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Ready to eat formula expiration

SolelleSolelle member
in Babies: 0 - 3 Months
I have a bottle of Similac Advanced and it says on the bottle to discard after 72 hours.  I find this to be really weird because it's in the fridge so it's not like it will spoil so quickly.  Regular milk doesn't go bad that quickly so what gives?  Are they just trying to make a quick buck or something?  I don't use formula very often so it's annoying to throw it away after 3 days when the bottle is more than half full. 
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Re: Ready to eat formula expiration

  • DG1DG1 member

    If it annoys you, switch to powder.  It's much cheaper, and you only mix as you go. You don't have to toss the can for a month.

    But yes, there are stricter standards for formula. Once you mix the powder kind, that can only stay in the fridge for 24 hours. (Sure, if you have a really good refrigerator, it's probably good for 30-36 or so, but they have to cover their assses. And really, who wants to be wrong about that and give their baby spoiled formula?)

     So, I think it's part real (it doesn't last as long as cow's milk), part CYA, and part make-a-quick-buck. But if you don't have to use it often, just be grateful. I couldn't BF and I can't tell you how many ounces of formula we've had to toss because he didn't finish the bottle or it was out of the refrigerator for more than an hour. You're still coming out WAY ahead.


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  • SolelleSolelle member

    That makes sense.  The powder kind of scares me because the prep seems intense.  I breastfeed for the most part, but I keep formula on hand so MH can help with night time feedings on occasion and so I can go out on dates with him and have the grandparents feed her.  I just wish they made smaller bottles of the stuff so it's not such a waste.  Ah well!  Thanks!  :) 

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  • LucyPevensieLucyPevensie member

    Solelle - they make Similac RTF bottles in I think both 2oz sizes and 8 oz sizes - BRU carries them - that would probably work better for you since you use so little! 

    I'm with you on using RTF though - I have no interest in messing with powder and mixing, too much effort for me right now  - I pump 20 ounces/day and supplement the rest of his intake with formula so for me - 72 hours is perfect - we usually use up one of the large bottles in 2 and a half days, but for you cases of the smaller RTF portions might work out great and end up being less expensive in the end too.  Once we switch to all formula, probably around 6 months (if I can keep pumping that long), I'll likely start buying powder because it is cheaper and we'll be using more of it.   

    Wheee!
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    "When it comes to sleeping, whatever your baby does is normal. If one thing has damaged parents enjoyment of their babies, it's rigid expectations about how and when the baby should sleep." ~ James McKenna, Ph.D., Mother Baby Behavioral Sleep Center, University of Notre Dame

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  • krismtgkrismtg member
    I think the whole thing is a scam, well partly. I don't know how I would feel about the milk based ones but my DS is on Alimentum. It doesn't have any cow's milk and it still expires. We go through a bottle a day so it doesn't affect us but still it seems like with the hour rule and expiration rule you throw a lot away. I think they are super conservative on their estimations on time because there is such a huge liability with infants. They just don't want people giving a baby a bottle that has been sitting out forever, honestly I wouldn't drink milk that had been sitting out forever, and using really old formula. That's just my opinion though. BTW if your baby is used to the ready to eat formula and you switch to powdered watch for any adverse reactions. I think it's rare but my DS can not do the powdered. He won't eat it and his poop became really acidic.
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  • DG1DG1 member

    eh.  mixing the powder is no big deal. Then again, we mix a whole day's worth the night before with a hand mixer and pour it into individual bottles.

    If you knew you were going to need bottles, you could easily mix it beforehand. But I get not wanting to do powder on demand. I hate it when we have to mix an individual bottle right at mealtime while he's screaming and hungry.

    And there is Similac RTF in smaller bottles, but not the early shield blend (at least as far as I've found. I have no idea why not - I think it's stupid.) Advance and Advance with Early Shield are VERY close, but not identical, so do pay attention to whether he's not taking to the new formula very well if you're using one or the other.

    GL!


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