I know that formula packaging says that you cannot reuse mixed formula after a baby has taken a drink of it becuase of bacteria in the nipple. is this really true? what are your experiences with this?
I'm with Gina! I always followed the recommendation. As far as the "sniff test" goes......that doesn't apply to bacteria. A baby bottle nipple is a great place to harbor bacteria. I would rather be safe than very sorry.
Although I always heard this technical rule as well, I never followed it. I just couldn't afford to waste formula just because my daughter had touched it one time! I didn't go overboard and if she drank the majority of the bottle, I would throw the rest away, but I took this particular advice with a grain of salt. My daughter never had any issues.
I followed the directions with all my kids. My theory, better safe than sorry!
we always reused our formula. I would smell it first and as long as it wasn't spoiled we used up what was left. we never had an issue at all.
that being said...we never heated out formula. My little one liked hers cold (usually ice cold) and it was the best thing ever. Makes feeding super fast and easy and hungry baby doesn't have to wait for the bottle to warm. If there is anyway to get your kids to drink it cold...life is so much easier!!!
I feel that as long as you are refridgerating the unused portion and checking to make sure it isn't sour which you can certainly tell when formula goes bad....it stinks, you should be fine. Just today my little on nursed a bottle most of the day. He is cutting teeth and doesn't want more than a couple of oz at a time so I put it in the fridge and take it out when he wants more, if there is any left at the end of the day I dump it. But after 5 kids we have never had an issue with reusing the formula.
I always thought that was a marketing ploy by the makers of the formula. I just see a bunch of men sitting around a table thinking of ways to get our money and they came up with that idea. Give me a break. After about a week I trashed that idea cause it was expensive. My 4 year old is fine, and my 10 month old is fine as well. I think it's stupid.
I would reuse the bottle the same day with my kids. However, I wouldn't keep anything over night. If he/she would only have 2oz left and needed 4oz, I would just add 2 more scoops and 2oz of water.....
I've made bottles baby only wanted a sip, and 2 hours later I've given my baby the same exact bottle when she decided she really was hungry.
I never followed the formula rules to a T or anything. I never game them anything spoiled or rotten but they sure did get bottles that were refridgerated a few hours, took one sip out of, and had sat on the table for longer than 1 hour.
My kids never got sick, never had a upset stomach nothing.
there is also an enzyme in saliva that will start digesting the milk or formula, I would be more worried about that than the bacteria. Make small bottles. you can always make more. some people that are exclusively formula feeding will make a days worth and keep it in a pitcher in the fridge to pour as needed. good luck!
Like some other ladies said.. I do the sniff test first. Its realllly easy to tell if its spoiled or not. Spoiled formula smells horrible. If its spoiled, no go. If it smells fine he's drinking it. Keep in mind that technically your formula is "good" for an hour within baby taking a drink of it according to those guidelines. So even by the packet's rules you've got an hour to space that feeding out over. Sometimes my son likes to graze and it takes him an hour to finish a 6oz bottle then other times he'll suck it down. My son also likes either room temp or cold formula so that helps.
What you might consider doing is getting a formula mixing pitcher (I think babies r us carries the dr. browns one, its been highly recommended to me) and mix a day's worth of formula at once then you can refridgerate it for 24 hours. That way you're not having to mix 4 ounces when your kiddo only drinks 3 at a time or something. I've always thought it was a pain in the *** that you have to mix in increments of 2ounces. With the pitcher you might have less overall waste.
I know it says that but everyone I know usually reheats a bottle once before tossing it. I would not reheat more than one time.... We did it with our daughter and never had any problems.
i think its probably ok within an hour or so. but if your baby is sick, the rules on that probably change. if you are concerned with wasting, always make sure you make smaller bottles, instead of larger or full ones. that way if you do waste some, its less of an amount. :)
I have also reused formula but if you are concerned with the bacteria thing... change nipples switch bottles. I've had 3 kids eventually on formula and reheated at least once will all of them they never got sick so I would say it would be ok.
Ha I'm so glad to see all the other moms reusing. So the idea behind it is that the milk will develop bacteria. And it does actually but so do tons of things we eat. In the end there is very little chance your baby will get sick off of reused formula. May not want to use it after 24 hours since that is a significant amount of time to grow some nasty stuff but other than that you should be fine. :)
I have reused it for the next feeding and nothing has happened.
I personally will reuse a bottle that has been partiall drunk - i cannot see wasting it - I just make sure i stick it in the fridge RIGHT away, and i will only used it for the next feeding, not longer than that.
i think someone should send this in to MythBusters - are the formula and baby food companies just trying to make us throw it away so we'll have to use/buy more...or is bacterial a real issue if partially eaten bottles, jarred food is immediately refrigerated....I know they did an episode on "double dipping" with chips and dip and there was hardly any bacteria, so it makes me think this would be the same thing.
JMHO
Jessie
I reuse it all the time, as long as it's in the fridge and not over 24 hours.
Baby food says the same thing, but we spoon fed and put it in the fridge for later, from the same jar.
My kids almost never get sick.
I'm sure it's best to follow the guidelines, buy ours are 3 under age 4 and we just try to keep everyone fed. :)
I too never follow the rules about formula. We're REALLY SUPER bad about it actually. I think just follow your gut, smell it to make sure it's not spoiled, and you'll be fine. I think they have to put those guidelines on to make sure they don't get sued. :)
