Storing Expressed Milk

Guidelines for milk storage

Always use a clean container to collect and store milk. Never pour warm expressed milk into a bottle with cold milk. And be sure to label and date each bottle or bag of milk. To store milk safely, see the chart above.

Warming stored milk

Thaw frozen milk in the refrigerator or in a bowl of warm water. It’s a good idea to warm refrigerated milk before using it. For your baby’s safety:

• Use the oldest milk first.

• Warm a container of milk by putting it in a bowl of warm (not hot) water for a few minutes. Or use a bottle warmer set on low.

• Gently swirl the milk to mix it. Then place a few drops on your wrist. The milk should be near room temperature.

• Don’t put the milk in a microwave. This could create pockets of hot liquid that can burn your baby’s mouth.