is the whole "must use formula within an hour" a scam?

marybeth1699

I am feeding LO the Similac pre-mixed formula (not the powder) and it says that once you heat it up, you have to use it immediately or discard.  Why is that?  Is it just b/c germs/bacteria can start to grow in the bottle? Why is it that breastmilk can stay out up to 8 hours but formula must be used within an hour? 

Does anyone else ever wonder if this is just the formula companies being overly cautious about germ/bacteria growth in their product so they don't get sued?  Does anyone know of any studies that support having to discard the formula within an hour (or studies showing the opposite)?

p1nklemonade

yes, it's in regard to bacteria.  it's your baby; you can do what you want.  the warning is there to inform parents of what could possibly happen.

kristennd

The labels are inconsistent about that. Definitely once you start feeding LO you have an hour because of the bacteria in their mouths. But in terms of the bottle just sitting there mixed, the messages vary.

shoebox4

I've used it 2 to 3 hours past it's "mixed" time, and it was fine. I was able to leave it at room temperature for it during winter, but now that its warmer outside, I refrigerate it as soon as LO is done drinking and then heat it back up when he's ready for more. Occasionally my LO tends to drink 1/2oz to 1oz every few minutes and would take about 2 hours to finish a 3oz bottle and sometimes he drinks it and finishes it within 20 minutes. I would be broke if I had to waste all that formula when he's drinking leisurely.

 

desdemona39

From KellyMom:

 

"Per Breastfeeding, A Guide for the Medical Profession by Ruth Lawrence, MD (p. 438):

Breastmilk can safely stand at room temperature for 6 to 8 hours and need not be discarded if the first feeding attempt is incomplete. In contrast, formula must be refrigerated and discarded after the first feeding attempt because it contains no antibodies or infection protection factors."

Dreamsicle23

HUGE scam.

If DS didn't finish a bottle I just put it in the fridge and used it for the next feeding.  He's almost a year now - nothing bad ever happened.  Don't waste your money.

Scout05

It's not that it's a scam, but I don't always follow it to the letter. If I make a full bottle and she falls asleep or doesn't want it, I have no problem sticking it back in the fridge.

We have not had an issue.

Crystal318

I was an EP'er for about four months and I wasted sooooooooo much BM throwing it away after he took two sips of it. I was so freaked out to re-use it or re-warm it!

Now he is on formula and now I say if he doesnt finish the bottle the first time and it hasnt been out for too long (about 30-45 mins) I can put it back in the fridge and re-warm it ONE time.  This method seems to work just fine!

I wish I would have done this with the BM instead of wasting so much of my hard earned (pumped) milk!

LadyXaverian

Scout05:

It's not that it's a scam, but I don't always follow it to the letter. If I make a full bottle and she falls asleep or doesn't want it, I have no problem sticking it back in the fridge.

We have not had an issue.

This!