Can you take breast milk out of the fridge and put back in?

Understanding Breast Milk Storage: Can You Refridge After Use?
When it comes to the delicate matter of breast milk storage, many parents find themselves navigating a maze of guidelines and recommendations. One common question that arises is whether it’s safe to take breast milk out of the fridge and then put it back in after it has been warmed or partially consumed.
The Basics of Breast Milk Storage
Breast milk is a precious resource, and proper storage is crucial to ensure its safety and nutritional quality. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), breast milk can be safely stored in the refrigerator for up to four days at a temperature of around 40°F (4°C). However, once breast milk has been warmed or has come into contact with your baby, the rules change significantly.
What Happens After Feeding?
Once breast milk has been warmed or has been in contact with your baby, it is considered contaminated. This contamination can occur from various sources, including your hands, the baby’s mouth, and even surfaces that the bottle may touch. Because of this, the CDC and other health organizations recommend that any unconsumed breast milk from a bottle should be discarded rather than returned to the fridge. This is primarily to prevent the growth of harmful pathogens that could pose a risk to your baby’s health.
The Four-Hour Rule
If breast milk has been warmed, it is generally safe to keep it at room temperature for up to four hours. After this period, it should not be returned to the fridge. If the milk has been warmed but not consumed, it can be refrigerated again, but only if it is done within this four-hour window. Beyond this timeframe, the risk of bacterial growth increases significantly, making it unsafe for reuse.
Key Takeaways
1. Do Not Refridge After Feeding: Unconsumed breast milk from a bottle that has been fed to a baby should be discarded to avoid contamination.

2. Warmed Milk Can Be Refridgerated: If breast milk has been warmed but not fed to the baby, it can be returned to the fridge as long as it is done within four hours.
3. Storage Guidelines Are Crucial: Always adhere to recommended storage times and temperatures to ensure the safety and quality of breast milk.
In conclusion, while the storage of breast milk can seem daunting, understanding the guidelines can help ensure that your baby receives the safest and most nutritious feed possible. Always prioritize safety by discarding any milk that has been in contact with your baby and adhering to the recommended storage practices.

Can you put baby milk back in fridge after warming?

Once a bottle is prepared or taken from the fridge for feeding, use the formula within 1 hour or throw it out. You cannot re-refrigerate formula once it has been warmed or reaches room temperature. The reason experts recommend you throw away unused formula is because bacteria can begin to grow.

Can I combine breast milk from different days?

Can I add freshly expressed breast milk to already stored milk? You can add freshly expressed breast milk to refrigerated or frozen milk. However, thoroughly cool the freshly expressed breast milk in the refrigerator or a cooler with ice packs before adding it to previously chilled or frozen milk.

Is it okay to put breast milk back in the fridge after warming?

If it’s been warmed up, just toss it. Warmed up milk cannot go back into the fridge.

How long is breast milk good for after thawing?

Using thawed breastmilk
Milk thawed in the refrigerator must be used within 24 hours. Milk thawed to room temperature or warmer should ideally be used in 1 to 2 hours. If your baby didn’t finish the bottle, the leftover breastmilk can still be used within 2 hours after the baby is done feeding.

What happens if you forget to put milk back in the fridge?

How Long Can You Leave Milk Out of the Fridge? You can leave milk out of the fridge at room temperature for up to two hours, according to the USDA. “Leaving milk out too long can potentially lead to foodborne illness,” Amidor explains. “Pathogenic microorganisms like to grow in temperatures between 40 to 140 degrees.

Can I take breast milk out of the fridge and put it back?

If the milk has been previously frozen, once thawed, it can sit out at room temperature for 1 to 2 hours. If thawed milk is put in the refrigerator, use within 24 hours. Do not re-freeze previously frozen breast milk. If the baby didn’t finish the bottle, discard the milk after 2 hours.

Can you warm up refrigerated breast milk twice?

Breast milk that has been refrigerated or frozen can only be heated once. Never reheat breast milk as this accumulates bacteria the more it is exposed to warmer temperatures. Breast milk that has been heated or brought to room temperature needs to be consumed within 2 hours.

How long is breast milk good for once taken out of the fridge?

Breast milk that has been removed from the fridge and reached room temperature can be kept for up to four hours if it was freshly expressed or pumped. If it has been previously frozen and thawed, it should be used within two hours.

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

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. You can always thaw an extra container if needed. Refrigerate or chill milk right after it is expressed.

Can you put milk back in the fridge after drinking?

And this is milk you worked hard to save, so of course it will be tempting to put the bottle back in the fridge! But here’s the problem – while putting the bottle in the fridge will slow down the growth of bacteria, it will not reverse any bacterial growth that happened while the milk was warm.