Can you store breast milk in regular bottles?

Can You Store Breast Milk in Regular Bottles?
Storing breast milk safely is crucial for maintaining its quality and ensuring the health of your baby. Many parents wonder if they can use regular bottles for this purpose, and the answer is nuanced.
Using Regular Bottles for Storage
You can indeed store breast milk in regular bottles, provided they meet certain criteria. The best options are clean glass or hard plastic bottles that are BPA-free. These materials are safe for storing breast milk and help maintain its integrity. It’s essential that the bottles have tight-fitting lids to prevent contamination and keep the milk fresh.
However, it’s important to avoid using bottles that have nipples attached for storage. Instead, you should use bottles with air-tight lids. If you have bottles with nipples, it’s advisable to replace these lids with air-tight ones before storing the milk. This practice helps to keep the milk free from harmful particles and maintains its quality.
Storage Duration and Conditions
When using regular bottles, the storage duration of breast milk varies depending on whether it is refrigerated or frozen. In the refrigerator, breast milk can typically be stored for up to seven days. If you choose to freeze the milk, it can last much longer, often up to six months or more, depending on the freezer’s temperature and conditions.
Best Practices for Storing Breast Milk
To ensure the best quality of stored breast milk, consider the following tips:
– Label the bottles with the date and time of expression to keep track of freshness.
– Avoid filling the bottles to the brim; leave some space at the top to allow for expansion when freezing.
– Thaw frozen milk in the refrigerator or by placing the bottle in warm water, and never refreeze thawed milk.
In summary, while you can use regular bottles to store breast milk, it’s vital to ensure they are clean, BPA-free, and equipped with air-tight lids. Following proper storage guidelines will help keep your breast milk safe and nutritious for your baby.

Can I store breast milk in a feeding bottle?

Store breast milk in small batches, ideally 2 to 4 ounces to prevent waste. Any remaining breast milk left in a bottle after your baby is finished with a feeding should be used within 2 hours—or, if quickly refrigerated, used for the next feeding.

Can I save leftover breast milk in a bottle?

Leftover breast milk can still be used within 2 hours after the baby is finished feeding. After 2 hours, leftover breast milk should be thrown away. To avoid wasting unfed milk, consider storing, thawing, and warming it in smaller amounts.

What is the 5 5 5 rule for breast milk?

Something I recommend to moms is the 5-5-5 rule. Try and use milk within five hours at room temperature, five days in the fridge, and by five months in the freezer.

Can I store breast milk in normal feeding bottle?

Before expressing or handling breast milk, wash your hands with soap and water. Then store the expressed milk in a clean, capped food-grade glass container or hard plastic container that’s not made with the chemical bisphenol A (BPA).

How to know if breast milk is spoiled?

Human breast milk can spoil just like any other kind of milk. This leads to a sharp, sour smell and flavor. There’s no way to save spoiled milk. You should be able to tell it’s spoiled by tasting a sip of it yourself.

Is it OK to store milk in plastic bottles?

The good news is that LDPE plastic does not contain additives like BPA or similar chemicals and is generally considered a safer material (1). Make sure to buy high quality breast milk storage bags, because cheap versions may be mixed with other types of plastics.

What if baby drinks bad breast milk?

If your baby has had spoiled breast milk, they’ll likely let you know. They may throw up, or have an upset stomach, diarrhea or fever. It’s important to call your pediatrician if you think your baby may be sick from having spoiled breast milk.

Can you store breast milk in plastic bottles in the fridge?

It’s best to store breast milk in glass or BPA-free hard plastic bottles. The breast milk loses fewer antibodies when you put it in glass bottles to freeze it. For healthy term infants, wash containers in hot soapy water, rinse in warmwater and leave to air dry. Then store them in a clean, covered container.

Can I store breast milk in Avent bottles?

Keep your expressed milk fresh by storing it in sterilised feeding bottles. Philips AVENT feeding bottles all come with secure tops to seal in the freshness and make breast milk storage fuss free.

Can you store breast milk in bottles with nipples and cap?

Yes, you can store the the milk in a clean bottle with the teat/nipple attached.