Syracuse (WSYR-TV) -- An Oklahoma baby became the third child sickened this month by bacteria that’s been associated with tainted infant formula. The baby did not consume Enfamil, which was pulled from store shelves following the death of a 10-day-old infant from Missouri. Testing by Enfamil's manufacturer has found no bacteria in its product. So where is it coming from?
Family Nurse Practitioner Denise Hiser-Ruddick with Upstate University at Community General says formula can become tainted if you don’t prepare it correctly.
“Hand washing, hand washing, hand washing, hand washing. That's the number one thing that decreases transmission of infections to your newborn,” Hiser-Ruddick said.
She also says you need to make sure everything is sterilized, from the spoon that scoops the powder to the bottle formula is poured into. It’s also a good idea to boil your water and let it cool before preparation.
How you store formula is just as important.
“The formula is good in the fridge for 24 hours, that's it. Once it's been in the fridge for 24 hours, it's no longer any good. It's good out of the fridge for only two hours,” Hiser-Ruddick explained.
And if you have left over formula in the bottle that the baby didn’t drink, you should throw it away.
Here are some signs your child may be sick:
- Your baby stops feeding
- His or her color changes
- Your child gets cold
Often times newborns don’t get fevers, their temperatures drop instead. If you put a blanket on your child and they don’t warm up, that’s a warning sign.
Of course, there is no substitute to speaking with your pediatrician. You should never hesitate to call if you think your child is ill.
