Honest answers - milk fridge life (sma)

[Ama28]

I have read a lot of stuff that pre-made up formula will keep for 12 hours.

Has anybody ever kept it longer - say 24? Did you make your kid sick - would you never do it again or recommoend it, or did you not notice anything, but just would try and avoid it.

Reason being, i have overlapped and made a few too many :D

If the consensus from people that have done it themselves is to not keep then ill lob them, but if you have done it and didnt notice anything, then ill keep them - and as i said - please only people that have actually done this to answer.

Thanks!

[nannyl]

in the official guidelines about making formular on the last page (after telling you to make fresh with 70C + water for rest of leaflet) it says so long as made with 70C+ water, and chilled quickly, it can be kept safely in back of fridge for up to 24 hours.

Personally i wouldnt go more than 24 hours, but if they say 24 hours, then id guess 24 hours is ok.

11 years ago (when guidelines were different) I used to make all the bottles for the whole day up at once (I used boiling water, that had cooled for 5mins max, left on side for an hour (so not put boiling hot into fridge) then they were used throughout the day, so 1 bottle would probably be in fridge for 21 hours. 10am - 7am the following day...

did it every day.... baby was fine.

All the other babies mums, seemed to do the same, (as following same current guidelines) and i dont remember any of them getting ill etc.

[Ama28]

My SIL used to make them and just keep them on the table, and the bedside table where she knew she'd need them- never kept them in the fridge, and all 2 of her children are alive and kicking.

I make a days up in advance either the morning or night before, boil kettle, wait 20, add powder, shake, stick at back of fridge.

I am sure it would be ok - but all this mass panic over sterlise this, dont feed them that - i think has gotten in my brain. Im sure it will be ok.... i hope! Eeeep - thats just what 'they' want me to think!

[ClaimedByMe]

In the good old days, 8 and 6 years ago, i made them up as per the guidelines making up bottles and keeping them in the fridge for 24 hours and my babies were never ill!

Im not sure why the guidelines changed but im sure there is good reason!

[Ama28]

Im sure too - it keeps someone in a job!

[MoonFaceMamaaaaargh]

The guidelines changed because babies died.

Iirc they were mostly premies but all ff babies are at much higher risk of non fatal illness due to bacteria in formula milk.

There have been lots of threads re this in the past.

Sorry, know this is going off topic slightly but wanted to respond to the last twos posts.

[wigglesrock]

I have ffed 3 dds, youngest 6 months old, also use SMA. With dd1 (now 6) I used to make the bottles up and keep for 24 hours. Now I do 2-3 at a time, usually keep for no longer than 6-7 hours in fridge. But in reference to your OP, yes I've done it in the past, never noticed any ill effects.

[nannyl]

The new guidelines stress the importance of adding non sterile powder to water hot enough to kill the bugs. (70C +)

so long as this is done, then the current official guidelines officially say you can keep the formular at the back of the fridge for 24 hours.

A few years ago, many people boiled the water and kept the water cool, or at room temp etc and added the powder to cooler water.... hence if bacteria were present in powder they would remain; by adding powder to hot enough water it should be ok,

[lilham]

Remember most babies won't die if you don't make it as per the guidelines. There are lots of mums who make formula with cold water. But the guideline is there, like others pointed out, because some baby got very sick from it. Do you want to risk this to your DC? It's like food poisoning. A lot don't get sick from eating chicken sarnies that's been left on the bench for hours. Or mixing raw meat with salads on the same chopping board.

That being said, if you look on the NHS guideline, you can store the formula in the fridge for 24 hours. Just don't leave it out sitting in room temperature.

[MoonFaceMamaaaaargh]

iirc the guidelines say to use as soon as possible. Ideally making each feed as needed. Keeping for 24hrs is the least preferable acceptable option.

Water at 70 Deg will not kill all bacteria present in the powder. Some will remain. The longer the milk sits before being used the longer they have to multiply. Being in a fridge slows this down but does not stop it.