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Infant formula: 7 steps to prepare it safely
4. Measure the formula
For ready-to-use formula:
- Shake the can of formula well before opening it.
- Pour enough formula for one feeding into a clean bottle.
- Use only formula — no added water or any other liquid.
For liquid concentrate formula:
- Pour the amount of formula for one serving into a clean bottle.
- Use the ounce markings on the bottle to measure the formula correctly. You may consider using water and a liquid measuring cup initially to ensure the measurements on the bottle are correct.
For powdered formula:
- Use only the scoop that comes in the can.
- Make sure that the scoop is dry.
- Determine the amount of formula you wish to prepare, following instructions on the package.
- Fill the scoop with enough formula for the desired serving amount of prepared formula.
- Shave off any excess formula with the flat side of a knife, not a spoon or any other curved surface. Don't pack powder unless specified according to the package instructions.
5. Add water to liquid concentrate or powdered formula
When using liquid concentrate or powdered formula, you'll also need to add water to the bottle. Consider using sterile water:
- If you're using tap water, use cold water.
- If you haven't used a faucet for more than six hours, let the cold water run for as long as it takes to get as cold as it gets — up to two minutes — to help reduce the amount of lead and other contaminants.
- Pour the cold water into a clean pan and boil it for one to two minutes. Boiling water from a local water utility may not be necessary, but it can be helpful if you use private well water, for example.
- Let the water cool.
If you're using bottled water, also consider boiling it for one to two minutes and then let it cool.
See the instructions on the can for how much water to mix with the formula. Adding too much water may overly dilute the formula — meaning that your baby doesn't get enough calories and nutrients. Adding too little water can put a burden on your baby's digestive system.
Before you feed your baby, shake the bottle well.
Don't overdo fluoridated tap water
Exposure to fluoride during infancy helps prevent tooth decay during childhood and beyond. But it's possible to have too much of a good thing. Regularly mixing a baby's formula with fluoridated tap water can provide enough fluoride to cause fluorosis. Signs of fluorosis range from:
- Mild white streaks on the teeth
- More severe pitting or staining of tooth enamel
These stains occur on both baby teeth and permanent teeth.
Levels of fluoride in tap water vary depending on where you live. If you use liquid concentrate or powdered formula:
- Check with your local water utility for specific information about levels of fluoride in your tap water.
- Talk to your child's doctor about what kind of water to use.
Occasional use of water with optimal levels of fluoride will not increase your child's risk of fluorosis. However, your doctor may recommend other water sources lower in fluoride, such as distilled bottled water. In addition, if you have high levels of fluoride in your tap water, know that boiling water will only concentrate it. So, if you're boiling your water, you may want to consider another water source.
6. Warm the formula, if needed
It's fine to give your baby room temperature or even cold formula. If your baby prefers warm formula:
- Place a filled bottle in a bowl or pan of hot, but not boiling, water and let it stand for a few minutes. Or, warm the bottle under running water.
- Shake the bottle after warming it.
- Turn the bottle upside down and allow a drop or two of formula to fall on your wrist or the back of your hand.
- The formula should feel lukewarm — not hot.
Don't warm bottles in the microwave. The formula may heat unevenly, creating hot spots that could burn your baby's mouth.
Shake the bottle well and feed the formula to your baby immediately. Discard any formula that remains in the bottle after a feeding.
7. Store formula safely
If you prepare and fill several bottles at once:
- Label each bottle with the date that the formula was prepared.
- Refrigerate the extra bottles until you need them.
- Put the bottles toward the back of the refrigerator, where it's coldest.
- Discard any prepared formula that's been in the refrigerator more than 24 to 48 hours. Follow the manufacturer's instructions, and, when in doubt, discard after 24 hours.
- Do not freeze bottles.
If any formula is left in the can, cover and refrigerate it. Use the leftover formula within 24 to 48 hours.
Store unopened cans in a cool, dry indoor place. Don't store these cans in a car or garage, where extreme temperatures can affect the quality of the formula.
Previous page(2 of 2)
- What does the "use by" date mean on infant formula product labels? U.S. Food and Drug Administration Center for Food Safety and Applied Nutrition. http://www.cfsan.fda.gov/~dms/qa-inf9.html. Accessed Aug. 15, 2008.
- Feeding infants: A guide for use in the child nutrition programs. U.S. Department of Agriculture. http://www.fns.usda.gov/tn/Resources/feeding_infants.pdf. Accessed Aug. 15, 2008.
- Feeding your baby with breast milk or formula. U.S. Food and Drug Administration. http://www.fda.gov/opacom/lowlit/feedbby.html. Accessed Aug. 15, 2008.
- Background: Infant formula and the risk for enamel fluorosis. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. http://www.cdc.gov/fluoridation/safety/infant_formula.htm#6. Accessed Aug. 15, 2008.
- Hoecker JL (expert opinion). Mayo Clinic, Rochester, Minn. Aug. 25, 2008.
- Zeratsky KA (expert opinion). Mayo Clinic, Rochester, Minn. Aug. 26, 2008.
- Actions you can take to reduce lead in drinking water. U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. http://epa.gov/ogwdw000/lead/lead1.html. Accessed Aug. 29, 2008.
