Editor’s Note
As of May 2022, many formulas have become increasingly difficult to find. Please read our article, What To Do If You Can’t Find Baby Formula, for more information regarding the formula shortage.
Baby formula can be expensive, and it may be tempting to save every last drop if the baby does not have a good feeding.
But it is essential that you follow proper formula preparation and storage steps to make sure the baby does not get sick.
In this article, we will break down how long the formula, both ready-made and powdered, lasts at room temperature and in the refrigerator. We will also cover how to make night feedings easier, how to properly prepare baby’s milk when you’re heading out for the day, and other tips to help every mom who formula feeds her baby.
Baby Formula Preparation and Storage: Rules to Follow
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention have implemented the following rules regarding formula preparation to prevent bacterial contamination that could make your little one sick. It is very important to abide by these timestamps.
- 1 hour: After the bottle has touched baby’s mouth, even if he or she only took a few sips, the formula must be thrown out within the hour. The combination of infant formula and your baby’s saliva can cause bacteria to grow, the CDC says. If formula has been warmed up, never reheat. Warmed bottles of formula must also be tossed within the hour.
- 2 hours: Formula that has been mixed can sit at room temperature for up to two hours if it has not been offered to your baby.
- 24 hours: Powdered formula that has been mixed and not used can be stored in the refrigerator for up to 24 hours. So if you prepared a bottle of formula and it has not been touched within two hours, you can immediately store that bottle in the fridge and use it within 24 hours.
- 48 hours: Bottles of ready-to-feed and concentrated formula that have been opened but unused will last in the refrigerator for up to 48 hours in an air-tight container.
- 1 month: According to the CDC, most infant formulas need to be used within 1 month of opening the container, but always check the label. An open container of infant formula must be stored in a cool, dry place with the lid tightly closed. Do not store it in the refrigerator. Unopened infant formula containers should be placed in a cool, dry, indoor location – not in cars, garages, or outdoors.
Never use formula after the “use by” date on the container.
Types of Formula: Powdered, Concentrate, Ready-to-Feed
There is an overwhelming number of options on the market when it comes to choosing infant formula for your little one. Organic, soy-based, reflux soothing – you name it, there is a formula designed for it. One thing to remember is that there is no best formula out there. Each baby is different and has different needs.
That being said, the Food and Drug Administration regulates and requires infant formulas to meet nutrition requirements and safety standards. You can rest assured that no matter which store-bought formula you choose, you are nourishing your child with everything he or she needs when formula feeding.
The way you prepare your baby’s milk will depend on the type of formula you choose: powdered, concentrate, or ready-to-feed. Always read the label on the formula container for proper preparation instructions.
Powdered Formula
To mix and prepare, you place water in the bottle first and then add the corresponding number of scoops of powdered formula. For example, if you want a 4-ounce bottle, you would place 4 ounces of water, then 2 level scoops of powdered formula.
Adding too much water can dilute the bottle and not meet the nutritional needs of your infant. Too little water could cause baby’s kidneys and digestive system to work too hard and could lead to dehydration.
As a reminder, prepared powdered formula that has not been used can be stored in the refrigerator for up to 24 hours.
Concentrate Formula
This form of formula is considered your “just add water” and shake. You simply add equal parts concentrate to equal parts water. If you want a 4-ounce bottle, you would mix 2 fluid ounces of concentrate and 2 fluid ounces of water. Many parents find concentrate formula is easier and less messy than powder versions, but it is also more expensive.
Mixed, concentrate formula that has not been used can be stored in the refrigerator for up to 48 hours.
Ready-to-Feed Formula
No mixing, no adding water necessary. Ready-to-feed bottles are just that. They usually come in 2-, 4-, and 8-ounce containers that you can pour into baby’s favorite bottles or attach a nipple to the existing bottle and feed. This is the priciest option.
Opened ready-to-feed formula bottles can be stored in the refrigerator for up to 48 hours.
How to Make Night Feedings Easier
Let’s discuss four ways to make formula feeding your infant in the middle of the night just a bit easier. These options will save time so that you and your baby can get back to sleep faster.
