Can I put cold breast milk back in fridge after baby drinks from it?

Understanding Breast Milk Safety After Feeding
When it comes to the safety of breast milk after a baby has consumed from a bottle, the guidelines are quite clear and emphasize caution. The primary concern is the potential for bacterial growth once the milk has been exposed to the baby’s mouth.
Can You Refrigerate Leftover Milk?
The consensus among health experts is that leftover breast milk from a bottle that has been fed to a baby should not be put back in the refrigerator. This is primarily due to contamination risks. When a baby drinks from a bottle, saliva is introduced into the milk, which can lead to the growth of harmful bacteria. According to health guidelines, this milk is considered contaminated and should ideally be discarded after feeding.
Time Limits for Safety
If the milk has been warmed and not consumed, it can be returned to the fridge for a limited time. Specifically, if the milk has been warmed but not touched by the baby, it can be safely refrigerated again for up to four hours. However, once the baby has drunk from the bottle, the recommendation is to discard any remaining milk after two hours.
Why Is This Important?
The risk of foodborne illness is a significant concern. While refrigerating the milk can slow bacterial growth, it does not eliminate it. Therefore, exposing your baby to milk that may have harmful bacteria can lead to health issues. This is particularly critical for infants, whose immune systems are still developing and are more vulnerable to infections.
Conclusion
In summary, while it may seem wasteful to discard leftover breast milk, the safety of your baby is paramount. Always err on the side of caution: if your baby has drunk from a bottle, it’s best to throw away any remaining milk after two hours. This practice helps ensure that your little one stays healthy and safe.

Can cold breast milk go back in the fridge?

Frozen breast milk that has started to thaw but still contains ice crystals can be refrozen. If your breast milk has completely thawed but still feels cold, put it in the refrigerator and use it within the next day or throw it away.

Can I put breast milk back in the fridge after baby drinks from it?

If, after feeding your baby, you’re left with half or a quarter of a bottle, you can reuse it, but only if you’re going to do so quite soon. The CDC advises reusing leftover breast milk within two hours of the last feeding. If it’s longer than two hours, you should throw it away. Do not freeze and reuse later.

Can you put breastmilk back if you take it out of the fridge?

Don’t put leftover breast milk back in the fridge to use later or refreeze it. It’s important to follow safety guidelines for breast milk because bacteria can grow in it if you leave it out for too long.

Can you put milk back in the fridge after drinking?

As long as you pour the milk into a glass to drink it from, and you put the cap back on the bottle before putting it in the fridge, yes, it is perfectly safe to put it back in the fridge.

Can I put a half-finished bottle back in the fridge?

In short, no. It’s best not to keep part of a bottle for later. Health Canada recommends using a bottle within two hours of starting a feed. If your baby doesn’t finish all of their feed, throw away the rest.

Can I put formula back in fridge after baby drinks from it?

No, throw away any leftover formula. Harmful bacteria can multiply since the last feeding, which could make your baby sick.

Why can’t babies drink cold milk?

Most experts and pediatricians agree that there’s nothing wrong with serving cold bottles. Although safety isn’t a concern, you should be aware that some babies simply may not like cold milk, so if you’re not one of the lucky ones, then your baby may not take to their milk being served cold.

Can you put breast milk that’s been sitting out back in the fridge?

And remember, freshly pumped milk that has been left unrefrigerated for longer than four hours should be thrown away, regardless of whether it’s been used in a feeding or not. Previously frozen milk should be used within 24 hours once thawed and refrigerated. If left on the counter, throw out after 2 hours.

Can I put milk back in the fridge after thawing?

Once fully thawed, previously frozen breast milk may be kept at room temperature for a maximum of two hours or in the refrigerator for up to 24 hours. Don’t thaw or heat frozen breast milk in a microwave or in boiling water.

Can I save breast milk that baby didn’t finish?

If your baby did not finish the bottle, leftover milk should be used within 2 hours. Wash disassembled pump and feeding parts in a clean basin with soap and water. Do not wash directly in the sink because the germs in the sink could contaminate items. Rinse thoroughly under running water.