how long before milk goes off?

[hobnob57]

Dealing with a bottle refuser at the moment so need to keep trying her with milk regularly - both EBM and formula. how long can I leave it before needing to make up a fresh bottle?

[lulumama]

formula should be drunk within an hour of being made up, although i have to say with DD, it could easily take her 90 minutes, i did get less stringent with the one hour rule as she got older.....

[Hillls]

what lulu said

[jellysmummy]

formula will last up to 24 hours once made up if you keep putting it back in the fridge PROVIDING you have not first warmed it. If you have warmed the bottle you need to bin it after an hour. My dd2 was horrendous moving from breast to bottle and I spent along time discussing this very issue with SMA people. we tried every bottle and teat known to man and finally settled with the Baby B free range from Dr Brown - very soft teats nad of course most expensive, at the time I didn't care. Good luck!

[liquidclocks]

According to the breast feeding network EBM is OK at room temp for 6 hours if it's fresh. If refrigerated then only an hour.

Formula the 'rule' is and hour and try not to store it in the fridge but make it fresh each time - easy if you just refrigerate the boiled water and then add the powder when you need it.

BUT - when DS2 was 7 weeks old and DH gave him the end of a 'dead' bottle of formula at 3am that I'd made up at 11pm, instead of the bottle of EBM that I'd left out - I flew of the handle and ended up on the phone to NHS direct and the lovely nurse told me in a very lovely way to stop being such a 'concerned' () mother! So draw your own conclusion but basically if it's been out for an hour and a bit don't worry too much.

hth

[hobnob57]

Thanks for the advice. I assume EBM will last less than 6 hours if it's been 'snacked' from? I just want to clear things up before granny takes over...

[Cazee]

EBM lasts LOADS longer than formula. LLL guidelines
Human milk can be stored
at room temperature (66-72°F, 19-22°C) for up to 10 hours
in a refrigerator (32-39°F, 0-4°C) for up to 8 days
in a freezer compartment inside a refrigerator (variable temperature due to the door opening frequently) for up to 2 weeks
in a freezer compartment with a separate door (variable temperature due to the door opening frequently) for up to 3 to 4 months.
in a separate deep freeze (0°F, -19°C) for up to 6 months or longer.
I have read in the past (but can't seem to find link at the moment) that if you heat it you can still use it for the next feed. Will keep looking.

[hobnob57]

Thanks for that Cazee...

I've finally found a minute to do some research myself... Undrunk EBM can be refigerated for the next feed according to DrSears

It's good to know, otherwise so much can be wasted!

Cheers everyone.