In 1867, Swiss pharmacist Henri Nestlé developed the first adapted infant formula. His invention has been used for more than 100 years to feed babies when breastfeeding is impossible and insufficient. Today, young parents have become more mobile and often travel with their children. It is important for them to organize their baby’s meals correctly, without harm to health, which is why many inexperienced mothers ask on forums how long the diluted formula can be stored in a bottle.
Let's find out!
Divorced
In a refrigerator
The finished mixture, placed in a bottle at a temperature of +2 to +4°C (in a refrigerator), will retain its beneficial properties throughout the day.
The middle shelf of a refrigerator cabinet is best suited for placement, but using the door is strictly prohibited.
At room temperature
Diluted infant formula in the room can be used to feed an infant within 3 hours of preparation.
In this case, it is necessary to ensure a temperature regime of no more than +24°C, seal the bottle or other storage container, and exclude exposure to sunlight. Special thermal bags or thermal bags are well suited for transportation.
In a situation where you need to take food for the baby with you, but feeding is planned later than 3 hours after dilution, it is better not to dissolve the contents of the jar in water, but take separately the mixture in a sterilized package and warm water in a thermos. Before your baby's next meal, simply pour the powder into water and shake thoroughly.
In the freezer
Unlike breast milk, it is prohibited to freeze adapted infant formula.
This product should not be given to infants, since its quality is significantly reduced, the taste deteriorates and can have serious consequences for the child’s health.
How long does baby formula last?
Storing baby formula is quite easy, but many families do it incorrectly, not knowing how long the diluted formula is stored. Considering the fact that infant formula contains too many valuable nutrients, trace elements and vitamins, they should not be allowed to go to waste. But the main thing here is the health of a small child, Elena Viktorovna Selina, a pediatrician at the SelinaClinic children's clinic in Pyatigorsk, is convinced.
— Elena Viktorovna, please tell us in what cases dry milk formula is used in a baby’s diet and how to give it correctly with a mixed diet.
— The main criterion for feeding a baby with formula milk is poor weight gain while breastfeeding. Breast milk is replaced or supplemented with an adapted milk formula, similar in composition. The mixture is selected individually.
If the mother retains milk, when feeding, she first gives the baby the breast, then formula. Moms like to change the formula every two to three days, but this is one of the big mistakes. The mixture is prescribed for at least two weeks to see how the child absorbs it, whether he has rashes or problems with stool. If you have rashes, an allergic reaction, or prolonged constipation, you can change your diet earlier.
— What are the basic rules for storing baby formula?
— Any mixture has an expiration date indicated on the packaging and storage conditions determined by the manufacturer. There are several general conditions.
- Storage is possible only at the temperature indicated on the package, with the lid tightly closed in a place hidden from direct sunlight.
- The jar or pack with the mixture should not be placed in a room with high humidity or too dry air, near gas stoves and kitchen sinks, or near household chemicals.
- The mixture cannot be poured from one package to another or the remains of the mixture of one box mixed with the remains of another.
- A special container for storing the mixture must be processed and dried every time one mixture is finished and it is planned to pour another.
— If a mother takes a jar with her on a long trip, how important is it to maintain the correct storage temperature? This can be difficult.
— Formula is the main food for a child. It is necessary to strictly observe the correct storage mode. It is better to take separate portions and bottles for each feeding individually and separately - a container of water or a thermos. In the future, the food must be mixed immediately before feeding the child, of course, observing the temperature regime. Long-term storage of the dry mixture in an open container is not recommended: it changes its qualities and dries out.
— Is it necessary to store the mixture in a purchased jar or can you pour it into another container and take it with you? For example, on a trip of 2-3 days?
— After opening the jar, the mixture is stored on average for no more than 3-4 weeks. And wherever parents go with their baby, they need to take their food with them. You can take individual sachets or small packages, disposable bottles with an already diluted mixture, but this is not accessible or suitable for everyone. Another option is to pour several portions into a sterile container so that the mixture does not come into unnecessary contact with the air and other people who will dilute it. Of course, the mother wants to always have the right jar at hand, but the child also has his own interests - you need to adapt to him.
Storage conditions for adapted dry mixture MAMAKO® Premium
- temperature regime - 0-25 ˚С
- humidity - up to 75%
- Shelf life: two years in unopened packaging, no more than one month after opening
— Do manufacturers of infant formula indicate real shelf life or do they deliberately underestimate them?
