does formula REALLY expire?

LadyBugMom2010

So I breastfeed but I have a can of formula that was a sample and I use it once in a while to mix with puree foods if I don't have any breastmilk pumped.  So I opened it on 11/4 (I wrote the date on the top of the can) - so it's now 12/10 and the can is about halfway gone.  It says to use it within a month of opening.  Do you really think I should stop using it? Or do you think it's ok to keep using it until it's gone?  It's powder so I can't imagine it would REALLY go bad that quickly - but I honestly don't know anything about formula so who knows! Any thoughts?

JMama10

why chance it. this is your baby you're talking about.

wifeandmama

Expiration dates are listed for a reason, so yes, things REALLY expire.  Use water to puree the food.

kaylakaylakayla

wifeandmama:

Expiration dates are listed for a reason, so yes, things REALLY expire.  Use water to puree the food.

this. 

emi_girl23

If it has an expiration date, or a listed amount of time it needs to be used in I would throw it away and buy a new one just to be safe for my baby. Now if it were a product for me, that would probably be a different story

JayandJack

I would say don't use it and I FF. I wouldn't take a chance. It does go bad and could upset her stomach.

ssf10

JayandJack:

I would say don't use it and I FF. I wouldn't take a chance. It does go bad and could upset her stomach.

Starr26

My sister gave me a half used can that she had started with her son in an attempt to find a formula he liked- I EB so I didn't know about formula or the expiration dates- I mixed DD a bottle out of the powder when my supply was lagging and we were going to be out of the house for the day. The formula was REALLY foamy, I thought that is so weird. Then when we got home and I looked at the can I realized that it had expired. DD had massive tummy issues for the next 2 days.

 So yes it does go bad and if your LO has a bad reaction to it you will feel horrible.

 

renc9828

emi_girl23:

If it has an expiration date, or a listed amount of time it needs to be used in I would throw it away and buy a new one just to be safe for my baby. Now if it were a product for me, that would probably be a different story

wandafeet

YES formula does expire! We use Similac Advance RTF. My friend gave me bottles of Similac Advance RTF that was going to expire in a couple of months because she switched to sensitive. I fed DD for 24hrs with these bottles of formula and her poop was BLACK. I called the pedi and she said to stop feeding her that formula immediately and throw out the rest. I switched her back to the RTF we bought that didn't expire until next year and her next poop was back to normal. Don't take any chances!