December 12, 2024

How to Store Formula the Right Way

49 hours of research 7 minute read

" Proper storage of formula is essential to preserve its nutritional quality, ensure safety, and prevent contamination for your baby’s health. "

For many parents, ensuring their baby gets the right nutrition is a top priority, and formula feeding often plays a crucial role in meeting that goal. Whether you're exclusively formula feeding or supplementing breast milk, it’s essential to handle and store baby formula properly to maintain its nutritional value and keep it safe for your little one. Formula, like any other baby product, needs special care in terms of storage to avoid contamination, spoilage, and nutrient loss. Proper formula storage is more than just convenience—it's a key part of ensuring your baby’s health and well-being. When handled incorrectly, formula can become a breeding ground for bacteria or lose important nutrients, potentially putting your baby at risk. Fortunately, by following a few simple guidelines, you can ensure your baby’s formula stays fresh, safe, and ready to go whenever they’re hungry. In this comprehensive guide, we'll cover everything you need to know about storing formula the right way. From understanding how to store powdered, concentrated liquid, and ready-to-feed formulas, to learning about recommended timeframes for using prepared formula, we’ll equip you with the knowledge to keep your baby’s nutrition on track.

Importance of Proper Formula Storage

Formula milk is designed to closely mimic breast milk, offering essential nutrients for babies who are not exclusively breastfed. Because formula lacks the protective antibodies found in breast milk, it is even more susceptible to contamination and spoilage. This makes proper storage crucial for maintaining the formula’s safety and nutritional integrity.

Some of the key reasons why proper storage matters include:

Bacterial Growth: Formula provides an ideal environment for harmful bacteria like Cronobacter and Salmonella to grow if not stored correctly. These bacteria can lead to serious infections in babies, causing symptoms like vomiting, diarrhea, and in severe cases, blood infections. Storing formula in a cool, dry place and using it within recommended timeframes helps prevent bacterial growth.
Nutrient Degradation: Exposure to air, moisture, and heat can break down essential nutrients in formula, such as vitamins and minerals. This means your baby may not be getting the full nutritional value from the formula. Proper storage preserves the formula’s nutrients, ensuring your baby gets the intended benefits with every feeding.
Spoilage: Improper storage can lead to formula spoilage, even if it looks fine. Spoiled formula can make your baby sick, causing symptoms like stomach upset or vomiting. To avoid this, always check expiration dates and ensure formula is sealed and stored correctly.

Types of Formula and Their Storage Requirements

Understanding the type of baby formula you’re using will help guide how to store it. There are three primary types of baby formula, each with its own storage needs:

Powdered Formula: The most economical option, powdered formula has the longest shelf life but requires mixing with water before feeding. It is important to store this type of formula in a cool, dry place to maintain its integrity.
Concentrated Liquid Formula: This type of formula requires dilution with water. Though it is easier to use than powdered formula, it has a shorter shelf life once opened and must be stored in the refrigerator.
Ready-to-Feed Formula: As the name suggests, this is the most convenient formula option because it doesn’t require any preparation. However, because it’s pre-mixed, it’s more susceptible to spoilage and must be refrigerated once opened.

Storing Powdered Formula

Unopened Powdered Formula

Storage Location: Store unopened powdered formula in a cool, dry place, away from direct sunlight or moisture. A cupboard or pantry shelf is ideal.
Avoid Extreme Temperatures: Temperatures above 75°F (24°C) or below freezing can affect the powder’s quality.
Expiration Dates: Check the expiration date always before use. Once the formula is expired, it should be discarded as it may no longer provide the necessary nutrients for your baby.

Opened Powdered Formula

Keep It Tightly Sealed: Once you’ve opened the powdered formula, it requires special care. For canisters, always close the lid securely to protect the formula from air and moisture. If you're using a formula pack that comes in foil packaging, a rubber band or clip can help reseal the foil tightly after each use. If you transfer it to another container, ensure it’s airtight and clean.
Storage Location: Continue to store it in a cool, dry place. Never store powdered formula in the refrigerator. The fridge’s moisture can cause the powder to clump and degrade its quality.
Usage Period: Generally, opened powdered formula should be used within one month. However, it's important to check the manufacturer’s specific guidelines, as some formulas may need to be used within 21 days, while others can last up to 28 days. After the recommended period, discard any remaining formula to ensure your baby is consuming fresh, nutritious formula.

