By Sr Teresa Hayward (RN, RM, Lactation consultant, Infant & paediatric Nutritionist, Baby Sleep Consultant)
If you’re preparing formula bottles for your infant, you need to know how long they’ll last in the fridge or at room temperature. Read on for important formula tips for the safest bottle-feeding experience
You’d think that when it comes to feeding your baby a bottle of formula, the process would be straightforward. But while babies tend to latch onto the teat and swallow quite easily, getting to that point calls for extreme care. Washing bottles and teats, mixing formula, and then storing your bottles means following safety protocols — every single time.
To help you get it right, I’ve written this article to explain how long formula can be kept for, whether you can keep it at room temperature or in the fridge, and what you need to know when you open a tin. Here’s to a safe and happy formula-feeding experience!
How long is a bottle of formula good for?
Some of the most common questions about formula feeding revolve around how long formula lasts. Once you’ve made a bottle for your baby, here are the details for each scenario:
If you leave a formula bottle out at room temperature for too long, it can go bad, so always use it within two hours of making it. This is the case for all formula bottles you prepare.
But if your baby has already begun to drink from the bottle, it should be used within one hour from when she started. Do not keep it for the next feed!
In the fridge
As for how long prepared formula can stay in the fridge, keep in mind that it must be refrigerated as soon as the bottle is made and then served within 24 hours.
If your baby started to drink from one of those bottles but didn’t finish it, it must be discarded within an hour, so don’t be tempted to refrigerate it and then offer it again at the next feeding.
Are you taking baby to creche, or leaving milk for a Babysitter, Nanny or Au pair? You can make several bottles in the morning if you’d like, but each one must be consumed (or tossed) within 24 hours. As a parent, please prepare your baby’s bottles yourself, never trust anyone else to prepare a bottle for you.
Can you reheat a bottle of formula?
You don’t have to warm up a bottle of formula (room temperature or even cold from the fridge is just fine). But if you do heat it gently, once you’ve warmed it, rewarming it isn’t recommended, as bacteria thrive in warm places. And when it comes to serving a warmed-up bottle, do so within one hour.
Do you have to throw out leftover formula?
While this can be hard to do, especially if you’re running low on formula at home, you can’t save that leftover amount at the end of a feeding.
The reason? When formula and infant saliva mix, bacteria can start to grow inside the bottle, which means refrigerating it, reheating it or saving it on the counter for later are all no-goes. To be safe, discard it.
How long does a tin of formula last?
When it comes to tins of formula, it’s important to read the labels carefully when you’re ready to open, serve and store it. Here’s more about how long formula lasts:
Does formula go bad?
Before you open any formula type check that it’s not expired, or damaged in any way (dented, leaking, rusty).
Expiration dates are usually stamped on the top or bottom of the can or on the side of the label on ready-to-serve. Unopened containers of any type of infant formula should be stored inside the house in a cool, dry spot and used before the expiration date.
Once opened, how long does baby formula last?
In general, once you’ve opened a container of powdered formula it should be used up within 30 days. When you first open the container, write the date on the lid so you remember. Please never ever accept 2nd handle formula from anyone, as you don’t know when they opened that tin
Store powder tightly sealed at room temperature in a cool, dry spot in the house.
Can you freeze formula?
Freezing formula, no matter the type, isn’t recommended, as it may cause the mixture to separate and could compromise the safety of the formula.
Safety tips when preparing and storing baby formula
After you’ve checked that the formula type you’ve purchased hasn’t expired and is in good shape, follow these safety tips when preparing and storing infant formula:
Start off clean. As with anything you do in the kitchen, always wash your hands and the surfaces you’re working on as well as your bottles and teats with soap and water. You should also wash the lids of cans you’re using and the measuring scoop inside.
Mix with care. When making formula bottles, always put the water in first and then add the powder. Always follow the instructions on the tin, never add more water or scoops. Too much water reduces the nutrients your baby gets, and extra water messes up the electrolyte and nutritional content of formula — two dangerous scenarios. Water must always be cooled boiled water. Also never ever mix different types of milk together in one bottle for example breastmilk and formula 2 different types of formulas, or formula and cow’s milk. It’s one or other, never mixed together
Store it right. Prepared room temperature formula can stay out for two hours, but if you’ve started to serve it to your baby, it must be used within one hour. Bottles not given to your infant should be stored ASAP in the fridge and are good for 24 hours.
Skip the microwave. A microwave tends to heat unevenly, which can create hot spots in a baby’s bottle and potentially burn her mouth and throat. Instead, if you want to warm a bottle, do so gently in running warm water, in a pan of warmed water that’s off the heat source, or in a countertop bottle warmer.
Test the bottle. Be sure to test the temperature of the milk against the inside of your wrist (a super sensitive spot of skin) to make sure it’s lukewarm only, never hot.
Discard leftovers. Don’t be tempted to offer the last little bit of formula in the bottle to your baby at the next feeding (or the next day). Always follow the guidelines above when making and storing prepared formula bottles so your baby has a fresh serving each time.
Avoid using machines that mix or make formula for you. These have not been found to be reliable.
Mixing and serving formula can seem a little complicated at first. But once you get the hang of the process, you’ll soon be a pro. And as long as you read the labels thoroughly and put together each bottle with care, your baby will enjoy her meals safely as well as grow and thrive.
For more information on formula feeding or a feeding assessment to ensure your baby is on the correct formula, contact SR Teresa at 0824009501
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