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Original poster

Just gave my newborn old formula - help!

30 replies

newmum234 · 04/06/2020 13:27

I gave my baby (6 weeks old) 120ml of formula earlier, then burped him and gave him a cuddle. After a while he started crying, bobbing his head and looking like he wanted more food, so I picked up the bottle again and fed him the remaining 30ml. After checking my phone I suddenly realised it was about 1hr 45mins since I made up the bottle - and formula is only meant to be left out for 1 hr! Really worried now that I could have made him ill - I was just so tired and totally lost track of time Sad What can I do?

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BernardsarenotalwaysSaints · 04/06/2020 13:31

Assuming the bottle was well washed & sterilised prior to use, that you made up the formula as per the instructions & your house isn't boiling hot it should be fine. Even at 6 weeks a baby would move their head away & make it obvious they didn't want the milk if it had gone iffy.

Teacaketotty · 04/06/2020 13:31

I don’t know a mum who hasn’t done this, I use the remainder of my babies morning milk to make her porridge every day and she’s never been ill.

I think it’s fine for 2 hours but I really wouldn’t worry about a one off.

Muffinandcake123 · 04/06/2020 13:32

It's 2 hours at room temperature!!

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Selfsettling3 · 04/06/2020 13:34

It’s 2 hours from making or an hour from starting the bottle. It’s which ever is soonest. It will probably be fine but there is nothing you can do about it now.

GiveMeAllTheGin8 · 04/06/2020 13:38

It’s two hours!

Original poster
newmum234 · 04/06/2020 13:44

I’m pretty sure it’s one hour? That’s what I was told in hospital...

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newmum234 · 04/06/2020 13:46

Is DS likely to get sick? I’m kicking myself for being so careless Sad

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Eileithyiaa · 04/06/2020 13:48

He will be fine OP Smile

GrumpyHoonMain · 04/06/2020 13:50

The advice is 1 hour now for formula at room temp - Sil had it confirmed a little while ago by the pediatrician with DN. Don’t worry if it’s a one off but to be on the safe side just chuck anything once he’s finished with it if it keeps you organised.

niki26 · 04/06/2020 13:52

When my DD was a few weeks old I was absolutely shattered and asked my (refreshed!) husband to make her a bottle.

I had started bottle feeding her when he walked in with the new bottle.... I held up the one I was using and said 'when is this from then?' Neither of us had a clue. Realistically she'd just had a minimal amount and it wouldn't have been hours old but still made me feel shit.

She was completely fine. I didn't make that mistake again though.....

Muffinandcake123 · 04/06/2020 13:57

I have always used it for 2 hours. Nothing happened.

peachgreen · 04/06/2020 14:00

I was always religious about getting rid of formula and then discovered that nobody else I knew was and many kept bottles on the go for several hours with absolutely no ill effects. He'll be totally fine OP, don't worry.

Letsallscreamatthesistene · 04/06/2020 14:05

Its 1hr, but you'll be fine. Ive done this more than once and its never been an issue. On one occasion my son refused to drink it so it must have been gross.

sqirrelfriends · 04/06/2020 14:24

He will be fine! My mum used to make all my brothers bottles in the morning and gave them to him throughout the day, he was fine but obviously I wouldn't recommend it.

beachmist · 04/06/2020 14:31

Your baby will be fine, don't worry Smilex

Original poster
newmum234 · 04/06/2020 14:43

I just checked the Aptamil bottle and it actually says “for hygiene reasons, discard unfinished milk in the feeding bottle as soon as possible, and always within two hours.” So it sounds like it IS 2 hours?! I’m confused now as the hospital told me 1!

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Letsallscreamatthesistene · 04/06/2020 14:45

I really wouldnt give it too much headspace OP

amylou8 · 04/06/2020 14:57

In the old days when mine were tiny I would take a made up bottle to bed, and feed it a room temperature for the night feed several hours later. They are all adults now and still alive! Guidance has changed, and its always best to follow it, but they not to worry, you won't have done any harm.

princesshollysmagicalwand · 04/06/2020 15:02

Its two hours at room temperature.

My child had silent reflux and would only take an oz or two at a time. Every bottle I made her lasted about two hours I expect.

Chill OP it's fine.

ArriettyJones · 04/06/2020 15:08

He will be fine. Smile

Purplequalitystreet · 04/06/2020 15:08

Trust me he'll be fine. I once accidentally gave DS the remnants of an old bottle during the night instead of the fresh one. It had been there for 3 or 4 hours. I felt so guilty but he was fine

Pinkblueberry · 04/06/2020 15:35

I thought it was 2. If I knew I was going to feed DS within 2 hours of going out somewhere I would make up a bottle to take with. There’s nothing magical about 2 hours on the dot though - most likely it would be fine for a bit longer. As pp said I wouldn’t worry.

Sleepyquest · 04/06/2020 15:37

I have been doing 2 hours since mine was tiny as that's what the hospital told me so don't worry (I only gave birth 6 months ago so not like it's old advice)

twinmum2017 · 04/06/2020 15:39

My twins are 3 and it was 100% 2 hours when they were babies.
Maybe they've changed it to one hour now as I know things change, but my girls definitely had bottles that were out for more than an hour and they were completely fine. Please don't worry.

Babyboomtastic · 04/06/2020 15:44

The advice caries between 1 and 2hrs. We generally did 1hr max for the first month or so, and then 2hrs as they got a little older and more robust.

It's not going to hurt them.
Don't forget that even the 2hr guideline is precautionary. Most milk (unless it's very warm) will be fine for 3hrs, 4hrs without making a baby ill, but the risk obviously increases over time.