What temperature should you store breast milk at?

Storing Breast Milk: Optimal Temperatures for Safety and Freshness
Breast milk is a precious resource for feeding infants, and understanding how to store it properly is crucial for maintaining its nutritional quality and safety. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) provides clear guidelines on the ideal temperatures for storing breast milk, ensuring that parents can provide the best for their babies.
Room Temperature Storage
Freshly expressed breast milk can be safely stored at room temperature, which is defined as 77°F (25°C) or cooler, for up to four hours. This timeframe is essential to prevent bacterial growth and ensure the milk remains safe for consumption. After four hours, any unused milk should be either stored in the refrigerator or discarded to avoid potential health risks .
Refrigerator Storage
For longer-term storage, breast milk can be placed in the refrigerator, where it should be kept at a temperature of 40°F (4°C) or below. Under these conditions, breast milk can remain fresh for up to four days. It’s important to monitor the refrigerator’s temperature, as fluctuations can affect the milk’s safety. If the refrigerator does not have a built-in thermometer, using a freestanding appliance thermometer is recommended to ensure the temperature remains within the safe range.
Freezer Storage
When it comes to freezing breast milk, the ideal temperature is 0°F (-18°C) or below. At this temperature, breast milk can be stored for up to six months without significant loss of quality. However, for optimal freshness, it is best to use the milk within three months. Once thawed, previously frozen breast milk should not be refrozen and can be kept in the refrigerator for up to 24 hours.
Best Practices for Storage
To ensure the safety and quality of stored breast milk, parents should avoid using disposable bottle liners or plastic bags not specifically designed for breast milk storage. Instead, use clean, BPA-free containers or breast milk storage bags. Additionally, gently swirling the milk before use can help distribute any separated components, but vigorous shaking should be avoided to protect the milk’s beneficial properties.
In summary, proper storage of breast milk is vital for maintaining its safety and nutritional value. By adhering to recommended temperatures—room temperature for up to four hours, refrigeration for up to four days, and freezing for up to six months—parents can ensure their infants receive the best possible nourishment.

Can babies drink cold breast milk?

You can feed expressed milk straight from the fridge if your baby is happy to drink it cold. Or you can warm the milk to body temperature by putting the bottle in a jug of warm water or holding it under running warm water. Do not use a microwave to heat up or defrost breast milk.

What is the 555 rule for breastfeeding?

Updated recommendations for storing breast milk
Previously, many people followed the 5-5-5 rule: storing breast milk for five hours at room temperature, five days in the refrigerator, and five months in the freezer.

What temperature does breast milk degrade?

104°F/
Avoid any hotter temperatures because milk deteriorates and starts to lose its nutritional and immunological value when temperature reaches 104°F/ 40°C.

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.

What temperature should breast milk bottles be kept at?

Q: What temperature should my baby’s bottle be? A: Most babies prefer body temperature milk of 98.6ºF or 37ºC. For babies who suffer from colic and digestive issues, a slightly warmer bottle can help. 103º is the hottest you can warm a breastmilk bottle before damaging the nutrients.

What is the 120 pumping rule?

The first 12 weeks of your breastfeeding journey requires frequent breastmilk removal, stimulating healthy milk production. Studies show moms who exclusively pump for a minimum of 120 minutes per day can make enough to feed their babies primarily breastmilk.

What is the 2 hour rule for breast milk?

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.

What is the 4 4 4 rule for breast milk?

Freshly expressed or pumped milk can be stored: At room temperature (77°F or colder) for up to 4 hours. In the refrigerator for up to 4 days. In the freezer for about 6 months is best; up to 12 months is acceptable.

What is the 120 breastfeeding rule?

The 120-minute rule is a helpful guideline for exclusive pumpers. It suggests spending at least 120 minutes (or 2 hours) each day pumping. How you divide that time depends on your baby’s age.

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.