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.
Shelf life of powdered infant formula
The shelf life of powdered infant formula in intact original packaging is usually 1.5 years. Be sure to check that it has not expired when you buy baby food. Stores, of course, are obliged to ensure that expired products are not on the shelves, but your child will have to eat this mixture, so always control this moment.
The expiration date is not set arbitrarily. The manufacturer installs it after careful testing and can guarantee that if properly stored throughout the entire stated period, the infant formula will be safe and retain all its properties. That is, if you see that there are three days left before the expiration date, and your baby can finish a pack of formula in five, then it is better to look for a fresher product. But if there are several weeks before the specified date, and even more so 2-3 months, then rest assured that the taste, smell and consistency of this mixture will be exactly the same as the one that just came off the assembly line.
After the expiration date, the mixture should be thrown away. Of course, it will not deteriorate immediately as soon as the last seconds of the day are over, but you can only find out exactly when this will happen experimentally. Considering that the health of the child is at stake, conducting such experiments is unacceptable.
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.
Dry shelf life
Dry mass without breaking the packaging is designed for a long storage period. Opened packaging reduces the period of use to 2-3 weeks, after which it becomes unsuitable for feeding. Formula for newborns has a shorter shelf life due to the rapid growth of bacteria. For example, the “Nan” mixture can be stored for up to a month, and the shelf life of the “Malyutka” and “Malysh” mixtures is 3 weeks.
In sealed packaging
When the jar of powder is closed, there is no question of the period of storage of dry mass for feeding. Manufacturing companies always write the expiration date on the packaging and the conditions for further storage. For example, the duration of use of the “Baby” food is 1.5 years. The manufacturer guarantees the quality and safety of using the product only if all specified requirements are met.
On a note! When purchasing, you must choose a package or box without damage, a jar without rust.
After opening
Opened mixture is suitable for consumption for an average of 3 weeks. After this period, you cannot feed the baby, even if there is a lot left. After opening the vacuum packaging, the substances begin to interact with air. As a result, their properties change. The most common baby food companies try to indicate the permissible storage time on the labels. The shelf life of the infant formula "Nutrilon" is no longer than 3-4 weeks, "Similac" - 21 days, "Nestozhen" - about 25-30 days. If the color of the mass has changed, there is an unpleasant odor, or it is no longer crumbly but sticky, then the powdered product is spoiled.
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.
Storage conditions
Powdered infant formula is stored in a cool place out of direct sunlight until the indicated expiration date. It is better not to put an open jar in the refrigerator. Due to high humidity, the powder will become wet, roll up and spoil faster. Baby food is usually stored at temperatures up to +25 °C with air humidity not exceeding 75%. After opening the can, the mixture should be kept in a dry, dark place away from the radiator or other heating devices. The bottom shelf of a closed cabinet in the kitchen is ideal. But it should not be placed next to flour and cereals, so as not to infect the contents of the package with insects.
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.
How to store ready-made (diluted) baby formula
The most precise instructions on this point can be summed up in one word: no way. To ensure that the formula is safe for the baby, it must be prepared immediately before feeding.
But there are situations when it is difficult or impossible to fulfill this requirement. For example, while you were diluting the formula, the baby dozed off, or he only managed half the portion and became capricious, or you urgently need to go out, and the grandmother, who stayed with the child, is afraid of making a mistake and asks you to leave her the ready-made food.
Recommendations for storing the diluted mixture
- If there is a chance that the child will eat the prepared portion within an hour, you can leave it at room temperature, but be sure to throw it away after this time. This product will no longer be suitable for feeding a baby.
- The diluted mixture can theoretically be stored in the refrigerator for up to 3-4 hours. This period can be found out more accurately from the information on the packaging, as it may differ for different types of mixture. But such cases should be the exception, not regular practice. However, both in taste and consistency, food that has already been in the refrigerator will be inferior to freshly prepared food. In addition, when putting the finished mixture in the refrigerator, you need to make sure that there are no products with a strong smell, raw meat or fish, unwashed vegetables and fruits nearby on the shelf.
- You can reheat the prepared mixture only once. If you do not have a special bottle warmer, place it in a container of hot water, remove it periodically and shake it so that the contents warm up evenly. The prepared mixture cannot be heated in the microwave.
