How Long is Formula Good For? Guide to the Expiration Date of Prepackaged Baby Formula
There’s no denying that becoming a parent is one of the most challenging and rewarding experiences you’ll ever have. Whether you’re the first to get pregnant, or your child is the fifth, parenthood comes with its own set of challenges and rewards. Some things aren’t as easy as others. One of those things is feeding your newborn baby. Prepacked baby formula can be a godsend for new parents who don’t have time to prepare bottles or are looking for convenience. However, not all babies will take kindly to this kind of food and will reject it entirely after tasting it once or twice, in some cases. Because of this, we need to pay special attention on how long is formula good for.
How Long is Formula Safe After the Expiration Date?
There have been many studies done on this topic, and the majority of them have concluded that the best before date is the most accurate indicator of how long you can safely use your baby formula. The general recommendation is that you use your baby formula up within twelve months of the best before date. However, there have been cases of people using baby formula long after the best before date and noticing no adverse effects. However, it is always best to err on the side of caution. After the best before date, your baby formula will still be safe to use, but you will likely notice changes in its taste and consistency. If you are not breastfeeding and are using pre-packaged baby formula, these changes are normal and will not harm your baby. If you are breastfeeding and using prepackaged formula, you may notice changes in your milk supply. These changes, while they may seem worrisome, are normal.
Tips to Tell If Your Prepackaged Baby Formula is Still Good
- Check the color of the formula- if it has turned pink, blue, or some other weird colour, it is not good and you should throw it out.
- Smell the formula- if it smells bad, it’s bad.
- Open the packaging and check the formula- if it’s crusted over, it’s bad.
- Shake the can- if there’s no movement, or a lot less movement than there should be, it’s bad.
If your baby formula passes these tests, it’s probably still good to use. If you aren’t sure, you can always throw it out and buy a new one. You don’t want to risk your baby getting sick because you were too cheap to buy new formula.
Conclusion
Baby formula is a great way to feed your baby if they don’t take to breastfeeding. Unfortunately, not all babies will take to pre-packaged formula. In these cases, you may have to mix your own formula. Whatever the situation, it’s important to know how long is prepared formula good for. While there are no guarantees, you can use these indicators to see if your formula is still good to use. If you think your baby is hungry and nothing is coming out, it could be that the milk is not good. If this happens, you must do something about it. Formula must be fresh and the expiration date must be followed. Just go to the nearest store and buy the same brand that you used before and feed your baby with the same baby bottle.
