Storing formula powder in pots

[StanleyR38]

So the other day nursery handed me back the tub of formula I’d given them as it had been open 4 weeks and so they could not use it. Totally escaped me that open formula had a use by - cue that tub as well as the tub I had, and the one left at grandmas thrown out.

Anyway have decided to measure out the formula for nursery/grandmas from one central tub of formula into those formula pots - again these totally escaped me - to cut down on waste.

How long can I store the powder in the pots? Some days at grandmas she’ll only have one of her usual two bottles, so can I save the powder in the pot for the next day? Read somewhere that the pots aren’t for long term storage, but what’s that?!

I'm not sure if there's a hard and fast rule on this but I reckon 2 days would be fine.

I agree, 2 days will be fine. I don’t think that would class as long term and it’s still in a sealed container.

Great thanks! Still baffles me how it’s ok for 4 weeks In the tub that’s opened daily?! Anyway hopefully only another 3 months of this mind boggling subject, then can wean off.

Honestly, I couldn’t get worked up about this. I’d use the tub past 4 weeks and I wouldn’t be stressed about powder in little pots either. Very likely it’s just an arbitrary warning for liability reasons. It’s not like powder at 28 days is safe and it’s not at 32 days. It’s a shelf stable product. Likely over time the nutrients degrade after many weeks, but as you should be sterilising the powder (assuming it’s being made properly and none of these shortcut, cooled water ways), I wouldn’t have concerns about its safety.

If it was me, I’d just decant out enough into a big formula tub for the month and let them get on it it. You can use whatever isn’t needed at nursery at home.

Yep, this.