— My opinion is, of course, they are not underestimating. After the expiration date, the mixture is not used. We do not use drugs that have expired. Why take risks with baby food and experiment on your child?
By the way, you should not use expired mixture when preparing homemade porridges, pancakes and other dishes. This also applies to diluted formula that the baby did not finish. There is no need to store it, because even if the mixture stands at room temperature or in the refrigerator for only a couple of hours, the nutrients will be destroyed and its taste will change.
— What happens to baby formula in a jar after the expiration date?
— After the expiration date, beneficial bifidobacteria and microelements die. The mixture changes its formula and consistency. Most often it becomes lumpy and does not dissolve so well. All this matters and affects the child’s digestion.
— How long does the diluted mixture last? How to properly store prepared baby formula that the child has not eaten?
— When mothers ask this question, I often say: before giving a formula that will sit for two to three hours, try it immediately after dilution and after this time has elapsed. The mixture will be sour. It happens that the child cannot suck the full amount of food at once or sucks intermittently and rests periodically for 10-15 minutes - this is acceptable; within an hour the mother can supplement him with the same product. But the prepared mixture is not stored; the food is diluted and immediately given to the child.
— Is it possible to store uneaten formula in a bottle? Is it true that if a child touches a bottle, then the process of bacteria multiplication begins in the mixture, and when it comes into contact with air for a long time, vitamins are destroyed?
“Once we cook food, we don’t store it for a long time.” It’s the same with formula - the child just has a slightly different diet.
It is true that once a baby tastes formula from a bottle, bacterial growth will be initiated. There is also destruction of vitamins, but a certain supply of them is present in the mixture even after some time.
— How can you tell if diluted baby formula has gone bad?
— A spoiled mixture changes the smell and taste. Baby formula is not a product you should skimp on. If for some reason a mother is unable to breastfeed, an artificial formula is invented to bypass nature. But the mixture is initially a foreign protein, and the child reacts to it. Therefore, there is no need to further provoke the child’s body by improperly storing or diluting the formula.
— What rules should be followed when diluting infant formula?
— It is imperative to follow the manufacturer’s recommendations for preparing and storing the mixture. Manufacturers adhere to their own standards, but they are similar to each other:
- the mixture is prepared immediately before feeding;
- Do not heat the mixture in the microwave;
- It is not recommended to pour fresh mixture into the remains of the old one;
- Do not store the prepared mixture or use the mixture after its expiration date.
Open and closed packaging
Factory
In closed containers, products can last for several years. The most well-known manufacturers have established the following expiration dates for their products:
- 18 months – Nutrilon Comfort, Nan Optipro, Nutrilak, Hipp, Malyutka.
- 24 months – Frisolak, Nestozhen, Frisovo, Bellakt, Similak Premium.
- 3 years – Nanny.
Recommended storage conditions in sealed packaging: temperature range from 0 to +25°C, relative humidity no more than 75%.
Opened
The vast majority of manufacturers set the shelf life after opening the package to no more than 3-4 weeks. From the point of view of economy, it is more profitable to take brands with a shelf life of 1 month for open containers: during this time you can manage to use up all the contents of the box. However, it should be remembered that the vitamins, minerals and other beneficial elements contained in the composition are destroyed when in contact with air. In this regard, the nutritional value in the opened container gradually decreases.
What adapted mixtures are there?
Today formula for artificial feeding is a high-tech food product for young babies. The basis for creating the product is cow's or goat's milk; useful substances, vitamins and microelements are added to it. There are two types of milk formula: dry and liquid. Dry ones are more popular because they are more convenient to store and easy to prepare. All products are manufactured in accordance with the age needs of the child. There are formulas for newborns, for children from six months and one year. There are products that can be used for premature babies and babies with insufficient body weight, for newborns suffering from allergies or disorders of the gastrointestinal tract, etc.
What do the deadlines depend on?
The composition of the adapted mixture includes a number of important micro- and macroelements, vitamins, and minerals that the newborn’s body so needs. These components help the correct formation and development of all internal organs and systems of the baby. But, as you know, many vitamins can be destroyed if storage rules are not followed and if they are exposed to ultraviolet rays.
In addition to these facts, various pathogens and bacteria pose a direct threat: a dairy product can become an excellent environment for their reproduction.
