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Really? No formula back in fridge after half used?
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Anonymous
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I'm using Enfamil formula and it says I can't put a partially drunk bottle back in the fridge. Is it because if some backwash gets into the bottle it will truly ruin the formula? Or is this rule in place because the formula makers want us to buy more formula in which case I can ignore it?
I don't want to waste the forumla if I don't have to but also don't want to give it to my daughter if her drinking 2 out of 6 ounces which she just did will mean the remaining 4 ounces will really be bad tomorrow morning. Thanks! |
Anonymous
| I am extremely laid back about most things, but I wouldn't do it. Bacteria reproduces from the saliva that ends up back in the bottle. If you're worried about wasting it, I would make smaller bottles. |
Anonymous
| What PP said. I know how gross and stinky my DD's sport top water bottle gets from backwash in the water. I would make smaller bottles. |
Anonymous
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When my girls were small - I followed the 1 hour rule. If you've made it and it's been half-eaten -- it can go in the fridge for 1 hour --- it typically gets eaten but I have twins.
Now, I'll go to the next feeding but only if it's put in the fridge directly after eating it (they eat in 4 hour intervals) I don't think that's a formula company thing only -- I think it's a pro-BF thing too (i.e. formula is soooo bad it only lasts an hour.) But I'm one of those conspiracy theory folks.  I also think the 6 month BF recommendation is a deal btwn the formula companies and the AAP.
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Anonymous
No, it's a bacteria thing (from the saliva). While it's probably no worse than drinking out of the milk carton, babies' immune systems are still developing. |
Anonymous
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I followed the if it tases good and smells good and wasn't left out all night I use it rule. I also did not use formula until 8 months so I was not overly concerned about the immune system of a very young baby.
I think it is fine to use the bottle for the next feeding, by the way if you switch to Sam's club brand (the same as enfamil) you will not feel so bad about wasting a couple ounces here and there, it is half the price. |
Anonymous
| Can't believe I'm the first to admit this but I do re-refrigerate bottles that are not fully consumed; my 7 month old with (previously) horrendous reflux doesn't seem any the worse for wear. He's a formula kid due to the reflux, fwiw, although there is still a little bit of frozen BM mixed in. I generally only reuse bottles that have been out for less than 1 hour. But I can't justify tossing nearly full bottles unless I'm convinced they are too warm and therefore contaminated. Maybe this is second-time-momism (probably I was more neurotic with #1, although we didn't use much formula then) but I thought this was pretty normal. Alas, he's survived and thrived thus far, I'm not going to stress it. |
Anonymous
| Throw out the half-used formula. Try keep your bottles and formula as clean as possible because Bacterial infection and diarrhea are more common in formula fed infants. |
Anonymous
| There are enzymes in saliva that start to digest/break down whatever they're in contact with. So partially-drunk formula is getting broken down/degraded inside the bottle, as well as experiencing bacteria growth. |
Anonymous
| I seem to recall the doctor saying the one hour rule applied to expressed milk as well. I figure if I go thirty minutes over to finish a bottle (either expressed milk or formula) it isn't the end of the world. But I don't refridgerate a bottle that has already been started. |
Anonymous
| Funny, I talked with my LC about this early on (2 week visit). She said do nto waste the formula or BM. Simply put the bottle back in the fridge and use it for the very next feeding. Although there will be some bacteria growth (as with ANYTHING), it is minimal and will not harm the baby. I have followed this advice with formula and pumped BM and DD has never gotten an upset tummy, fussy, or more spit up from me doing this. She is 7 mos now. |
Anonymous
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OP here...thanks everyone for your comments. Sounds like as with everything parenting, different parents do different things.
I guess I will make smaller bottles although the reason I haven't been doing that is because my daughter was EBF for 6 months and now at just 7 months it's still a battle to get her to drink the formula so I feel like if I have more on hand I have a better chance of her getting it down rather than disrupting our feeding session to make another bottle. |
Anonymous
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I accept the bacterial growth but I also wonder if the amounts grown in the small time of half drunk, in the fridge, completely drunk could possible matter.
For a year my son has gotten both BM and formula. We've been pretty relaxed about both. He's never gotten sick from it. That's a statistical sample of one and so has almost no meaning but I really wonder if the formula makers aren't just covering themselves from potential liability. |
Anonymous
I'm no expert but I have parented 3 kids safely past the age of 1. Extra formula from one feeding went back in the fridge to be used at the next feeding. Then probably thrown out. So it would be 3-4 hours in the fridge. No problems whatsoever. And shhh...don't tell anyone but I also heated them in the microwave. 
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Anonymous
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I really wonder about the bacteria thing. Is it only formula and milk?
I mean, all the medicine droppers for baby Tylenol, etc. go back in the container. I rinse them off, but they are still in there-does the bacteria ruin the medicine. And leftover drinks or food, people eat that all the time. Is it over-concern for newborns or is it truly that the food will spoil that quickly? That being said, we would refrigerate and reuse milk, but never formula or EBM, just to be safe. |