Prep Bottles Ahead of Time
Whether you use powdered formula or concentrate formula, you can mix baby’s bottles ahead of time as long as you use them within a specified time frame. For powdered formula, it’s good for up to 24 hours in the refrigerator. Prepared concentrate formula will last 48 hours in the refrigerator.
Make baby’s middle-of-the-night bottles before you head to bed or even earlier in the day. That way, you won’t need to worry about properly mixing bottles in your groggy state.
You can either offer your baby the milk straight from the refrigerator or warmed up. Either way, it will save you many steps!
For a complete guide, check out our article on how to safely warm up baby’s milk.
Pre-Portion Powder and Water
If your baby does not like milk straight from the refrigerator and you don’t want to spend time warming bottles up in the middle of the night, or if you don’t want to make the trip to the kitchen to grab a prepped bottle from the fridge, you’re in luck!
You can set up a formula mixing station in your bedroom by keeping pre-portioned formula and bottles of water. All you need to do is prep a few steps before you head off to bed. First, fill baby’s bottles with the right amount of water (ie, if your baby drinks 4-ounce bottles, place 4 fluid ounces of water in each bottle). Then, pre-scoop powdered formula in a formula dispenser, like this one from Dr. Brown’s (in the previous example, each compartment would hold 2 scoops of powdered formula for a 4-ounce bottle).
When baby wakes for a night feeding, all you have to do is pour the powdered formula from one of the dispenser compartments into your pre-portioned bottle and give it a shake.
Invest in a BabyEXO Baby Formula Milk Maker Formula Dispenser
The BabyEXO Baby Formula Milk Maker Formula Dispenser is basically a Keurig coffee machine but for baby formula. It makes perfectly portioned bottles of baby formula at the right temperatures in seconds. This handy gadget is a must-have for many formula-feeding moms, but it is a pricey, one-time investment.
One thing that is great about the BabyEXO is that it will make any size bottle between 1 to 8 ounces. So if your baby takes 5-ounce bottles at each feeding, you won’t have to do any extra measuring, which is a huge convenience because most powdered formula scoops are designed for even-numbered ounce bottles.
Use Ready-to-Feed Formula
The easiest, fastest formula feeding option is to use ready-to-feed bottles. You don’t even need to transfer the milk into baby’s bottles if you don’t want to. You can simply attach a nipple and you’re good to go.
However, with the added convenience comes a cost. This is the most expensive route to take, but for some, the benefit of a few more minutes of sleep is well worth it.
How to Make Formula Bottles on the Go
When you’re going to be out of the house for the day, you can use many of the same tips above to make your life easier.
- Pre-Portion Powder and Water: This is the same as tip 2 above. Simply take baby’s bottles divided up with the right amount of water. A formula dispenser will typically hold enough formula for 3 pre-portioned bottles. If your baby only drinks warm milk, take a thermos filled with warm water that is large enough to hold baby’s bottle. After you mix baby’s formula, place the bottle in the thermos and use it as a makeshift, portable bottle warmer.
- Use Ready-to-Feed Formula: If leaving the house for the entire day is not an everyday occurrence, having ready-to-feed formula for those special or rare occasions is very convenient.
How to Not Waste Formula
No matter how you feed your little one – breastmilk, formula, solids – food waste is an inevitability. Kids are fickle, and their appetites will change day-to-day, feeding-to-feeding.
Here are two tips to decrease how much formula you throw out:
- Using a mixing pitcher: You can prep your little one’s formula for an entire day with the Dr. Brown’s Mixing Pitcher. It makes up to 32 ounces that you can store in the refrigerator and use within 24 hours. By using the pitcher, you can pour a little bit of milk into your baby’s milk at a time. If your little one finishes the bottle, top him or her off from the pitcher.
- Keep an eye on the clock: Remember, unfinished formula that your baby has touched must be thrown out at the one-hour mark. If your little one has not had a good feeding, give him or her a break. Before the hour mark is up, offer the bottle again before throwing the formula out. This is a better alternative than tossing the milk immediately after he or she rejects it, then having to mix another bottle 30 minutes later!
