To reheat baby milk?

[29herzie]

Name changed for this as I will probably get roasted alive...

for background...

DC2 (now 5 months) is a fussy feeder. I tried to breastfeed for the first 2 months or so (for background DC1 was EBF for 9 months) but he had real issues with the latch. We introduced bottles of EBM to try and get milk into him but I couldn't express enough to meet all his needs. In a month he slipped from above the 75% percentile to just on the 9th and while ranitidine for silent reflux helped a bit he still needed more. So we introduced a formula top up. We also suspected CMPA so I cut out all dairy which made a big difference... But 2 bottles of aptimil we were back to square one. Fortunately I have a lovely GP who has prescribed Neocate which works fine... Except he will only take it when mixed with EBM and at the perfect temperature...

So to my AIBU. He mostly drinks around 4 fl oz in a feed. But sometimes up to 6 and other times only 1-2. We have recorded his usual pattern and make up bottles accordingly but it doesn't always work. I have got completely fed up with throwing away oz and oz of my precious EBM and have now started putting his left overs in the fridge and reheating them if he decides he wants another snack later. I only keep it for a couple of hours anyway.

So far he seems fine on it but I am feeling guilty.

[29herzie]

Doh... Forgot to name change! Oh well here goes...

[ScarlettDarling]

It's really dangerous. Bacteria breeds rapidly in milk. You're risking your baby getting seriously poorly.

[TeaBelle]

It could cause him to become seriously unwell with a tummy bug. He could be absolutely fine. As the parent only um you can decide what level of risk is acceptable in this situation.

I am not at all pfb with dd and never have been but I wouldn't reheat any milk (or use a perfect prep but that's a different germ ridden thread)

[Xmasbaby11]

Sorry i wouldn't reheat milk. It's annoying there's a lot of waste but that's how it is ...first you throw away warmed milk they haven't drunk, then you throw away all the lovely food you've cooked. It goes on for years, with mine anyway! The waste is unavoidable unless your lo is predictable.

[NeedACleverNN]

If he hadn't drunk it I would say yes re heat but because it's been into contact with his mouth I would avoid it

[Brummiegirl15]

You absolutely cannot reheat. Breeding ground for bacteria

However you can keep ebm at room temp for 4 hrs. Any chance you can use it twice in 4 hrs?

[29herzie]

Thanks everyone. That's pretty clear. I'll just go back to binning it. I guess I just thought that now he is rolling round the floor chewing on everything I could relax it a bit. At least I feel a bit better about wasting the (outrageously expensive) Neocate now.

xmas yes I am with you on the fussy toddler stage too.

brummie the problem is when it's already been mixed with the formula.

[Needmorechocolate]

Can you just prep 2oz at a time then top up if needed to avoid throwing away?

[29herzie]

needmore we have tried this but he gets fed up if you break the feed and by the time a new bottle is prepared he refuses it... Then wants more and hour later. The fusspot!

[RedRoots]

It's very very risky and foolish to reheat milk.
Prioritise your baby's health and stop worrying about wasting milk. Imagine how you'd feel if he became seriously ill with gastroenteritis!

Much as I hate wasting breastmilk, I regularly throw it away if he leaves some in bottle or bottle has been at room temp for too long.

You can always express more milk and buy more formula. Your baby's health is too precious to risk for the sake of saving a bit of time and money.