Is It Safe to Store Powdered Formula in the Refrigerator?

While it may seem like a good idea to keep it cool, the humidity inside the fridge can actually cause more harm than good. When exposed to moisture, powdered formula can start to clump, making it difficult to scoop and mix properly. Worse, this added moisture can create a breeding ground for bacteria, potentially compromising the safety of the formula. Additionally, storing formula in the fridge may lead to the degradation of important nutrients, reducing its overall effectiveness in providing essential nutrition to your baby.

To keep your powdered formula safe and fresh, always store it in a cool, dry place at room temperature. Opt for areas like pantries, cupboards, or shelves that are away from direct sunlight, stoves, or any heat sources.

Storing Concentrated Liquid Formula

Unopened Concentrated Formula

Room Temperature Storage: Unopened liquid concentrate formula can be stored at room temperature. Keep it in a cool, dry place away from heat sources and direct sunlight.
Check Expiration Dates: Like powdered formula, it’s important to regularly check the expiration dates of unopened concentrated formula to ensure you’re using it while it’s still fresh.

Opened Concentrated Formula

Refrigeration Required: Once the can or bottle of liquid concentrate has been opened, it must be stored in the refrigerator at a temperature between 35°F and 40°F (2°C to 4°C). This helps slow down bacterial growth and keeps the formula safe for your baby.
Use Quickly: Be sure to use the opened formula within 48 hours to prevent it from spoiling. After this time, the quality of the formula degrades, and it’s no longer safe for your baby to consume.
Keep It Tightly Sealed: Always ensure the container is sealed tightly after each use to prevent exposure to air, moisture, and bacteria. Whether you're using a can or bottle, make sure the cap or lid is securely fastened.

Storing Ready-to-Feed Formula

Unopened Ready-to-Feed Formula

Room Temperature Storage: Unopened ready-to-feed formula can be stored at room temperature, just like concentrated liquid formula. Ensure it’s kept in a cool, dry place away from direct sunlight or heat sources such as stoves or radiators.
Check Expiration Dates: Always monitor the expiration date on the packaging. Using expired formula can compromise its nutritional value and safety. Make it a habit to check the date regularly, ensuring your baby is always getting fresh formula.

Opened Ready-to-Feed Formula

Refrigeration: After opening, the formula must be stored in the refrigerator at a temperature of 4°C (39°F) or lower. Keeping it cold helps slow bacterial growth and preserves the quality of the formula.
Timeframe for Use: Use any remaining formula within 48 hours. After this period, the formula is no longer safe to consume and should be discarded. It's important to mark the date and time when the container was opened to track when it needs to be thrown out.
Tightly Seal the Container: After each use, ensure the container is tightly sealed to prevent air and bacteria from contaminating the formula. If the original seal doesn’t close securely, consider transferring the formula to an airtight container.

Storing Prepared Formula

Once you’ve prepared the formula, whether it’s from powdered, concentrated, or ready-to-feed formula, it must be stored correctly to ensure your baby’s safety. The timeframe for using the prepared formula depends on how it is stored:

Using Prepared Formula Immediately: When formula is kept at room temperature, it must be used within 2 hours. After this time, bacteria can begin to grow, making the formula unsafe for your baby. If more than two hours have passed, it's best to discard the formula to avoid potential health risks.

After Baby Starts Drinking: Once your baby has begun drinking from the bottle, the formula must be consumed within 1 hour. Bacteria from your baby’s mouth can contaminate the formula, making it unsafe to store for future feedings. Discard any leftover formula after this one-hour window to keep your baby safe.

Storing Prepared Formula in the Refrigerator: If you’re not feeding your baby right away, store the prepared formula in the refrigerator at 4°C (39°F) or lower. It should be consumed within 24 hours to ensure its freshness and safety. Be sure to label the bottle with the time of preparation to track how long it's been stored.

