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June 2011 Moms
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Do you follow the "1 hour" rule for formula?

Melissa2216Melissa2216 member
in June 2011 Moms

I thought it was common knowledge that formula should be consumed within 1 hour from the start of feeding, since that's what is says on the container...but I just found out that day care doesn't always go by that rule.

Last week, staff member #1 said "we keep it for 1 hour" and I was glad to hear that we were on the same page.

Today, I picked DS up at 3:45 and on his sheet it said he started a 6 oz. bottle at 1:35pm.  He only drank 2 oz.  I saw a bottle with 4 oz. in it sitting out, and I asked if it was fresh (I was annoyed that he hadn't had a 3rd bottle yet). 

Staff member #2 said "Oh, we just tried giving him that at 3:30 and he didn't want it.  That's the bottle from 1:30.  Liana said to dump it after 2 hours."  (Liana is the head teacher).  

I said, "Oh...I thought it went bad after 1 hour."  Then staff member #2 said, "Personally, I thought it was 3 hours."

Staff member #3 chimed in and said, "Every parent is different.  Some parents actually keep the same bottle of formula all day."  

WTF? Now I'm confused... I left a message for the pediatrician, but I know they won't call back until Tues.  I'm not sure if I should be really concerned about this.  Doesn't bacteria from baby's mouth contaminate the formula?  I thought it was a safety issue, and that's why it should be thrown out after an hour.  If that's true, it really bothers me that the staff (especially the head teacher) doesn't know this. 

**ETA: The nurse just called me back.  She recommended 2 hours, and that the rule for most formulas is 2 hours at room temp., whether or not LO has drank from it.  She added, though, that if my formula says 1 hour (which it does--it's Target's brand) then I should stick with 1 hour. 

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Re: Do you follow the "1 hour" rule for formula?

  • M&M227M&M227

    I'm not sure I'd be overly concerned especially since LOs are older.  But yes, it's one hour.  I'm surprised your daycare did that.  Ours has very strict rules about almost everything, but something that could potentially make LO sick under their care is a big deal.  

    Occasionally I'll let DD go a little over an hour, but generally I don't like her to "snack" on bottles anyway so I try and get her to eat most at one time.

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  • hannahruth32hannahruth32 member
    I do 2 hours.  After that time frame, it starts to smell bad. All day, really? Wow!
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  • CarlaAndJamesCarlaAndJames member
    daycare is strict about 1 hour, but honestly i generally stick to the 2 hour "danger zone" rule that applies to other foods that spoil. (should only be between 40 and 140 for 2 hours or less)
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  • MrsIMrsI member
    The hospital told us two hours even though the container said 1 so that is always what we have gone by.  Our daycare uses the same bottle "all day" if there is some left and it goes right into the fridge.  I know a lot of parents like this because formula is expensive but I have told them they can toss it since my formula was free and I don't want to chance how long it was out before putting it back in the fridge.  But if I knew it was only left out a really short time it wouldn't bother me.
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  • rainstar752rainstar752 member
    I used to be more strict about it but now I don't really care up to about 3 hours, especially if it's in the fridge.
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  • IdigDirtIdigDirt member
    Sometimes I will put a bottle back in the fridge if LO only has a few sips and give it later. I think DC does the same but he gets BM at daycare.
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  • MrsPBNJ0220MrsPBNJ0220

    I was under the impression even if LO drinks out of it that if we put it in the fridge it is good for 24 hours.  Even our Pedi said that.  We were under the impression it was 1 hour room temp.  If we stick it in the fridge, we change the nipple before giving it to him.  I am not so strict with the time, but if say we go grocery shopping, I make a bottle before we leave, LO starts on it, doesn't finish it and we get done grocery shopping I will give it to him if it's 2 hours or less.

    I think I would actually be ticked if he went to daycare and after him taking one sip they ditched it rather than putting it in the fridge.

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  • nfrtnynfrtny member

    I go by what it says on the can.

    1 hour after drinking it
    2 hours at room temp without drinking it
    24 hours in the fridge without drinking it

    Honestly, I think I would be upset that they weren't all on the same page. I am a lot more lenient about the 1 hour rule then I used to be. But I don't think I've ever gone as far as 2 hours.

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  • mrsmullins0500mrsmullins0500 member
    I stick to around one hour. Ive went over that before though. Actually LO has thrown his sippys under his pack and play before and went and got a big gulp out of it the next morning. He was fine but I always make sure to look under there now.
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  • Melissa2216Melissa2216 member
    imagenfrtny:

    I go by what it says on the can.

    1 hour after drinking it
    2 hours at room temp without drinking it
    24 hours in the fridge without drinking it

    Honestly, I think I would be upset that they weren't all on the same page. I am a lot more lenient about the 1 hour rule then I used to be. But I don't think I've ever gone as far as 2 hours.

    This was my thinking as well.  The more I think about it, the more ticked I am.  I feel like their "default" should be to follow the directions on the can of formula, but they clearly don't care about what the directions say. 

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  • M&M227M&M227
    imageMelissa2216:
    imagenfrtny:

    I go by what it says on the can.

    1 hour after drinking it
    2 hours at room temp without drinking it
    24 hours in the fridge without drinking it

    Honestly, I think I would be upset that they weren't all on the same page. I am a lot more lenient about the 1 hour rule then I used to be. But I don't think I've ever gone as far as 2 hours.

    This was my thinking as well.  The more I think about it, the more ticked I am.  I feel like their "default" should be to follow the directions on the can of formula, but they clearly don't care about what the directions say. 

    Yes, like I said before I think they could get in a lot of trouble (ie lawsuit) if someone gets sick from this.   

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  • kaitylinkaitylin member
    We do 2 hours all the time... Never had a problem. Neocate is so expensive that there's no way I'm wasting if I don't have too.
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  • helenejrhelenejr member
    i don't - especially now i mix it with WCM - If C doesn't drink kit all in one sitting - it goes back into the fridge and he has it later..... some times when i give it to him in a sippy he will have a sip and walk around with it sipping from over and hour.... I'm not too concerned.
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