One of the most frequent questions that I receive during lactation consults is about breast milk storage guidelines. The CDC has recently come out with some new recommendations on how long we should be keeping breast milk out at room temperature, in the fridge as well as in the freezer.

I have created a free PDF that includes all the info you need about breast milk storage guidelines. This way, you can print it off before your baby arrives (or after, that’s totally okay too!). You can post it on your fridge or keep it with your other feeding supplies, whatever is easiest!

So, what are the current breast milk storage guidelines?

For freshly expressed or pumped milk, you can leave it:

• Up to 4 hours on the countertop (77F /25C or colder)
• Up to 4 days in the fridge (44F /4C)
• Within 6 months in the freezer (0F / -18C or colder). Up to 12 months is acceptable.

For previously frozen, thawed milk, you can leave it:

• 1-2 hours at room on the countertop (77F /25C or colder)
• Up to 1 day (24 hours) in the fridge (44F /4C)
• Thawed breast milk should never be refrozen

For any milk leftover from a finished feeding, you can use it for the next feeding as long as it is within 2 hours of your baby finishing their feed.

Travelling with breast milk:

You can store your breast milk in an insulated cooler containing frozen ice packs for up to 24 hours while traveling or through the night at your bedside.

Safe storage & handling of expressed breast milk

Any milk that you express or pump should be handled carefully to prevent contamination. Here are a couple of tips to keep your milk safe for your baby to drink while following the breast milk storage guidelines:

• Wash your hands or use hand sanitizer before handling your pump equipment and bottles
• Always check your pump parts and tubing for cleanliness before pumping, and discard any moldy tubing or broken parts
• Always use storage bags that are meant to contain breast milk, or clean food-grade containers
• All containers should be sealed with a tight-fitting lid or ziploc
• Avoid bottles that contain BPA
• Do not store expressed milk on the door of the fridge or freezer. Try to store bottles at the back where it stays the coldest to avoid temperature fluctuations

To make your life easier when pumping, follow these tips

• Store your breast milk in small amounts to avoid wastage and to make thawing faster
• Label breast milk containers with the amount, the date that it was expressed and your baby’s name if he/she will be attending daycare
• Leave at least an inch of space in freezer breast milk storage bags to allow for expansion when the milk freezes

Want some more pumping tips and tricks? Check out my online exclusive pumping class, available worldwide or book a one-on-one session with me.