Can a Baby Drink Cold Formula?
Formula is normally thought of as a “room temperature” drink, as it often is fresh out of the can or bottle, or has been warmed up. But can you give it to your baby cold?
Does Cold Formual Need To Be Warmed?
Many health professionals suggest that formula should only ever be served at room temperature, as it can help maintain the quality of the nutritional content and that sudden changes in temperature can upset your baby’s delicate digestion system.
However, cold formula is generally considered to be ok as well. The optimal temperature for baby formula is lukewarm, neither too hot nor too cold, but as long as it isn’t too cold, it is safe for babies to drink.
Benefits of Giving Baby a Cold Formula Feed
There are a few benefits to giving your baby cold formula feed:
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- Convenience – it might save you a few minutes of waiting to cool the formula down.
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- Portability – cold formula won’t spoil en route, and you can give it to your baby when you’re on the go.
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- Less Risk of Burns – cold feed is far less likely to cause burns than a hot feed.
Things To Look Out For When Feeding Baby Cold Formula
Although cold formula is generally considered ok, there are a few things to look out for when deciding whether to feed baby a cold formula feed:
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- Temperature – it should still be lukewarm rather than ice cold
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- Freshness – feeding your baby formula that’s been in the fridge for too long will start to spoil and should be discarded.
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- Allergies – cold formula could cause a reaction in babies with allergies to proteins found in cow’s milk.
Conclusion
In conclusion, cold formula is generally considered safe for babies to drink, as long as it is lukewarm. While it may be more convenient to feed your baby cold formula, it is still important to consider your baby’s safety and make sure you follow all other feeding instructions.