How long does formula keep for - powder and ready made cartons

[Soph&Bump]

Hi, I've had feeding problems so am doing a combination of breast, expressed and formula. I find getting a formula feed ready a nightmare as baby wants it now but I need to boil the kettle, wait for it to cool, make the formula and then cool that in a bowl of water or under the tap. On the box it says that it has to be used within 2 hours so I don't think I can make it that much in advance. To make life easier, certainly during the night, I've been using the cartons. I don't always use a whole carton and as it says on the Aptimil one that it keeps for 2 hours in the fridge, I've been throwing a lot away.

I read other people saying they make the formula and put it in the fridge. Can you do that with Aptimil? Also, when you go out, how do you organise your formula? I just take one of the cartons out but not sure if that's really the most economic option in the long run.

I'm just so confused about how long formula can be kept after use and how long those cartons realistically can be open for. Cow & Gate says 24 hours in the fridge, whereas Aptamil says 2 hours in the fridge. Cow & Gate gave LO horrible diarrhoea so I want to stick with Aptamil.

Any advice for this clueless mummy greatly appreciated.

S

 

[aimee-lou]

A lot of people do make in advance - I certainly do! And it's for the reason that you state - making on demand can be a nightmare but some people do that method and find it works for them. I make up 2 batches - one in the morning and one in the evening - and we've never had any problems. You can also pre-boil water and pop it into a thermos so you're not waiting for the water to boil, cutting that stage out - maybe that could be an option?

Ready made can be served at room temperature or warmed slightly in a bowl of boiling water so for combination feeding it may be an option. It will keep in the fridge for 24 hours once opened.

For out and about I do one of two things - depending on how long we're out for. I'll either take some boiled water in a thermos and some powder and pre-sterilised bottles, or I'll take a carton or two and a pair of scissors lol. It really does depend on where we're going. Some people take room temperature boiled water(already in the bottles and powder so there's no need for heating but I've found recently it gets too cold in the changing bag with it being so cold out atm.

Hope this helps - I'm sure someone with more experience than me will be able to help more.

P.S. I use SMA so there may be a few differences but most of the time the people I talk to do the same things.

 

[Mum2b_Claire]

I always use cartons, have never used powder. Always leave them in the fridge after opening, for no longer than 24 hours.
That's bizzare about Aptamil only lasting 2 hours in the fridge...are you sure? Why on earth do they do 500ml cartons then? Surely no baby is going to drink 500ml in 2 hours?

 

[history_girls]

I've only every used powder although I do have some cartoons for emergencies in the cupboard.

I make up two batches a day (she has six feeds in 24 hours). I boil the keetle, leave for 20 minutes and then make up the bottles and pop into the fridge. I normally know roughly when she wants a fed and get them out into the warmer in time for her to have them - she is impatient for food and dosen't like waiting. At night whilst i do nappy OH pops bottle into warmer (although slept through for last couple of nights !!!).

When we go out to somewhere where there is a kettle I take sterilised bottle and powder (Tommee Tippee have powder pots which fit in the bottle) and make up. If going out somewhere where there is no kettle I take a freshly made bottle, heat it and pop in thermal carrier. Had no problems doing it this way.

I never keep bottles of milk more than about 18 hours in fridge and if she dosen't finish one I always through excess away

My LO didn't get on with SMA, now on Cow and Gate Comfort and really happy.

 

[MrsSixx]

I have Aptamil cartons in my 'in case of emergency' stash and they say on the carton that they last 24 hours in the fridge once opened. The reference to 2 hours is how long it will last once it has been heated in a bottle (or left at room temperature in a bottle).

 

[Soph&Bump]

I always use cartons, have never used powder. Always leave them in the fridge after opening, for no longer than 24 hours.
That's bizzare about Aptamil only lasting 2 hours in the fridge...are you sure? Why on earth do they do 500ml cartons then? Surely no baby is going to drink 500ml in 2 hours?

Glad I'm not the only lazy person using cartons a lot. I'm 99% certain that it says on the Aptimil that it'll keep in the fridge for only 2 hours. It's the reason I switched to Cow & Gate until I found it was giving LO dodgy diarrhoea. Maybe Aptimil are over cautious. Having said that, I've sometimes left the carton by the bed and used it more than 2 hours later and that wasn't even in the fridge. But it was when I was desperate!!

 

[purpledaisy2]

Cant help with how long aptamil lasts but when you go out you can buy a tommee tippee container with 3 compartments to put you're powder in. I got mine from Toys R Us

Its been a lifesaver for me, cartons cost a fortune if you go out much x

 

[mumtosam]

I'm sure that open aptamil cartons can be left in the fridge for 24hrs as I used to use them and this is what I did. Unless its changed in the last few months??

 

[Soph&Bump]

Doh! Milk brain alert. I read the bit that says use the bottle within 2 hours but the carton can go in the fridge for 24 hours. Sorry for being such a dip. Sleep deprivation is cruel!!

 

[alice&bump]

i put boiled water into my bottles then add the powder as and when, saves so much time!! when i was using cartons, i used to take a little cool bag up to bed with me so i wasnt wasting half a carton!