- If you need to take the prepared formula for a walk or leave it for a relative looking after the baby who does not know how to mix baby food, you can get out of the situation quite simply. Measure out the required amount of dry mixture and pour it into a sterile bottle. Pour the required amount of boiled water required to raise the temperature into a thermos. Before feeding, pour water from a thermos into a bottle and mix.
So, when buying baby formula, you should remember:
- The mixture should be stored in a dry place at room temperature, away from other products and household chemicals.
- If storage conditions are met, baby formula can be stored for one and a half years in unopened packaging. Throughout this period, the mixture retains its properties.
- The formula should be diluted immediately before feeding. In exceptional cases, you can store the diluted mixture at room temperature for about an hour and in the refrigerator for 3-4 hours.
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About the process of preparing the mixture
For inexperienced mothers, preparing formula for feeding babies is a rather complicated process. Therefore, they should understand in advance how it is prepared.
The procedure for preparing liquid begins with preparing water. First, you need to thoroughly boil it on a gas stove. In this case, water should not be kept on fire for more than half an hour. When the liquid boils, remove it from the stove and leave to cool to 35-40 degrees. The cooled liquid is poured into a baby bottle, after which an adapted nutritional admixture is poured into it. Then the container is tightly closed with a lid so that air does not penetrate into it.
To thoroughly mix the mixture in the water, carefully screw the lid on the baby bottle and shake it several times.
If, after shaking, the powder does not dissolve in the water and collects in lumps at the bottom, you will have to shake the bottle 2-3 more times. Properly prepared nutrient liquid should have a uniform consistency.
Before using prepared food, check its temperature. It should be about 35 degrees. To check, it is recommended to apply 1-2 drops of liquid to the wrist, elbow or other sensitive area. A person should not feel a burning sensation after the liquid gets on the skin.
Storage rules
Every young mother should know the shelf life of prepared baby food for feeding her baby, since spoiled food can harm the baby’s health. Having understood the nuances of storing nutrient liquid in the room, you will be able to preserve it longer than usual.
How to store diluted baby formula
First, you need to figure out how to store baby powder after diluting it in water. Some mothers prefer to leave the food directly in the bottle and not pour it anywhere.
However, when using such a container for storage, you will have to sterilize it in advance so that the mixture does not spoil quickly at room temperatures.
Also, to preserve ready-made baby food, use a regular thermos for warm drinks. In such a container it is much easier to keep the pulp warm.
The best option for long-term storage of baby formula is a special bottle bag. The main advantages of such bags include:
- reliability;
- compactness;
- temperature adjustment.
How to store baby formula in summer
The hardest time to keep food prepared for babies is on hot summer days. Due to the high temperature, such liquids deteriorate faster and therefore it is not recommended to leave them for a long time in rooms with temperatures above 20 degrees. Experienced mothers advise storing them in refrigerators, on one of the shelves. Of course, containers with gruel can also stand on the refrigerator doors. However, when opening the doors, a serious temperature difference appears, due to which the liquid will quickly deteriorate.
How to keep baby formula warm
Some girls try to keep liquid for a newborn warm. In this case, its shelf life should not exceed three hours, since it begins to deteriorate after 3-4 hours. To maintain the temperature of the milk mixture, wrap the container with the liquid in parchment paper or a towel.
A thermos or a special heat-resistant bag for storing baby bottles will also help maintain the required temperature of the liquid.
With their help, you can keep food warm not only at home, but also on the road.
Container for storing diluted mixture
It is necessary to keep the finished mixture only in a bottle that has been previously sterilized; you can also pour boiling water over it.
We recommend:
Preparing zucchini for the winter in jars for long-term storage
Using other containers or pouring from one container to another is strictly prohibited - pathogenic microflora may enter. Be sure to cover the nipple with a cap to prevent dust and bacteria from getting into the bottle.
Additional Information! It is not recommended to heat the prepared mixture in a microwave oven. The appliance may heat baby food unevenly. If the temperature rises beyond what is necessary, protein may form and some beneficial substances will lose their properties. The recommended method for warming a bottle of formula is a water bath.
