Reheating pre-made formula

[tanyah]

I'm trying formula for the first time with my 4 month old, and i've started with some of the premade S-26. It was opened yesterday and refrigerated, when I use it today, is it OK to warm it first in some hot water? Or will this spoil it?

[snowchickie79]

That is exactly what I do when i use the pre-made "popper" type packs. Just pour into the bottle and drop it into a container of hot water to warm it up. Put the rest into another bottle and pop it in the fridge. Use it within 24 hours and all good.

I think, and don't quote me on this and please if anyone knows this to be incorrect please correct me, but once you've heated ANY formula once, you cannot heat it a second time if it goes cold.

[Arimeh]

but once you've heated ANY formula once, you cannot heat it a second time if it goes cold.

Yup thats right. And it only lasts an hour after heating the first time.

[Kazbah]

... but I found the easiest way was to make up heaps of formula at night and put them in the fridge, you can leave pre-made formula in the fridge for 24 hours. Heat it once only and toss after an hour (a real annoyance when the bub takes AGES to drink it!!!)

Good luck with your FF journey!

[Arimeh]

Kaz - yeah thats what we do

[Rattie]

Yup thats right. And it only lasts an hour after heating the first time.

Can anyone tell me why? I used to be a nazi with this but I have done it a couple of times with no apparent ill effects.

[Arimeh]

I'd say its a bacteria mine fest if you leave it too long.



I just do as I'm told...lol

[Glamourcide]

Can anyone tell me why? I used to be a nazi with this but I have done it a couple of times with no apparent ill effects.

Well, I did it pretty much for the entire time DD was formula fed (from birth to around one year), and she never, ever had a problem with feeding and at 17 months of age has never been sick (maybe I was feeding her a bunch of bacteria that strengthened her immune system?).
I claim pure ignorance on that one, I never knew it couldn't be reheated... I had a system going where if she didn't finish a whole bottle, I'd stick it back in the fridge and top it up with fresh formula from a new bottle, then I'd top the second bottle up with fresh formula out of a third bottle, and so on... I just couldn't stand the thought of throwing out what I figured was perfectly good (not to mention EXPENSIVE!!) formula, and like I said, she never, ever got ill or anything like that. I mean, I never left formula sitting out for ages, she usually sucked a bottle dry in about fifteen minutes so if she quit before then (ie was full) I'd just whack it back in the fridge and use it later. I do the same thing now with her cow's milk, sometimes I heat a bottle up and she isn't hungry so I just pop it back and use it when she's ready for her next bottle.

Now that I know, however, I won't repeat the same mistake with the next one...

[Visitor8]

It can make bub sick. While it might NOT (I have done it with my older 2 before I knew you shouldn't) it can, and it's probably not something you want to do just incase

You can get formula dispensers, they hold 3 or 4 bottles worth in a container so you just tip it in the water and shake. Why not do this? Just make up the water in the fridge then put the powder in the heated water once you have microwaved it.

As for throwing it out after an hour, this doesn't count if your baby is still drinking the same bottle and is taking an hour It's only if it's been heated, half drank and left.

[ness]

I try very hard to use the formula within an hour of heating but as the amount of formula increases (I'm using Karicare and she is now having 150mls) it takes longer and longer to feed. I feel myself watching the clock and willing her to keep drinking.

[foreva*your*mummy]

im confused. is it ok if they are drinking the bottle and its getting a bit cold to put it back in the hot water and warm it up a bit again? my ds who is 5 weeks takes ages to drink and hes fussy when it gets to cold?
thanks

[2CheekyMonkeys]

yeah i am confused too! ok, so bub is having a feed at 12, has only half the bottle so you put it in the fridge.. you can then re-heat it once within 1 hour.. but one hour from 12 or one hour from when you put it in the fridge for later?

and also.. i have the same qn as above.. can you re-heat it if bub is taking ages to drink it an can you do this more than once?

sometimes i think it is easier to breastfeed just cause there arent any hard and fast rules!

[tattoo_mama]

i make up the whole days worth of bottles and fridge them.
it can only be heated once cause if you keep going hot cold hot cold the bacteria will grow.
must be only heated once and drunk within the hour, otherwise has to be tossed and a new bottle made up. cannot be heated, cooled then reheated within the hour either.