How do you store leftover breast milk?

Storing Leftover Breast Milk: A Comprehensive Guide
Breastfeeding is a beautiful journey, but it often comes with the challenge of managing leftover breast milk. Whether you’re pumping for convenience or necessity, knowing how to store that precious liquid gold is crucial for your baby’s health and safety. Here’s a detailed look at the best practices for storing leftover breast milk.
Understanding Breast Milk Storage Guidelines
When it comes to storing breast milk, safety is paramount. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) provides clear guidelines on how to handle expressed milk. Freshly expressed breast milk can be stored in the refrigerator for up to four days at a temperature of 40°F (4°C) or lower. If you need to keep it longer, freezing is an excellent option. In a deep freezer, breast milk can last for up to 12 months, although using it within six months is recommended for optimal quality .
Choosing the Right Containers
The type of container you use for storage is just as important as the duration. Breast milk storage bags and sterilized containers are ideal choices. These bags are specifically designed to withstand freezing and thawing, while glass or hard plastic containers with tight-fitting lids can also be effective. It’s essential to label each container with the date and time of expression to keep track of freshness.
Best Practices for Storing Leftover Milk
1. Cool Down Quickly: After expressing milk, it’s crucial to cool it down as quickly as possible. Place it in the refrigerator or an ice bath to bring the temperature down before transferring it to the storage container.
2. Avoid Temperature Fluctuations: Store breast milk in the back of the refrigerator or freezer, where temperatures are more stable. Avoid placing it in the door, as this area is subject to temperature changes every time the door opens.
3. Thawing and Reusing: If you have leftover milk from a feeding, it can be reused within two hours if it has been kept at room temperature. However, once milk has been thawed from the freezer, it should not be refrozen and should be used within 24 hours.
4. Discarding Unused Milk: If your baby doesn’t finish a bottle, it’s generally safe to save the leftover milk for the next feeding, but it should be used within a couple of hours. If it has been sitting out longer than that, it’s best to discard it to prevent any risk of bacterial growth.
Conclusion: Making the Most of Your Milk
Storing leftover breast milk doesn’t have to be daunting. By following these guidelines, you can ensure that your baby receives the best nutrition possible while minimizing waste. Remember, every drop of breast milk is valuable, and with the right storage techniques, you can make the most of your pumping efforts.

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.

Can I put unfinished milk back in the fridge?

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.

How to store breast milk that baby didn’t finish?

Milk can be stored in an insulated cooler bag with frozen ice packs for up to 24 hours when you are traveling. If you don’t plan to use freshly expressed milk within 4 days, freeze it right away. Always thaw the oldest milk first.

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.

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 refrigerate leftover whole milk?

Milk can be refrigerated seven days; buttermilk, about two weeks. Milk or buttermilk may be frozen for about three months. Sour cream is safe in the refrigerator about one to three weeks but doesn’t freeze well. For more information, you may call the FDA toll-free at 888-723-3366 or go to FDA’s website.

Can I refrigerate leftover breast milk after feeding?

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.

Can you save an unfinished bottle of formula?

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

Can I pump into the same bottle all day?

Milk stays good for 4 hours if you leave it at room temperature after pumping. So, you can pump into the same bottle within the 4 hours timeframe. Once the 4-hour timeframe has elapsed, you can either give the milk to your baby or store it in the fridge or freezer for future meals.

Can I use breast milk left in bottle?

If your baby did not finish the bottle, use the leftover milk within 2 hours. After 2 hours, leftover breast milk should be discarded.