 

[cindi]

i make bottles on demand. But i use powdered and it's easier to do that with. I never warmed them up. Now I never gave cold water, that could make them colicky. But I would boil the water and put in a clean milk jug. then use at room temperature and make the bottles as baby needs them and once on a schedule i'd make them a few minutes a head and then let baby let me know it was time. You can use a bottle after using it before within 2 hours. after that it has to be thrown away. Unused bottles are good for 24 hours in the fridge only and as long as baby hasn't drank out of the bottle.

 

[Soph&Bump]

I thought the water was meant to be pretty hot (30 mins after boiling) as the powder isn't sterile and the recently boiled water kills of anything nasty. Is that over cautious?

 

[zoe0504]

My midwife said to me i could make 4 or 5 bottles (or however many you need for the day) with boiled water and add the powder as and when. My LO has always taken room temp, he''d never take it warm so it's quite easy for me. In the earlier days i used to have an electric bottle warmer in the bedroom so in the middle of the night i'd just wake up, prepare powder and pop it in the warmer. I carry the powder in a little tub with the scoop and make it as and when. I think if you worry about the powder not being sterile it's totally over cautious. I've thought about when they package the milk whether they sterilise them but babies need to build up an immune system. You can overthink sooo many things like this. I wouldn't worry too much if i were you!!!!
x x x x

 

[alice&bump]

its the way i always did it with katie, although she was 5 months ish before she had abottle. admittedly i did wait til ella was a couple of weeks old to start doing it this way incase of any nasties! like zoe said tho, they've got to have a bit of nasties and stuff! plus i used to always forget about the kettle when it was boiled

 

[Soph&Bump]

Well that's good to know (that I don't need to be as cautious as I thought). Think I'll make the bottles up and heat them. Are those bottle warmers good then?

My OH has just fed LO with a carton from the fridge that was open and 2 days old. I specifically told him not to use that one as it needs binning so what does he do. He uses it. Hopefully it'll be okay. But can't really rely on men, I think. He went out on the baby's head wetting last night, lost his keys, woke me up at 3am to let him in, told a friend that was locked out to come and stay (at 3.30 am) and then lost my keys so couldn't open the door to let friend in, didn't get up to midday, leaving me to look after LO when I had arranged to go out. AAAAAGGGGGHHHH MEN. I finally got out and came home to find he hadn't fed her because it hadn't been 3 hours. The twit was counting 3 hours from when I left the house, not from the time of the last feed...

Sorry, off topic rant over!

 

[purpledaisy2]

I've got an avent electric bottle warmer and I think its brill, only takes a minute or so to heat the milk. I keep it in our bedroom for night time feeds.

I only paid a couple of quid for mine, they are well worth the money x

 

[Soph&Bump]

Thanks PurpleDaisy, I'm def going to buy one of those. Anything to make life easier.

 

[DizzyMoo]

Ive also got the avent bottle warmer for night time feeds , by the time ive changed jaxons nappy the bottle is usually ready then i pop the powder in , shake & serve
I do also have a thermos flask though & fill with hot water before bed, I fill the bottles with an oz or 2 less than he drinks, then fill with the water from flask when needed which is just right for him. I do this when i go out too

I was told not to prepare bottles in advance, or store them in fridge . Its really annoying how everyone is told something so different by professionals but yet apparently all took the same training courses *sigh*

 

[Soph&Bump]

Ive also got the avent bottle warmer for night time feeds , by the time ive changed jaxons nappy the bottle is usually ready then i pop the powder in , shake & serve
I do also have a thermos flask though & fill with hot water before bed, I fill the bottles with an oz or 2 less than he drinks, then fill with the water from flask when needed which is just right for him. I do this when i go out too

I was told not to prepare bottles in advance, or store them in fridge . Its really annoying how everyone is told something so different by professionals but yet apparently all took the same training courses *sigh*

Love your picture DizzyMoo. I agree it's so annoying how so many people say different things. What do you mean about putting 2oz less in the bottle than needed? Do you mean you have colder water in there and add hot water from the flask when needed??

Thanks

 

[DizzyMoo]

Ive also got the avent bottle warmer for night time feeds , by the time ive changed jaxons nappy the bottle is usually ready then i pop the powder in , shake & serve
I do also have a thermos flask though & fill with hot water before bed, I fill the bottles with an oz or 2 less than he drinks, then fill with the water from flask when needed which is just right for him. I do this when i go out too

I was told not to prepare bottles in advance, or store them in fridge . Its really annoying how everyone is told something so different by professionals but yet apparently all took the same training courses *sigh*

Love your picture DizzyMoo. I agree it's so annoying how so many people say different things. What do you mean about putting 2oz less in the bottle than needed? Do you mean you have colder water in there and add hot water from the flask when needed??

Thanks

Yep say for example jax takes 5oz per feed, I'll fill from kettle as normal but only 3oz ish, then ill fill the thermos with hot water from kettle & take to bed or if we are out. When he wakes for a feed i top up the bottle to the 5oz with the hot water from flask its instantly warm & ready. Obviously the amount of cool water to warm water depends on ounces but thats just a rough guide xx