Pre-made bottles - shelf life?

[LoneWanderer]

Don't know how much this formula forum gets seen these days, but worth a try...

So with #1 in hospital, even though the midwives insisted that he was latching well and feeding well, I knew he wasn't. The first night with him was literal hell, he tried to feed constantly and screamed pretty much the whole time, very unhappy baby and exhausted post-section mumma. The hospital midwives were not in the slightest bit helpful.

However, on our second day my own midwife came in to see me and baby, and right away she suggested mixed feeding: expressed milk bottles alongside formula. And she gave him some of the hospital's bottles which were pre-made SMA ones*. The difference was amazing, he was a happy and content little lad after that.

Anyway this time I plan to try breastfeeding again but plan ahead and take in formula just in case. And I didn't realise until very recently, but apparently you can buy the premade bottles, ready sterilised. I figure that's a lot less faff than trying to clean and prep bottles when I'm post-section and can barely move, I could just keep a box of them by the bed. Thing is, I can't find anything online about how long they keep for. I know the pre-made cartons have a long shelf life, but no clue about these bottles.

I'm 22 weeks now and starting to get the bags packed just in case, but don't know if I should order these formula bottles now or leave it as long as possible...? Has anyone used them, do they keep for a good long while? Don't want to be making baby poorly with old formula milk!!

*SMA® Pro First Infant Milk From Birth 6 X 70ml Starter Pack - Boots << these are the ones I mean.

 

[Rags]

Sorry, I've no idea, I suppose it depends how long they have been sitting in the shop too. Do you have a boots near by? You could have a look at their stock expiry date - or ask them to order innew stock for you... good luck

 

[LoneWanderer]

Yeah the store doesn't have them, only online, so it's gonna be a gamble.

 

[Rags]

That's a pain. In that case personally I'd probably wait for another 10 or so weeks and take a chance ordering - or if you like a bit of excitement add an order to the shopping basket and place it when you feel your first contraction on a next day delivery

 

[LoneWanderer]

I like it! Might even run a small sweepstake: 'which will come first, baby or milk?'

 

[Rags]

Or make it more competitive, which friend can get an order delivered quickest gets 5 points, longest used by date gets 5 points - person with the the least points gets to put a washing on for you while the highest score gets to make you both a cup of tea and hold baby

 

[Babybump87]

I’ve used for Cow and Gate ones each time with mine and they had a good shelf life . Usually they are good for a few months x

Basically just the same as the cartons but smaller and you peel the lid off and attach the teat which is in its own sterilised wrapper too ! My god these were a god send the first few days for us !

If I go into town tomorrow I will see if the Boots have any and have a look at the date for you ! X

I did just find this online too
SMA® PRO First Infant Milk
liquid has a shelf life of 9 months.

 

[LoneWanderer]

Oh amazing, so helpful thank you! I cannot shake this feeling that baby will come early this time and I want to be completely ready to go whenever it happens!

Midwives at hospital were really quite arsey about me using 'their' milk every time I asked for one, and definitely frowned upon the not breastfeeding too - this time I'll be like 'in yo face ladies coz I got ready made bottles of my own! '

 

[Babybump87]

Oh amazing, so helpful thank you! I cannot shake this feeling that baby will come early this time and I want to be completely ready to go whenever it happens!

Midwives at hospital were really quite arsey about me using 'their' milk every time I asked for one, and definitely frowned upon the not breastfeeding too - this time I'll be like 'in yo face ladies coz I got ready made bottles of my own! '

Ohh I had that feeling with DS and he arrived 6 days late . Hopefully your hubs will arrive early !