Formula at Day Care

momo214 · August 2014

I work full time and LO is in day care all day. I try to pump but don't always make enough for all her bottles the next day. I have a can of formula at day care and send an empty bottle for them to make a bottle when I'm a bottle short of bm. I was told today to prepare her formula bottle before I bring her in if she's going to need one. I thought formula couldn't be made in advance. Am I wrong? She's mostly bf so I'm new with the formula rules. What do all you mommies do for formula fed day care babies? Thanks!!

ksyknelvr73 · August 2014

Yep, you can! We prepare ours each night and stick them in the fridge.

deanna1313 · August 2014

It was a required that bottles were prepared in advance at the daycare I used to work at. They needed to be mixed and refrigerated. They would bring them in a cooler, labeled and put in the fridge. As long as they are used that day they are fine.

RachelCA29 · August 2014

Yeah, if they might not need to use it, I would send a can of ready-to-feed that they would just need to put into a bottle (no mixing). Because then if they don't need it's fine in the can. It would suck to have to make a bottle every day just in case they need it, and then have to chuck it.

But if you know it advanced will need it, then yes, you can make a bottle of powdered formula and it's good in the fridge for 24 hours.

momo214 · August 2014

Thanks so much ladies!! Good advice too with the ready to feed.

chillypenguin · August 2014

When DD1 was in daycare (and now when my mom watches DD2), I pre-filled the bottles with the correct amount of water and pre-measured the formula and put it in a formula dispenser. She eats her bottles room temp anyway, so all they have to do is mix it. I'm paranoid about her measurements being correct so I feel better about having everything pre-measured.

https://www.target.com/p/munchkin-formula-dispenser/-/A-13991505

Ziegeficker · August 2014

That's ridiculous that they can't measure out and prepare their own bottles. It's not a fucking soufflé.

deanna1313 · August 2014

I can't remember the exact details behind why they can't prepare them, but it was a health and safety issue. I don't know if a mistake was made or formula was mixed up or something, but it was required by the state in our case. We used to prepare them and then the rules changed.