were very young, sometimes if they didn’t finish the bottle then I might put it back in the frig. but if it wasn’t used in a few hours I would throw it out. When I got them on an eating schedule 3 or 4hours then what they didn’t finish I throw out b/c if I give it later then it throws them off schedule.

BTW- I have a bunch of Similac brand coupons. One is just for Alimentum and the others are for any Similac brand. There a total of $33 off. All but one has my husbands name of them, but when I used them I would just sign the name on the check and didn’t have a problem. They expire mid-Sept through Dec. Email me at andreaksullivan@sbcglobal.net and I will gladly mail them to you. Abby is on Neocate and I hate them to go to waste.

[Anonymous]

We make the bottles ahead of time and try to use within 24 to 36 hours. Once a bottle is out of the fridge and we’ve started using it, we try to use it within the hour or toss the rest. Bacteria can come from the baby’s mouth and then grow in the bottle even if you refrigerate it. (At least that’s what we were told.)

[hellbennt]

I’ve read various things about cold from the fridge bottles vs warming them up-

I’ve read that if your baby will drink it cold that’s good bcse there might be times when you’re out & about & can’t warm it up & if you have a baby who won’t drink it cold, then you’re gonna have a hard time…

i never formula fed so I only know what I’ve read/heard

[Anonymous]

I agree with what Laura said. Kaelyn never minded it cold, so we only warmed it a tiny bit when we were at home and then she’d drink cold bottles without a problem when we were out. Alex really doesn’t like cold bottles so it’s more of a challenge to go out with her.

[Anonymous]

Its good for the 24 hrs in the fridge if she hasnt drank any of it. Once they drink some you have to throw it out if they dont finish it because bacteria can grow in it. We use powder, and just make it when she needs it. I use one of those formula dividers, makes life easy when out and about. Jillgunter2006-9-16 20:21:10

[Anonymous]

I have always warmed Aidan’s he would never take them cold…and it’s usually easy to find a bathroom with warm water if I’m ever out..I use the powder..love it, it’s the most convient in my opinion.

[Anonymous]

I have to agree on throwing it away if it’s been out. I just get nervous. I wouldn’t put it back in the fridge if she’s eaten from it either… just me though.

Anybody know why you can’t freeze prepared formula?

I made too much tonight and wondered why I couldn’t freeze it. I know she won’t use it all within the 24 hours they say you need to use it in (although with my son, it was closer to 48 hours).

[Author]

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