Why Freezing Formula is Not Recommended

Freezing formula, especially after it’s been prepared, is not recommended due to several reasons. Freezing can alter the texture of the formula, causing it to become grainy or clumpy when thawed, making it less palatable for your baby. Additionally, the freezing and thawing process can lead to the separation of ingredients, making it harder to mix and reducing its nutritional value. Freezing may also degrade important nutrients, such as vitamins and minerals, which are essential for your baby’s growth. Overall, freezing can compromise both the quality and effectiveness of the formula, making it safer to prepare fresh or refrigerate for short-term use instead.

Additional Tips for Maintaining Formula Quality

Maintaining the quality and safety of baby formula is essential, and following these additional tips can help ensure that your baby’s formula remains fresh and safe.

Practice Good Hygiene: Always make sure to wash your hands thoroughly before preparing or handling formula. Cleanliness extends beyond just your hands—ensure that all feeding equipment, such as bottles, nipples, and formula scoops, are sanitized before each use. Proper sanitation helps minimize the risk of contamination and keeps the formula safe for your baby.
Store Formula Promptly: If you’re not planning to feed your baby immediately after preparing the formula, refrigerate it as soon as possible. Never leave prepared formula out for extended periods, as this can lead to spoilage and potential health risks.
Follow Manufacturer’s Storage Guidelines: Each formula brand may have slightly different recommendations for storage, so it’s important to always check the manufacturer’s instructions on the label. These guidelines ensure that the formula retains its nutritional quality and remains safe for your baby.
Avoid Storing Prepared Formula at Room Temperature for Extended Periods: Formula should not be left at room temperature for more than two hours. Always discard formula that has been sitting out for longer than two hours to prevent any potential harm.
Rotate Your Formula Stock: When purchasing new formula, make it a habit to place the newly bought containers behind older ones. This way, you’ll always use the oldest formula first and avoid letting any of your stock reach its expiration date.

Storing Breast Milk

If you’re expressing breast milk and wondering about the best ways to store it, we’ve also got you covered. It’s important to understand how to use breast milk storage bags and also figure out how many milk storage bags you need for safe and effective storage.

How to Use Breast Milk Storage Bags

Breast milk storage bags are specifically designed for freezing and storing expressed milk. They’re pre-sterilized, easy to label, and great for keeping track of how much milk you’ve stored and when it was expressed. Here’s a step-by-step guide for using them:

Label Before Filling: Write the date and time of expression on the bag before you fill it.
Fill to the Correct Amount: While most breast milk storage bags can hold up to 6 ounces, it’s best to store smaller portions—around 2 to 4 ounces. Once breast milk is thawed, it cannot be refrozen, so having smaller portions ensures you only thaw what you need.
Seal Tightly: After filling the bag, remove as much air as possible before sealing it. This reduces the risk of freezer burn and keeps your milk fresher for longer.
Lay Flat to Freeze: When you first place the filled bags in the freezer, lay them flat. This helps them freeze faster and saves space. Once they’re fully frozen, you can stack or stand them up to maximize freezer space.

How Many Milk Storage Bags Do I Need?

The number you’ll need depends on how often you pump and how much milk you plan to store. On average, most moms will need between 60 and 100 storage bags per month, depending on their pumping routine. For instance, if you pump twice a day and store around 4 ounces each time, that totals about 240 ounces a month. If each bag holds 4 ounces, you’d need about 60 bags for that month.

Proper Storage for Baby Formula

Storing baby formula the right way is essential for preserving its safety, nutritional value, and quality. Whether you’re using powdered, liquid concentrate, or ready-to-feed formula, always adhere to the manufacturer’s storage guidelines, practice good hygiene, and discard any formula that has been left out for too long. Understanding proper storage can help ensure your baby gets the best nutrition possible without the risks of contamination or spoilage.

When in doubt, don’t hesitate to consult your pediatrician for advice on baby formula handling and storage. By following these tips, you can feel confident that you’re providing safe, nutritious formula for your growing baby.