baby - month 1 / feeding baby / storing infant formula

Storing Infant Formula

While preparing and filling bottles in advance may seem like a good idea, it is not recommended. If you are looking for ways to save time, bottles can be sterilized and filled with the appropriate amount of sterilized water ahead of time to decrease the preparation process during feeding time.

Step-by-Step

  • Wash your hands thoroughly before handling clean bottles and nipples

  • Sterilize bottles, nipples, rings and all preparation utensils by placing in a pot with boiling water

  • Ready-to-feed formula can be poured directly into a sterilized bottle and consumed immediately

  • For preparation of concentrated or powdered formula, boil enough water to prepare formula for 5 minutes in a separate pot

  • Prepared bottles of water should be refrigerated immediately and used within 48 hours

  • When it is time for a feeding, simply add the appropriate amount of concentrated or powdered formula to the prepared bottle

  • Discard any formula remaining in the bottle after a feeding

  • Cover and store partly used cans of ready-to-feed formula in the refrigerator for no more than 48 hours

  • Cover and store any remaining concentrated formula in the refrigerator for no more than 48 hours

  • Once open, powdered formula will stay fresh up to one month and does not require refrigeration

Important Notes

  • If you choose to measure out the appropriate amount of water ahead of time, do not add the formula until feeding time.

  • Check the expiration date prior to using any formula and throw out any cans that have expired.

  • Never leave any prepared or opened liquid formula at room temperature for more than 1 hour.

For more information on this topic, check our Q&A Section. If you don't find the information you're looking for, please feel free to Ask a Dietitian.

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» breast-feeding basics

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