15/07/2025
Heading off on summer adventures with your baby? Or planning to leave them in someone else’s care with expressed breastmilk?
It’s worth planning ahead to make sure your milk is stored and transported safely 💜
🥛Storing:
Always use a sterile container with a lid, not the collection jug, to store your breastmilk. Store your breastmilk in the fridge or freezer as soon as possible - at the back of the fridge, not in the door.
🧊 Keep it cool:
Breastmilk stays at the highest quality when stored in a fridge running at 4°C or lower. If you're unsure of your fridge's temp, assume it’s warmer (5–10°C) and use the milk sooner.
❄️ Freezing is fine:
It slightly reduces some (but by no means all) of the nutrients and anti-infective ingredients of breastmilk.
👜 Travelling?
Use a cool bag with ice packs when travelling or transporting milk. Keeping it cold helps protect its quality.
⭐Using milk:
When stored, the cream and milk may separate out. This is normal. Shake gently to mix before use. If the milk smells sour DO NOT USE.
Check out our website for more information on expressing and storing breastmilk:
www.breastfeedingnetwork.org.uk/breastfeeding-information/continuing-the-breastfeeding-journey/expressing-and-storing-breastmilk/
If you'd like to talk to someone about travelling while breastfeeding, give our National Breastfeeding Helpline UK a call on 0300 100 0212 or send them a message on social media - 24/7 💜
[ID: Safe storage of Breastmilk. Milk - Place - Maximum time. Fresh Breastmilk including colostrum. Room temperature - 6 hours. Fridge at 5°C-10°C - 3 days. Fridge at 4°C or lower - 5 days. If temperature rises above 4°C after 3 days then use within 6 hours. Frozen Breastmilk. Freezer at -18°C or lower - 6 months. Defrosting Breastmilk. When defrosting in the fridge - Usually takes 12 hours to defrost, use as soon as fully defrosted. When defrosting outside the fridge - Use as soon as fully defrosted. .]
