Whether you're heading back to work, building up a freezer stash, or just want a break while someone else handles a feeding, knowing how to store breast milk safely takes the guesswork out of pumping. Here's what you need to know, based on CDC guidelines for full-term, healthy babies (if your baby was premature or has medical needs, check with your pediatrician first).
Before You Start: Safe Handling Basics
- Wash your hands with soap and water before expressing or handling milk. No sink nearby? Hand sanitizer with at least 60% alcohol works in a pinch.
- Use clean, food-grade containers - glass or BPA-free plastic bottles, or storage bags made specifically for breast milk.
- Store milk in different portions (2, 4, 6 ounces) so you're not stuck tossing a bottle your baby didn't finish.
- If freezing in bags, lay them flat and leave about an inch of space at the top, since milk expands as it freezes.
Thawing and Warming
- Thaw frozen milk by running the container under lukewarm water, setting it in a bowl of lukewarm water, or leaving it in the fridge overnight.
- Never microwave breast milk as it can heat unevenly, creating hot spots that can burn your baby's mouth, and it can break down some of the milk's nutrients.
- Swirl or shake your milk to remix any separated fat before feeding.
- Milk doesn't have to be warmed at all! It's perfectly fine to feed it straight from the fridge if your baby doesn't mind it cool.
Tips:
- Use the oldest milk first, whether it's in the fridge or freezer, so nothing goes to waste!
- The fridge/pool method is a great way to save time when pumping! Simply use a container to continually pour your freshly pumped milk throughout the day. Do this for 2-3 days then bag milk and freeze!
- Label containers with the date you pumped, so it's easy to track what needs to be used first. If using pool method, label with date that you first started collecting.
- Traveling or don't have fridge access? An insulated cooler with frozen ice packs will keep milk safe for up to 24 hours.