Personal Story
When I first started pumping, I had no idea how to handle breast milk. The 5/5/5 rule was a lifesaver and made everything so much easier to remember. Here’s what worked for me:
- 5/5/5 Rule for Breast Milk: This simple rule states that freshly expressed breast milk can be stored for 5 hours at room temperature, 5 days in the refrigerator, and 5 months in the freezer.
- Night Feeds: When others fed my baby at night, we kept a cooler bag next to her crib. As she woke up to feed, we would give her cold milk directly from the cooler. Babies don’t mind the temperature as much as we think.
- On the Go: The same cooler bag was perfect for transporting milk when we were out and about.
- Pumping: After pumping, I stored the milk in the cooler bag overnight. In the morning, I transferred it to the fridge or freezer.
For formula, I found it best to store it using the 1/1 rule: 1 hour at room temperature and 1 day in the refrigerator. More about Formula handling here.
Products You Need
- Bottles:
- Use clean, BPA-free bottles designed for storing breast milk. I absolutely loved the Maymom Wide-Mouth Milk Storage Bottles.
- Storage Bags:
- These are great for freezing milk. Ensure they are sturdy and leak-proof. I used the Lansinoh Milk Storage Bags.
- Sterilizer Bag:
- Useful for sterilizing bottles and pump parts quickly and easily. I used the Munchkin® Sterilize™ Microwave Bottle Steam Sterilizer Bags
- Cooler Bag:
- Essential for transporting milk and keeping it cool when on the go. I used a cooler lunch bag – cheaper than one dedicated for milk. It works just fine and I used it everywhere – even going to work everyday since I needed to pump at work as well. I used these ice packs and the bottles would fit right in there.
- Drying rack:
- I used these 2 together
Cleaning the Bottles
- Rinsing:
- After each use, rinse bottles, nipples, and pump parts with warm water to remove milk residue.
- Soaking:
- Fill a pot with warm water and dish soap. Place all the bottles and pump parts in the pot and let them soak for a while. This helps loosen any remaining milk residue.
- Washing:
- Wash all parts thoroughly with a bottle brush in warm, soapy water, or place them in the dishwasher if they are dishwasher-safe.
- Drying:
- Set all the cleaned parts on a drying rack to air dry completely.
- Sterilizing:
- For the first few months, sterilize bottles and pump parts once a week. After that, you can sterilize them once a month.
- You can use a sterilizer bag, an electric sterilizer, or boil the parts in water for 5 minutes.
Storage
- Room Temperature:
- Freshly expressed milk can be stored at room temperature (77°F or 25°C) for up to 5 hours.
- Refrigerator:
- Store milk in the fridge (39°F or 4°C) for up to 5 days. Place it in the back of the fridge where it’s coldest.
- Freezer:
- Store milk in the freezer (-0.4°F or -18°C) for up to 5 months. Use within 5 months for best quality, but it can last up to 12 months in a deep freezer.
- When storing in bags, leave space at the top as milk expands when frozen.
Thawing
- In the Fridge:
- Thaw frozen milk in the refrigerator overnight. This gradual thawing helps preserve the milk’s quality.
- At Room Temperature:
- You can also thaw milk by placing the container in a bowl of warm water or leaving it at room temperature for a few hours.
Important Tips:
- Never microwave breast milk as it can destroy nutrients and create hot spots.
- Once thawed, use the milk within 24 hours.
- Do not refreeze thawed milk.
Additional Tips
- Labeling:
- Always label your milk with the date it was expressed. Use the oldest milk first.
- Mixing:
- Gently swirl the milk to mix the fat that may have separated.
- Avoid vigorous shaking.
- Transporting:
- Use an insulated cooler bag with ice packs to keep milk cold when traveling.
Read also how much breastmilk a baby needs per day.
By following these guidelines, you can ensure that your baby always has a safe and nutritious supply of milk, whether you’re at home or on the go.