Stay Hygienic and Nutritious: How Long Does Breast Milk Last in a Bottle?
For moms who are breastfeeding directly for the first time or bottle-feeding, you may have many questions. One of them is how long does breast milk last in a bottle and is it safe if stored at room temperature?
This is basic knowledge that every mom providing exclusive breastfeeding should know. Since every drop of breast milk is valuable, its storage and serving to your baby must follow proper guidelines. In this article, we will discuss how long breast milk lasts in a bottle and the best tips to keep it hygienic and protected from oxidation.
How Long Does Breast Milk Last in a Bottle?
After pumping, expressed breast milk can be given directly to your baby or, if not consumed immediately, must be stored properly. So, how long does breast milk last in a bottle at room temperature or when refrigerated?
The answer is, it depends on the storage temperature. First, breast milk in a bottle left at room temperature of 25°C can last up to 4 hours. Meanwhile, breast milk stored in a refrigerator at 4°C can last for about four days. If breast milk is stored in a cooler box or ice pack, it can last up to 24 hours.
If stored in a freezer at -18°C, breast milk can last up to six months. After removing a breast milk bottle from the freezer and thawing it, breast milk can only last in a bottle at room temperature for no more than two hours. Unfortunately, once thawed, breast milk cannot be refrozen.
Another common question is what should moms do with leftover breast milk in a bottle after feeding the baby if it was not finished?
According to Parents.com, doctors recommend discarding any leftover milk in a bottle that has been at room temperature for more than one to two hours. Leftover breast milk in a bottle should not be given back to your baby because it poses a higher risk of infection.
Tips for Storing Breast Milk Hygienically and Preventing Oxidation
1. Do Not Store Too Much Breast Milk at Once
It is recommended not to store too much breast milk at once to avoid waste. When storing breast milk in the refrigerator, use breast milk storage bags or bottles and label them with the date the milk was pumped. Always use the oldest milk first to prevent spoilage.
2. Use the Right Storage Bottles
Freshly pumped breast milk can stay at room temperature for a short period (no more than 4 hours) before being fed to the baby or refrigerated. Use breast milk containers made from PPSU (a combination of plastic and glass) like Hegen Breastmilk Storage, which are safe for repeated use and can withstand extreme temperatures.
Make sure to close breast milk storage bottles or containers tightly to prevent contact with air that can lead to contamination and oxidation. When storing breast milk for longer periods in the refrigerator or cooler box, avoid using the nipple as a cover. Instead, use airtight lids specifically designed for storage.
3. Sterilize Breast Milk Containers
To keep breast milk hygienic and safe from oxidation, always clean and sterilize the containers before use. You can sterilize bottles by boiling them in hot water for 5 minutes after the heat is turned off, or by using an electric sterilizer.
4. Discard Spoiled Breast Milk
After knowing how long breast milk lasts in a bottle at room temperature (maximum 4 hours), always discard milk that smells sour or has gone bad. If breast milk has a sour odor, it means it is spoiled and should be thrown away.
One of the risks of leaving breast milk too long is bacterial growth, which may not be visible to the naked eye. Even if the milk’s color looks normal, spoiled breast milk can cause your baby to vomit or experience diarrhea after drinking it.
Choose Hegen Baby Bottles for Your Little One
Hegen baby bottles come in four sizes: 60 ml for newborns, 150 ml for 1-3 months, 240 ml for 3-6 months, and 330 ml for 6-9 months.
Express-store-feed. Interestingly, these bottles can be directly attached to a breast pump and used as pumping containers. After pumping, you can store breast milk in the refrigerator or freezer as a supply, or give it directly to your baby.
Hegen bottles are a long-term health investment, as they can be used as feeding bottles for up to 6 months (according to international standards). After that, they can be repurposed as containers for baby food, snacks, or drinking bottles as long as they are not cracked or leaking. You only need to replace the lid. Very practical, right?
It has been proven that Hegen Feeding Bottles are designed to be eco-friendly, sustainable, and continuously evolving to meet your baby’s needs.
With the world’s first patented screw-free closure, Press to Close, Twist to Open (PCTO), you can close the bottle by pressing and open it by twisting in just 2 seconds. Very convenient, with no milk spills, and it helps prevent oxidation.
Hegen’s innovative and stackable design ensures breast milk storage stays organized. This makes breastfeeding easier while helping optimize your baby’s nutrition with Hegen.
To secure your breast milk supply, you can also purchase Hegen breast pumps, available in both manual and electric types. Click here to shop online and find all your needs in just one click! Grab yours now!
References
- Kate Kelly. How Long Does Breast Milk Last? A Guide To Freezing, Heating and Storing. https://www.forbes.com/health/womens-health/how-long-breast-milk-lasts/
- Tami Wulandari. Berapa Lama ASI Bertahan di Dot? Ini Cara Simpan yang Benar. https://yoona.id/blog/lama-asi-bertahan-di-dot/
- Wendy Wisner. How Long Can Breast Milk Stay Out?. https://www.parents.com/how-long-can-breast-milk-stay-out-7377399
