Updated on December 02, 2020 The first thing you should do is to ensure that you have concentrated infant formula. This is usually sold in cans and is a liquid. You may store it in the original container or decant it into another airtight storage container to preserve freshness. Improperly prepared formula could cause malnutrition and illness in infants, making the preparation stage a very important component of feeding your baby. It can be easy to misread or assume that all formulas are alike, this is why it is good to read the instructions with every new can to ensure that you are mixing the formula and water in the right amounts for a proper nutritional experience for your baby. 1 What Type of Infant Formula Do You Have? Image Source/Getty Images Before you prepare your baby's infant formula, you need to ensure a few things to safely prepare it: That it is infant formula and not a toddler version. The nutrients are different. You need to know which type of formula you have: Ready-to-feed Concentrated Powdered That you have all of the supplies you will need.
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If going away from home, take the prepared bottle out of the refrigerator and place in a cooler bag with ice packs. Re-warm and use the formula within 2 hours. Throw away any formula that is left at room temperature within 2 hours.
Using less than the recommended amount of formula means baby will not receive adequate calories and nutrients for growth and development. There's no reason to add more formula to the mix or to use less water unless your pediatrician advises it. Additional formula won't make your child any smarter, stronger, or taller, but it can endanger his health. Excess formula can burden a child's kidneys and cause other serious disorders, including dehydration. Never add solids such as infant cereal or any other substance, including medication and any form of sugar, to an infant's bottle for any reason. Healthy Foods, Healthy Kids: A Complete Guide to Nutrition for Children From Birth to 6-Year-Olds Guide to healthy decisions for feeding your baby from birth to six years of age.
Water Supply Cover and boil tap or bottled water for at least five minutes to reduce the chance of bacterial contamination that could make baby sick. Cool the water for at least fifteen minutes to make it easier and safer to mix with formula. Make sure to keep a lid on the water so that it remains sterile. There are a couple of things to think about when weighing your options for the water used to make your child's formula. First and foremost, lead. Infants and children who consume lead risk long-term growth problems and learning disabilities, as this toxic metal wreaks havoc on brain development. Your home, apartment, or condominium may have lead pipes, particularly if it was constructed before 1986. Even newer dwellings using copper pipes to transport water are not completely safe, since the pipes could be connected with lead solder. Lead leaches into tap water and can make its way into infant formula. Fluoride is a mineral that your water may lack. Most likely, the water coming into your home contains added fluoride, which is critical for strong teeth and bones.
Before feeding your baby, check that the water is not too hot by shaking a few drops on the inside of your wrist. Storing infant formula and expressed breast milk Once formula has been prepared and mixed, it must be consumed or stored in the refrigerator within one hour to prevent the growth of bacteria. Discard prepared formula that has been at room temperature for more than one hour. Formula that has not been given to an infant can be stored in the refrigerator for up to 24 hours. An open container of ready-to-feed concentrated formula or formula prepared from concentrated formula should be covered and refrigerated. Discard unused formula after 48 hours. When storing expressed breast milk, be sure to label it with the date and time it was expressed. Use sealed and chilled breast milk within 24 hours if possible, and discard breast milk that has been refrigerated more than 72 hours. Milk can be kept in a freezer attached to a refrigerator for one month and for three to six months if kept in a zero-degree deep freezer.
Young children, especially infants, are vulnerable to foodborne illness. Babies can have difficulties fighting off infections because their immune systems are not yet fully developed. Health Canada recommends breastfeeding your baby. Human milk is the best food for your baby. When a baby is not breastfed, liquid infant formula and powdered infant formula are acceptable alternatives. Health Canada recommends that infants who are premature, have a low birth weight, or weakened immune systems, drink commercially produced sterile liquid infant formula, if they're not being breastfed. There are two types of liquid infant formula: ready-to-feed liquid concentrates. Ready-to-feed liquid infant formula is heat‑treated by the manufacturer to produce a formula that is sterile. Liquid concentrate requires water in order to dilute it. You should use boiled water cooled to between room and body temperature to dilute the concentrated formula. For caregivers and parents that may not have access to liquid infant formula, or when a suitable liquid infant formula is not available, powdered infant formula can be used if it's prepared properly.
Clean the lid of any dust. How to prepare powdered baby formula Preparing powdered formula is simple, but it's still important to carefully follow the directions on the label — your baby's health depends on it. With all the mixing, storing, warming, and re-using do's and don'ts, there's a lot to consider, remember, and monitor. We get it. And we're here to help. Of course, if you have questions, always consult your baby's doctor about the appropriate formula for your baby, and its proper preparation. A reminder: Powdered infant formula is not sterile, so it should not be fed to premature infants or infants with immune problems unless directed and supervised by your baby's doctor. Preparing formula with boiled water Boiling in GCC countries is mandatory by local regulation. Bring water to boil for 1 minute, then turn off the heat. Excessive boiling can increase the concentration of impurities. Let the water cool to room temperature before adding to formula. Making formula with boiling water can cause clumping and decrease the nutritional value.
Thaw breast milk in the refrigerator or by placing it in a bowl of warm water. ©2010 American Academy of Pediatrics. This information may be freely copied and distributed with proper attribution.
Once you have determined that you have the right formula and the right supplies it is time to prepare the baby bottle and the infant formula to be fed to the baby. 2 Concentrated Formula Supplies With concentrated formula, first, you will wash off the top of the can. Then, using a clean can opener, you will use the can opener to poke a hole in the top of the can. Then place an additional hole across from the original for ease of pouring. Be sure that the formula instructions say to add water before adding water. Usually, you can tell because concentrated formula looks really dark and is very thick. Gather a baby bottle, the formula and something with which to measure liquid (water). Many people simply use another clean bottle to measure fluids, but it can be anything with appropriate fluid measurements on it. Remember that measuring incorrectly can make your baby sick. Getting too much formula can cause gastrointestinal distress. Getting too much water means that the formula is cut with more water than necessary.