RTF formula question

618mom22boys

I have a question regarding the RTF formula.   How long is good for in the fridge?

The directions say this.  

USE: Prepare and feed all formula from this container within 3 days after opening.

Storage: Once opened, store quart bottle in fridge.  Once prepared store bottles in fridge and feed baby with in 48 hours.

SO is it good for 3 days in the container and only 2 days if you put it in bottles?  I am confused, which doesn't take much these days.  

Dani816

hi 618! me too! i cannot figure out this formula business. we refrigerate ours and use it within 24 hours of making it.

my question is more how long can you keep the formula at room temp? my mom says to pack a bottle where-ever we go in case she gets hungry/cries. but i heard the formula is only good for 1 hour after warming up to room temp. how do people ever travel with their formula? take an ice pack? but then how do you warm it up?

LCB34

My understanding is that once you open a container of RTF, all of the formula needs to be used within 48 hours.  That is also how my Pediatrician explained it.

A few more tips - it is only good for 2 hours at room tempuerature.  And, once a baby starts eating a bottle, you cannot save any "left overs" for their next feeding.

august282005

duplicate post.

august282005

On 2.5 hrs of sleep, I read it the same way you do: in the original container it's good for 3 days in the fridge; once it's in a bottle it's good for 48 hours.

As for traveling with formula, we used the powdered variety with DS1 and would just fill bottles up with the right amount of water and put the right amount of formula in a formula dispenser (got it at Target) and just mix it up on demand.  DS never took his formula warm.  If you can get your DC to take it at room temperature (or cold right out of the fridge) your life will be much, much easier in the long run.  

Parrot_momma

LCB34:

And, once a baby starts eating a bottle, you cannot save any "left overs" for their next feeding.

oops. i didnt know that. do you know why this is?

LCB34

Parrot_momma:

LCB34:

And, once a baby starts eating a bottle, you cannot save any "left overs" for their next feeding.

oops. i didnt know that. do you know why this is?

Something about warming abottle then cooling it and re-warming it again isn't good.  Also, there is a chance that the contents of a bottle can be "contaminated" once LO starts to eat from it.  Makes no sense to me but I'm not taking any chances.

And, I don't understand the whole thing about it being good for 3 days in the container...we keep it in the plastic Similac container and only make up bottles when she is ready to eat.  Again, that is how our Pediatrician told us to do it and she said it is still only good for 48 hours once the seal is punctured on the RTF container.

 

 

lexismom1008

Parrot_momma:

LCB34:

And, once a baby starts eating a bottle, you cannot save any "left overs" for their next feeding.

oops. i didnt know that. do you know why this is?

It's because LO introduces bacteria to the formula when they suck on the nipple. If you save the formula, it has ample time for bacterial growth and can make LO sick. Before LO starts the bottle, it SHOULD be bacteria free or have very little bacteria in it. :-)

lexismom1008

LCB34:

Parrot_momma:

LCB34:

And, once a baby starts eating a bottle, you cannot save any "left overs" for their next feeding.

oops. i didnt know that. do you know why this is?

Something about warming abottle then cooling it and re-warming it again isn't good.  Also, there is a chance that the contents of a bottle can be "contaminated" once LO starts to eat from it.  Makes no sense to me but I'm not taking any chances.

And, I don't understand the whole thing about it being good for 3 days in the container...we keep it in the plastic Similac container and only make up bottles when she is ready to eat.  Again, that is how our Pediatrician told us to do it and she said it is still only good for 48 hours once the seal is punctured on the RTF container.

 

 

We posted at the same time. :-) 

618mom22boys

august282005:

On 2.5 hrs of sleep, I read it the same way you do: in the original container it's good for 3 days in the fridge; once it's in a bottle it's good for 48 hours.

As for traveling with formula, we used the powdered variety with DS1 and would just fill bottles up with the right amount of water and put the right amount of formula in a formula dispenser (got it at Target) and just mix it up on demand.  DS never took his formula warm.  If you can get your DC to take it at room temperature (or cold right out of the fridge) your life will be much, much easier in the long run.  

haha thanks.

And thst is how we travel w/ formula as well.

Parrot_momma

lexismom1008:

It's because LO introduces bacteria to the formula when they suck on the nipple. If you save the formula, it has ample time for bacterial growth and can make LO sick. Before LO starts the bottle, it SHOULD be bacteria free or have very little bacteria in it. :-)

THANK YOU!! I didnt know I was doing something wrong and will stop that now. 

prettylilmuffin

You can keep it the container for 3 days because it has been sterilized and is not as exposed to air. Bottles have been exposed to more air & germs so they  say only 48 hours for them. 

In other news, if you're able to make your RTF container last 3 days - I'm totally jealous.