How to store breast milk: Your guide to safe breastmilk storage

8 min. read

Breastfeeding is recommended for the first six months of an infant’s life,¹ which is a long time to be available to breastfeed on demand. That’s why pumping and storing breastmilk in advance is a convenient alternative to be ready to feed your baby with breastmilk easily from a bottle. In this article we will explore the answers to top questions from, ‘how long does breast milk last in the fridge’ to ‘how do you heat it up after storing breastmilk’ and show you all the tips you need to understand how to store breastmilk safely.

How to store breastmilk hygienically

Before we explore answers to your burning questions such as, ‘how long does breast milk last’, there are a few things that should be considered when expressing and storing breast milk so as not to waste valuable milk. Here are a couple of top tips for correctly storing breastmilk:

The milk must be stored hygienically immediately after clean pumping. Check out our article for more tips on expressing milk.
Use specially designed breast milk storage containers to store breast milk and wash them thoroughly before pouring the milk.

Now read on to discover answers to FAQs including, ‘how long can breast milk last in the fridge’ and more.

How long does breast milk last?

Breast milk has a very long shelf life provided it is sealed in a sterilised airtight container, clean breast milk bottle or equivalent BPA-free breast milk bags immediately after pumping and refrigerated at a consistent temperature. How long it lasts depends on where it is stored.

If you’re wondering, ‘how long can you store breast milk’, we’ve got a quick overview of breast milk storage:

Breast milk in the refrigerator: up to 5 days at a temperature not exceeding 4°C
In the freezer (in the fridge): up to 2 weeks
In the freezer: up to 6 months
At room temperature: up to 4 hours²

Tip: Remember that the shelf life of breast milk also depends on whether it has been refrigerated evenly. So, leaving the milk to stand and then cooling it is not possible. If you plan to freeze or refrigerate breast milk, you should do so as soon as possible after pumping.

How to store breast milk safely

Now you know the answer to, ‘how long can breast milk last in the fridge or freezer’ you may think it sounds complicated at first, but don't worry.

Label your containers. Whether you store breast milk in the fridge or freezer, add an expiration date to your bags or containers, and always use the oldest milk first to avoid wastage.
Don’t be afraid to use the same breastmilk storage container. Small amounts of expressed milk can be added to the same refrigerated container, provided the added milk has been previously chilled in the refrigerator. Milk at body temperature should not be added to milk that has already been chilled.
Breast milk should be kept in the coldest part of the fridge. You should store the breastmilk at the back on the shelf above the crisper. The refrigerator door, where the temperature is less constant, is not suitable.

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Storing breastmilk for someone else

So, now you know the answer to, ‘how long does breast milk last in the fridge’ but what if you’re not at home? Occasionally you may need to know how to store breast milk after pumping so you can take milk with you or give it to someone else. This is especially true if you plan to return to work after maternity leave. For these occasions, keep an insulated cooler bag ready to store breast milk.

What is the ideal temperature for bottled breast milk after storage?

So, we’ve explored answers to, ‘how long can you store breast milk’ and more, but what do you do with breast milk after freezer storage or fridge storage? Here are a few tips to help you get a bottle ready for your baby after storing breastmilk:

Breast milk should be warmed to room to body temperature, although some babies prefer milk that is slightly cooler.
The easiest and safest way to warm up milk is with a baby bottle warmer. With a bottle warmer, you can gently thaw the milk and/or heat it quickly and evenly, which preserves the quality of the milk.

Don’t forget, if you’ve had your breast milk in freezer storage or fridge storage, it will require different amounts of time to warm them but don’t rush the process. Microwaves are not recommended as they often heat the milk erratically and can destroy important ingredients. In addition, individual hot spots can develop where your little one can burn their mouth.

Frozen milk can be thawed in the baby bottle warmer (which preserves the milk's quality), in the refrigerator, under running water, or in a bowl of warm water.

Tip: Once thawed, you should not refreeze the milk. If there is any milk left over after feeding, it must be discarded.

If you don't have a baby bottle warmer handy, you can warm up the milk in a bowl of warm water. Test the temperature of the contents of the bottle on your skin before feeding it to your little one.

Tip: If you are still looking for a suitable bottle for your baby, then try the Philips Natural baby bottle. Its soft, breast-like teat mimics the feel of the breast, making it suitable for a hassle-free combination of breast and bottle feeding. For babies suffering from colic there are special bottles with anti-colic valves that have been clinically tested and proven to reduce colic and discomfort.

So, whether you wanted to know how to store breast milk after pumping or answers to questions such as ‘how long can you store breast milk’ this guide has you covered. From now on you’ll be able to safely pump, store, and use your breastmilk with ease.