Based on these data, the manufacturer sets the expiration date, guaranteeing the quality and safety of the product only if all the necessary requirements specified in the annotation are met.
Why can’t the mixture be stored for a long time?
Some young mothers prefer to prepare the mixture in advance in order to store it in this prepared form for longer. However, this should not be done, since warm liquids increase the number of harmful bacteria that lead to colic and bloating in babies. Baby food contains a lot of fat and protein, and is therefore considered an ideal breeding ground for dangerous bacteria. The proliferation of harmful microorganisms begins if the prepared and usable liquid is stored for more than one hour at a temperature above 20 degrees. They also multiply when regularly heated on a gas stove or in the microwave.
Recommendations
In order for a product intended for baby food to last as long as possible and retain its beneficial qualities, you must adhere to the following recommendations:
- Pediatricians do not advise purchasing a product with a borderline expiration date. Always pay attention to the period indicated on the packaging to see if it is coming to an end.
- After each use, tightly close the container with a lid and keep it in a dry, dark, cool place away from windows, stove, radiator, and moisture.
- Use the opened mixture no later than 3-4 weeks (check the label for the exact period). To remember when the container was opened, make a mark on the lid with a marker.
- Avoid proximity to flour and cereals, which can become a source of insect infestation.
- Do not place the product in a dry state in the refrigerator or freezer, as the powder will quickly become damp and absorb foreign odors.
- Do not use expired product.
- Always wash your hands thoroughly before dilution, and also sterilize all utensils necessary for preparation (bottles, nipples, spoons).
- Do not store leftover food after your baby’s next meal (if he hasn’t finished eating), but rather dispose of it.
- Some manufacturers use cardboard boxes for packaging to reduce costs. It is better to pour the contents from such containers into a vacuum bag or container to reduce the risk of oxidation.
- Always check the container for leaks before purchasing.
These easy-to-follow tips will help you preserve valuable properties and prepare baby food that meets safety and quality requirements.
Rules for preparing formula for a baby
Each package of baby food contains instructions on how to prepare the food and how long the diluted formula can be stored. There are general rules for all types - be it Malyutka or NAN:
- The first step is to wash your hands and sterilize (boil in a saucepan or pour boiling water over) the feeding bottle.
- Cool the boiled water to 36 °C–37 °C (there are special thermometers to determine the temperature).
- Dilute a certain amount of water and powder in a bottle (the proportions are indicated in the instructions).
- Shake the mixture well until the powder is completely dissolved. The main thing is that there are no lumps left.
Before you start feeding your baby, you need to check the temperature of the finished formula. You can use a thermometer or place a small amount of liquid on your wrist or elbow. If it is cold or hot, you should warm up the mixture by dipping the bottle in hot water, and cool it in cold water accordingly.
Rules for storing mixtures
In order to prevent negative consequences from the child’s body, you need to strictly follow the rules for maintaining dry food. It is necessary to observe not only the temperature regime, but also the sterility of the utensils, measuring spoons and nipples used. It is better to keep cooking utensils in a sterilizer. Be sure to close the open jar of the mixture tightly each time after use. If the powder is in a bag, release excess air before closing it.
Note to moms
You already know that in the finished product for artificial feeding of children, dangerous bacteria tend to multiply quickly. We bring to your attention some useful tips, following which you can protect your baby from eating spoiled or stale food. Utensils necessary for feeding formula-fed children:
- 3-4 bottles, the nipples of which can be closed with a cap;
- thermos – container for baby food;
- cooler bag for walking and leaving the house;
- water heater for baby food.
We open the question: Is it possible for a mother to drink wine while breastfeeding?
Place the freshly prepared product in the refrigerator; some people find it convenient to pour the contents right away or store it in a measuring cup, reheating it as much as necessary. The baby's new dishes must be boiled for at least 30 minutes to prevent foreign substances from entering the child's body. We leave the clean dishes on the table, covering the top with a sterile bandage or gauze. For long walks or trips to the clinic, take with you a regular thermos with boiling water poured into it. Regardless of where you are, at any time you will feed your child, and the food will be fresh, which means healthy and safe. In a refrigerator bag you can store a container with a ready-to-use mixture; for this it is better to have a small electric heater that will prepare the food by heating it to the required temperature.
