How long is a formula bottle good for? and other FAQs answered

11 min. read time

How to feed your baby is a personal choice with many parents choosing to formula feed for comfort or for medical reasons. Formula milk will still provide your baby with the necessary nutrients for them to grow and thrive.

To help you get started on your feeding journey, this article will explore the answers to all your questions about formula bottle feeding including:

What is formula milk?
Is formula milk good for newborns?
Is formula as good as breast milk?
Can I prepare the formula in advance?
How long is a formula bottle good for?
How much formula should my newborn drink?
How do I prepare formula milk for my baby?
What are the disadvantages of formula?

So, let’s get to it. Read on to discover many of the answers you’re looking for when it comes to choosing formula for your baby.

Frequently asked questions about formula bottle feeding

Below we have answered seven of the most frequently asked questions:

What is formula milk?

Formula milk, also known as baby formula or infant formula, is usually made from cows' milk that has been treated to make it more suitable for babies.

Is formula milk good for newborns?

So, is formula milk good for infants? The AAP recommend breastfeeding for the first 6 months of your baby’s life because of the benefits to both baby and mother,¹ though formula milk does provide babies with the nutrients they need to grow and develop. However, it does not have the same health benefits as breastfeeding for you and your baby. For example, it cannot protect your baby from infections

Is formula as good as breast milk?

You know formula is a breastmilk alternative, but is formula milk good enough to replace it? Formula has all of the micro and macro nutrients babies need, but doesn't have the specific immune cells that are transferred from mom to baby via breastfeeding, while the baby also absorbs the nutrients in breast milk more easily.²

One advantage of formula is that any caregiver can prepare and feed baby a bottle of formula or breastmilk. In very specific cases a baby may need a special type of formula for medical reasons (e.g. allergy), but this should always be given on doctor’s prescription.

Top tip: Why choose? Some parents choose to combination feed breastmilk and formula which allows you and your baby to get the best of both worlds.

Can I prepare the formula in advance?

You should always prepare formula feeds according to the instructions given by the manufacturer. If you choose to prepare some formula feeds in advance, allow the milk to cool to room temperature before storing it in a sterilized bottle or milk container in the fridge. Always use stored formula within the timeframe specified by the manufacturer.

Top tip: When you’re preparing formula for your baby, choosing the right bottle is imperative. We recommend the Philips Avent Anti-colic bottle with AirFree vent which can be used to store the milk and help your baby settle into a natural feeding rhythm.

How long is a formula bottle good for?

So, now you know that you can prepare the formula in advance, how long are formula bottles good for in the fridge? Once prepared, the formula should be used within 2 hours at room temperature, and 24 hours in the fridge.⁴

Top tip: If your baby does not finish a full bottle, do not keep the leftover formula. You should prepare a new bottle for each feed, even if you are preparing them in advance.

What you need

Anti-colic bottle with AirFree vent

SCY703/03

3 Bottles

9oz/260ml

Flow 2 nipple

1m+
4.2 (150 reviews)

Overall rating 4.2 / 5
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How much formula should my newborn drink?

Most new parents find themselves asking, “How many ounces should a newborn drink?”. Here’s some simple tips to help when you are formula bottle feeding:⁵

Try to feed on demand, looking for your baby’s cues that they’re hungry.
Your baby will probably feed every 2-3 hours.
For each feed you should prepare 2-3 ounces of formula for your newborn.
As your baby grows, so does their stomach. From 2 months, you’ll want to prepare 4-5 ounces, from 6 months increase this to 6-8 ounces.

How do I prepare formula milk for my baby?

Powder is the most common type of formula and there are 7 simple steps to prepare for formula bottle feeding: ⁵

Sterilize your bottles.
Boil the water.
Allow the water to cool for a minimum of 5 minutes.
Measure the correct amount of water into your clean bottle.
Add the relevant number of scoops of formula powder to the water.

Top tip: Always follow the instructions on the packaging to ensure you prepare your baby’s bottle of formula appropriately with the correct ratio of formula to water.
Place the lid onto the bottle and shake vigorously to ensure the mixture is thoroughly mixed.
Allow the formula mix to cool some more before giving it to your baby.

Top tip: Not sure if the formula is the correct temperature? Use a teaspoon to put a few drops onto the inside of your wrist to test it before giving the bottle to your baby.

What are the disadvantages of formula bottle feeding?

When choosing formula, it’s important to not only understand why it can be good for you and your baby but also the potential disadvantages. Here are a few drawbacks of formula bottle feeding:

Formula cannot offer the same antibodies and protection that a baby receives from breast milk.
You need to plan and be organized when preparing bottles for your baby.
Formula costs a considerable amount of money compared to breastfeeding which is free.
Bottle feeding may lead to issues such as gas and colic more often than breastfeeding.

Top tip: Make sure your newborn can have a calm and comfortable feed with Philips Avent Baby bottles with AirFree Vent. Supporting your baby’s unique suck, swallow and breathe rhythm, these bottles help avoid feeding issues such as colic.

So, whether you want to know the answer to questions like, “How much milk should a newborn be drinking?” or wonder how to prepare for formula bottle feeding, this article has you covered. Now you have all the answers you need to have a successful formula-fed journey with your baby.