How Long Does Formula / Breastmilk Last Outside of the Fridge?

this should help. :)

http://hubpages.com/hub/Breast-Milk-Storage_Answering_FAQ...

and formula it says on the can. :)

My baby is only breastfed and I have to take bottles with me when we go out cause he won't nurse outside or in the car. Sometimes I will pump right before we leave then that fresh milk last about 4 hours. Then if will be gone longer I take one out of the freezer (I store the milk in the gerber storage bags) with me and don't defrost it. We went to San fransisco the other day and we were getting ready to leave for home and all the fresh milk was gone so I took the milk that was still 1/2 frozen and stuck under my shirt against my skin and just kept moving it to a different spot til it came to body temp about 5 min. That a good alrernative to having to carry around hot water.

Unused Breastmilk can be at room temp for up to 10 hours. Unused formula can be out at most about an hour. Formula that has been drank out of ideally should not be reused at all. I re-used breastmilk though up to about 1-2 hours assuming no refrigeration and within the same day with refrigeration.

2 questions: why not just get an ice pack or even better just nurse directly if you are with baby? The more formula you give the less breastmilk you will produce.

Formula-You can get those "single serve" packets and just keep a bottle of water in the diaper bag. For breast milk, if you are going to out all day, take a frozen pack of breast milk, or make sure you have those ice packs for lunch sacks in their and that it keeps cool.
Have fun out of the house!

If you are doing formula there is a container that I found at the regular grocery store that I think was made by Avent which you could store formula in and it had a measuring spout to make it easy to measure out the amount of formula needed. I would either carry bottled water with me or I would put water in a couple of bottles to go with me. Then I had a small can or container that I stored formula in with one of the scoops. That way I could also take him to grandparents houses and such and had no issue with them not having what they needed.

Breastmilk and formula have different storage rules. Freshly pumped breastmilk is good at room temp (72 F) for 4 hours not refridgerated, 4 days in the fridge and 3-4 mths in a standard freezer. It last longer in a deep freezer. If you look on the storage bags they usually have some guidelines. Now when you thaw breastmilk it is good for 24 hrs if refridgerated. Unfinished breastmilk in a bottle can be reused for the next feeding as long as you store it in the fridge and change the nipple. This is differnt than formula which must be disposed of after each feeding. I point this out so you don't waste anthing you have pumped, which can be frustrating and sad after all the work to pump and store...

One of the best benefits of breastfeeding is the ability to get out without having to pack formula. You always have the milk with you. If you are self-conscious about finding a place to nurse I purchased an extra Boppy pillow which I left in my car. I had a small SUV so I was high enought for privacy but your daughter is young enough for you to drape a blanket for privacy. When they get older they often try to look around.
You might want to see if your area has a "Diaper Day" at the movie theatre. In Campbell and Los Gatos we have this fun program (look them up on yahoo) where twice a month these local theatres designate a showing for moms and kids. The lights are up a little to watch the kids and moms can nurse and older kids run around. It is noiser than a normal showing but you can get out and enjoy a movie. You don't worry if you kid fusses. You can walk with a little one if need also. Many local areas have these showings so check the internet for your area. Honest it gets easier to nurse when you go out and I really found it great not to have to pack food until she started solids. Also big malls often have private "family" restroom where you can sit and nurse.

You are only supposed to store a made bottle of formula for an hour out of the fridge. If you are nursing, and you have your baby with you, I would just nurse her while you are out. Otherwise I've found it's really easy to keep a room temp bottle of water in the diaper bag and a container of formula with a scoop. I just mix up a bottle while I'm out when my son needs it. No worries about storing it or any of that.

PS - I know that nursing in public can be a bit scary and intimidating at first. I know when I had my first I was totally self concious and felt really exposed. But it didn't take but a couple of months for me to get over that. I discovered that most places I went had someplace I could nurse, or I could sit in the car. I also know that stopping to nurse makes your shopping excursion longer, but you will end up spending that time pumping later. And I don't know about you, but I'd rather have my baby get the milk than sit there hooked up to that pump!

Mixed formula is one hour. For breastmilk guidelines, here's a great guide from La Leche League - http://www.llli.org/FAQ/milkstorage.html

I definitely tote my breastmilk around in an insulated bag with an ice pack. You can either warm it by placing bottle in cup of warm water. Or what I do is just hold it in my hand for a bit. I've always tending to serve it on the cool side to my baby...so she's a bit more use to it that way.

