wasting formula

kimarino13

Am I the only one who seems to waste formula?  I give the girls 4 oz and they cry for more.  So I get more.  Then in the time it takes to get more, they are over it and hardly eat the extra amount.  Then when it seems they are taking more at a certain time of the day, I will start putting more in the bottles.  And of course, they don't finish.

Am I the only one who ends up throwing away a half an ounce here and an ounce there?

LMK8605

we waste tons! it is getting better now that they are on solids and their bottles are down to just 4 a day.. but I know what you mean.  At least it isn't as bad as wasting breast milk - which you obviously can't go to the store and buy.

Temp159135562506975

gray almost always leaves some. if it is more than 3oz i put it in the fridge for later.

jettagurl

I very rarely throw any out.  I'll put it in the fridge for later or whatever.  After doing this with 4 kids, I've never had any issues due to finishing a started bottle hours later (but refrigerated).   

janjag

probably your girls aren't eating that much yet, so 1/2oz seems like alot. 

i am probably bad for doing this, but have been saving leftovers since day one.  if it is an oz or more it goes back in the fridge for the very next feeding.  i think  the rule is 1hr at room temp, or 24 in the fridge. 

when mine were your LOs' age i would still buy the small can of formula... what was i thinking?  we go through a large can every 3 days now. 

akaMrsL

We are in the same boat.  I think today I have poured 4 oz down the drain.  I'm not "brave" enough to save for later.

blossom

My boys are 12 weeks and this happens every.single.day.

 Sometimes I wind up throwing entire 4oz bottles. Aargh.

kimarino13

OMG, I am so glad I am not doing breast milk now.  I would get *so* upset when they would waste that.  It doesn't break my heart to waste formula, but still.  It's so expensive. 

I didn't even think about saving leftovers in the fridge... hmm...

kimarino13

Oh, and we go through about 3 large cans a week now... yikes.  $$$$$$$

janjag

kimarino13:

Oh, and we go through about 3 large cans a week now... yikes.  $$$$$$$

you do!?!  i guess i am forgetting that little ones are eating so often, and it adds up.  my kids had a little tummy upset at about 12wks (lasted a while)... nothing since.  and haven't been sick (knock on wood) aside from a tiny "cold" after 6mos shots.  i am diligent in remembering if a bottle has leftovers in it.  don't want to have it carry over from bottle to bottle. 

kimarino13

Yeah, they eat anywhere from 4 - 5 oz every 2 hours during the day and 5 - 6 oz in the middle of the night and at their 5 or 6 am feeding. 

fallbride110406

We waste a lot.  We were doing 2 oz. bottles for a while until they finished them routinely, then we tried 3 oz. and our daughter finishes it most of the time but our son is still stuck around 2-2.5oz.  They eat every 2-3 hours, so it's a lot to waste, but we refuse to reuse it.  We had a bunch of nurses and doctors tell us that the bacteria build up after they've ate from the bottle is dangerous, so we don't save anything.  I'd rather toss some formula than risk them getting sick from it later.

Rachel&Joe

there is definitely no 24 hour rule.  formula needs to be dumped after an hour.  i would never risk it.