My 2Yr Old Son Likes Eating My 5Mnth Old Sons Baby Formula Powder Is It Harmfu?

Updated on October 08, 2010
J.X. asks from Shafter, CA
16 answers

my 2yr old son likes eating my 5mnth old sons baby formula powder... its not mixed, i keep it nxt to me for night feedings and i would wake up in the morning 2 find that he had snuck off with it. he dips his finger in it thn sucks it off and hes done it lots of time, i just wonder if the powder is in any way harmful or not good for his body.... thnk u....

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So What Happened?

thats not the question, the question is if the formula is in any way harmful or not good for him... cuz hes done it lots of time...

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D.G.

answers from San Francisco on

I know that if you don't mix it properly it can be harmful. So I am assuming that is from too much powder. Like everyone else said put it up out of the way. It is not worth the risk to either child.

1 mom found this helpful
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A.B.

answers from San Francisco on

FYI, I just got a letter in the mail for a formula recall. My son's not on formula, so I didn't pay much attention to it.
I wouldn't think it would be harmful as long as it's not the contaminated stuff.

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S.H.

answers from Honolulu on

Just put the Formula container where he cannot reach it.

2 moms found this helpful
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J.C.

answers from Anchorage on

I do not think it would be harmful, but I would put it up out of reach.

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D.P.

answers from Los Angeles on

I'm not sure if it's harmful or not.

I would put it somewhere he cannot get to it. Not sure I would even want my 2 y/o sucking on dry baby powder formula =-)

If you don't mind though, you should ask your pediatrician.

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K.N.

answers from Boston on

Why don't you just keep it out of his reach. I don't think its harmfult to him but i would check with you pediatrician for safety sake.

1 mom found this helpful
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L.S.

answers from New London on

formula will grow bacteria really fast and mold if you get it contaminated, but it isn't harmful, you feed it to an infant.

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B.M.

answers from Chicago on

I don't know that it is harmful, per say. It is concentrated, which means that he could be getting too many minerals (for example magnesium) depending on how much he eats it could make him sick.

The bigger issue is that if your 2 year old is sticking his hands in the formula then it is not clean for you baby and it can make your baby sick if bacteria grows. Once ANY saliva gets into the formula you need to use it within 4 hours or THROW IT AWAY because bacteria will grow and it will not be good for the baby.

The concern is really more for the baby - not your toddler.

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R.B.

answers from New York on

Well if you read the can it will tell you that if you don't follow the instructions for mixing it it can make your baby ill... for example you make it too strong it can be very h*** o* the kidneys or cause kidney damage. So I would imagine eating it is probably not the best thing. The minerals and other things in it are not diluted. I would not let my kid do it. In fact now I think more it is very high in iron and other vitamins which can be potentially harmful if taken in large quantities. It at best could make him constipated and at worst very seriously ill. Please put it out of his reach.

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V.B.

answers from Houston on

I doubt it's harmful, it's just REALLY expensive, so I would keep it put up somewhere where he can't get to it. Also, if you're using it for your baby, you don't want your 2 year old's hands in the can on a regular basis since they may not be clean at the time. Good luck!

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R.J.

answers from Seattle on

Nope. Not unless he's eating a TON of it. Think how much your baby consumes every day (mine ate 20oz per feeding, but most only eat 5 or 6oz). He can easily eat twice to three times as much as your infant is eating and be fine.

I would suspect that it's a combo of sweet + dense nutrition. How's his milk/dairy intake? His fats? Toddlers need high levels of fat in their diets for brain growth in addition to high levels of minerals for bone formation. Many/most don't actually have diets that are high enough in fats, because once they start eating solids, many parents mistakenly start feeding them a low fat adult diet. Adults need low fat (our brains are done forming, and all of our nerves have been mylenated and our immune systems are fully formed, but kids need high fat because none of the 3 above things are true yet for them.

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D.V.

answers from San Francisco on

It is prob not harmful to him but I do worry if he is putting his fingers, especially wet one from his mouth into the formula. His " double dipping" is introducing moisture and bacteria from his mouth into the powder. Not back stuff but combined with the high sugar in the formula this will allow other bacteria to grow in the container. For the same reason you should toss unused mixed formula the containers will get unsafe for later use.

M.W.

answers from Boston on

it wont harm him they have formula for over a year old. just keep it out of his reach of have some formula in the bottles and water bottles near your bed for easy access for in the middle of the nnight feeding so all you have to do is add the waterr

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D.S.

answers from San Francisco on

J., I have to say as the mother of 5 who ate everything from powered baby formula to dry dog food -- there is little that you would feed one of your children that will harm another. If it is ok for the baby then its good for the sibling.
Be at ease. I am sure you use it up fast enough to not have it be a cross contamination problem and frankly with 5 kids I learned that one family members germs were passed from kissing andhugging. I doubt that your older child is eatting a cup of it at a time and if he is just give him water to help flush his system becasue it make cause a tummy ace. Really mom I think that its going to be fine.

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C.B.

answers from San Francisco on

Hi,

Have you read the ingredients on the label? Baby formula is mostly sugar in the form of corn syrup, so that is why he is eating it. Yes, sugar can be harmful to children. If you want to find out more about the harmful effects of sugar, please watch this video below.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dBnniua6-oM

If you're looking for an alternative to commercially prepared formula, check out this receipe.

http://articles.mercola.com/sites/articles/archive/2000/1...

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J.C.

answers from Sacramento on

Mom, not sure that it is harmful or no,t but it is expensive. You need to put the formula up where the toddler can not reach it and tell him no! firmly when you see him doing this. If he does this with other things he find and it is allowed he may be harmed, ie cleaning powders, like comet etc. He needs to know who is in charge in this situation. Good luck

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