Why Infant Formula Should Not Be Reheated

Infant formula needs to be prepared and stored should not be stored very carefully to help reduce the risk of any potential illnesses. Manufacturers have strict protocols in place during production but it is possible for powdered infant formula to become contaminated if it’s not looked after correctly. There are some types of bacteria that thrive in dry products and can be very dangerous to young infants because their immune systems have not fully developed yet, so it is best to err on the side of caution.

If your baby begins showing symptoms such as stomach pain or vomiting, you should take them to see a doctor straight away. Bad formula- not the best choice of words may not be the culprit – it could be an allergy, an intolerance or an infection or something else like reflux/colic etc. For more FAQ’s about common symptoms and allergies in babies, the Careline team have released a new content hub for new parents. This should be used as a source of information only, and any diagnosis should be made by a medical professional.

There are a few reasons why you should avoid reheating infant formula – we don’t recommend this. These include:

• Nutrients are lost – every time you reheat formula, it decreases in nutritional value, so you could be robbing your little one of the nutrients they need to grow.
• Bacteria breed – bacteria can breed in bottles of formula even when they’re kept in the refrigerator, so the safest thing to do is to make sure the formula you’re giving your baby is as fresh as it can be every time.

In order to avoid wasting formula as much as possible, try to focus on making the exact amount of formula that your baby will drink.- not always possible due to scoop to water ratio If they are consistently not finishing the bottle that you offer them, try making 30% less the next time. Your baby’s feeding habits may be difficult to keep track of, you could follow the suggested feeding guide on the sign of your formula tin.

Preparing Formula

Before preparing infant formula you should wash your hands thoroughly, wipe down benchtops with soap and water, make sure preparation surfaces are clean and make sure that all equipment has been properly washed. You should sterilise the equipment before every use for the first 12 months because baby formula can be prone to bacterial growth when handled incorrectly.

Prepare the formula exactly according to the manufacturer’s instructions, and make sure to check the use by date on the can.

You should try not to make more formula than is needed because you should discard excess infant formula after one hour. Preparing formula in smaller quantities on a day-by-day basis might be inconvenient, but will greatly reduce the chance of contamination.

Storing Formula

If your baby doesn’t finish the formula, it’s best to throw it away rather than save it for later. Your baby’s saliva has most likely mixed with the formula and no matter what temperature it is kept at, it has already been introduced to bacteria from your baby’s mouth.

Formula that has been prepared should not be left out of the fridge for more than 1 hour. If it has been at room temperature for more than 1 hour, it must be thrown away.

Prepared formula can be stored in the fridge for up to 24 hours although this is not recommended. Formula that has been prepared and stored in the fridge should be thrown away after this time. Opened bottles of ready-to-feed or concentrate formula can be stored in the fridge for up to 48 hours.

Heating and Reheating Formula

Infant formula should never be reheated in a microwave because microwaves heat unevenly and can create dangerous ‘hot spots’ that could burn your baby’s mouth when they drink the formula.

The temperature of formula should always be checked before you feed your baby – you can do this by putting a drop on your wrist or the top of your hand – it should feel warm, not hot. However, if you do this after reheating it in the microwave you might not realise that there is a burning hot section. 

It is not always necessary to warm your baby’s milk before feeding it to them. Some babies do prefer warm milk, but some will also be happy to drink it lukewarm or cold. It is best to prepare formula immediately before feeding when possible, but if this option is not available it is ok to warm it using one of these methods:

• Heat water in a pan on the stove. Take the pan off the heat, and then place the bottle of formula in the water for no more than 15 minutes, or until desired temperature is reached.
• Place the bottle of formula under the tap and run it under hot water for 1-2 minutes.
• Use a commercial bottle warmer

You should also avoid heating up formula more than once, because nutrients can be lost in the reheating process and bacteria can breed in the storage process. For more useful feeding guides and baby formula preparation instructions please visit themilkybox.com