For formula, I would premeasure powdered formula into bottles and carry around water separately. I'd mix when baby needed.

The best resource that I've found is kellymom.com!

D.

I think you mean to say "heat it up" instead of cooling it down when away from home. I take thermos of hot water w/ me and when I need to heat up a bottle, I'd put it in a bowl or cup and put the bottle right in there. Works great when you're in the car or can't find anywhere to heat your bottle up. Good luck and congratulations on your new little one!

The rule in daycare has been one hour. I don't know if that is just to be on the safe side, or if it's the recommended time. Personally, I would put the bottle in an insulated bag with an ice pack when going out. If you need to warm the bottle, you can usually find a restaurant where you can get a bowl of warm water to put it in without too much trouble.

HI...I find asking for a spot to nurse always gets a quick response when I'm out...a nice quiet corning. Maybe their afraid I'll just lift my shirt right there :) I suggest grabbing a hooter hider to cover up if the baby is young, or try feeding in the car before going in...that way you don't have to add the stress of how loong is the milk/formula OK, and you will have no time constraints to return home when you run out of the bottles. Your breasts are there, ready to feed on demand !

Kaiser gave be the 5/5/5 rule. 5 hours room temp, 5 days in frig, 5 months in freezer. If you are out all day a freezer pack in a soft-sided cooler will do just fine.

Our basic rules with formula was 2 hours max outside fridge. If we put a used bottle in the fridge within the two hours it could be used again up to 4 hours. Our doctor said she didn't like to hear of them being used longer then that, although the manufacturer says no longer then an hour.
When we would go out we would measure the water into the bottle (just normal tap water) and I had a small can of formula I refilled once it was empty and would use that to make the bottle.
Best of luck and enjoy that baby girl, it goes FAST!

First, I am sorry you got some judgmental posts that don't answer your question and only told you that you should nurse. Shame on those women! I have always nursed in public, but yes folks, there are times when a bottle is much more convenient. I don't use formula, but I found that my breastmilk will stay cool in a tote for several hours. I hate to give you any hard fast rules because it totally depends on how hot the day is, are you inside or out, and how insulating your tote is. You kind of have to play it by ear. Breastmilk in a cold cooler is generally good for 12 hours with a good ice pack. Remember breastmilk has antibacterial properties that make it last longer than formula even at room temp. You can even leave fresh breastmilk out for several hours at room temp, but I always felt uncomfortable with that after it had been refrigerated for a few days already. You can put it in a bottle tote without ice for at least a few hours- i have found they are still cool after three hours (but again depends on your tote and weather). I always test the bottle before I heat it to make sure it stayed somewhat cool.
And yes, nursing in public is worth getting used to. I have nursed on street corners, in my car, in the food court, at restaurants etc etc., but I know that some of us have to use day care or have to leave bottles for husband/babysitter etc, so we need to use bottles sometimes-and that there are also times when it is just not possible or practical to nurse (hot days I couldn't stand how sweaty we would get, places where there isn't a good place to sit, while traveling, or in certain company-- sorry I just don't feel a need to nurse in front of 12 year old boys or in church, even with a hooter hider on-- sometimes we just don't want to deal with the logistics!~) :)

If you want to take formula, you can buy little containers into which you can premeasure formula. I used to put boiled water into the bottle then mix it when we needed it. I also used to take hot water in a flask and add that to cool water in the bottle to make a warm bottle (he needed warm milk as he had acid reflux).

Hope that helps,
E.

We ordered 3 oz filled bottles from Gerber online. They were drop shipped in a case of 90 at our door. We used those for travel. Because I had an hour and a half (and longer some days) commute to work and sitter, I made sure to fill the diaper bag with these small sealed bottles. All I had to do was pop on a nipple and feed.

Stephanie

I think Breastmilk can be left out up to 4 hours, but it has been awhile since I looked it up. Formula shouldn't sit out very long (just like regular milk). We traveled a lot when my daughter was little and this is what I did to make formula feeding easy. I would always measure out the correct amount of formula and put the powder in the bottom of a clean bottle and then just add bottled water when it was time to eat. You don't need to worry about refrigeration or heating up cold formula from an ice chest. It worked perfectly for the 9 months she was on formula.