Whats the difference between ready to feed and powder formula?

NewMommy423

Do tell.  My LO will not take a bottle, so I'm reaching for something to help me out.  Extra plus if you breastfeed - is there one that your child prefers?  Thanks in advance!!!

PreggoMeg31

I am pretty sure ready to feed formula is just premixed and once you open the can/bottle it has to be eaten within 1 hour or refrigerated and used in increments for the next 24 hours.  Powder formula you just mix what you need at each feeding.  FOr the first 4 months I pumped and supplemented with powder formula.  If your LO won't take a bottle try giving it to them in a different type (born free, dr. brown, medela, etc) and by a different person they might just want the boob when you are around :-)

bakerlm

The ready to feed is usually a liquid that you don't add anything to.  The powder needs water added before it is ready to feed.  I gave my son the ready to feed until he was showing he was gaining weight well because he struggled to feed at first.  I substituted with it for awhile before we went to exclusively using powder.

starryeyeddreamer

PreggoMeg31:

I am pretty sure ready to feed formula is just premixed and once you open the can/bottle it has to be eaten within 1 hour or refrigerated and used in increments for the next 24 hours.  Powder formula you just mix what you need at each feeding.  FOr the first 4 months I pumped and supplemented with powder formula.  If your LO won't take a bottle try giving it to them in a different type (born free, dr. brown, medela, etc) and by a different person they might just want the boob when you are around :-)

This. I BF but have to supplement. LO will only take the ready to feed when we are at home but we supplement with the powder at DC for half of his feedings as I can't pump enough. I don't have to supplement very often at home but the ready to feed is all he will take from me if I have to give him formula if he is still hungry. 

pandagirl15

Ready made is actually sweeter than the powder kind.  I BFd LO until 5 months, but I did have to transition before that to get her to take the formula.  She wouldn't take any formula at all at first.  I started with the Similac Organic because I found it to be the sweetest out there (BM is VERY sweet).  I mixed 3 oz. BM with 1 oz. formula to start.  Each day I changed the ratio until she took an all formula organic bottle.  Then I switched to the Ready to feed regular Similac.  Did the same thing.  3 oz. to 1 oz.  Once she took a whole bottle of that, I went to the powder.  Our water seemed to bother her for a bit, so I used bottled water.  Now she'll take the tap water no problem.

If you have the large jug of ready to feed, it's good for 72 hrs. after you open it. 

NewMommy423

pandagirl15:

Ready made is actually sweeter than the powder kind.  I BFd LO until 5 months, but I did have to transition before that to get her to take the formula.  She wouldn't take any formula at all at first.  I started with the Similac Organic because I found it to be the sweetest out there (BM is VERY sweet).  I mixed 3 oz. BM with 1 oz. formula to start.  Each day I changed the ratio until she took an all formula organic bottle.  Then I switched to the Ready to feed regular Similac.  Did the same thing.  3 oz. to 1 oz.  Once she took a whole bottle of that, I went to the powder.  Our water seemed to bother her for a bit, so I used bottled water.  Now she'll take the tap water no problem.

If you have the large jug of ready to feed, it's good for 72 hrs. after you open it. 

Great info.  Thank you!!

AdamsMom4

"ready to feed" formula is just that...it's already mixed with water and ready to go.

ELCJet

I breastfeed and supplement one of his feedings with 50% Gerber Good Start RTF.  He was very picky at first and refused to eat it, but now I can have a bottle that is 75% formula and he'll finish it.  I've read that RTF can prevent constipation that you sometimes see with powdered formula, but I have no idea if there is any evidence to back that up aside from hearsay.  (No problems with constipation on our end, though)