Do you need to freeze milk straight away or can you leave it in the fridge first?

lau86 · Dec 17th, 2011, 17:57 PM

I was just wondering whether you should freeze milk straight away or whether you can put it in the fridge for a few days then put it in the freezer if its not used?

BrandiCanucks · Dec 17th, 2011, 18:19 PM

I believe this is fine, so long as it's no longer than 8 days. And if you thaw milk in the fridge, you can only refreeze if it is not completely thawed and hasn't been used at all.

lisaf · Dec 18th, 2011, 01:04 AM

my LC told me it was fine to freeze after a few days in the fridge (same guidelines)

JZW · Dec 18th, 2011, 04:37 AM

Yup it's fine. I have done this several times. Obviously if you know you won't use it then freeze as soon as you can as the antibodies in the milk will be less if you leave it in the fridge for a couple of days and then freezing it. Still better than formula though which has no antibodies.

lucy_lu10 · Dec 19th, 2011, 00:05 AM

I have a breastfeeding booklet that the MW gave me and it says you can store:

a) milk at room temperature for 4 hours
b) milk in the fridge for 3 days
c) milk in a standing freezer for 6 months
d) milk in a deep freeze for 6+ months

A few other 'rules':

To thaw breastmilk, place bottle in fridge overnight or place container in warm water. Never microwave it as that changes the milk's composition.

Once thawed, do not store milk at room temperature but it can be stored for 24 hours in the fridge in an unfrozen state. If baby doesn't finish his/her entire bottle, it should only be kept around for another hour or two before discarding (it doesn't say how to store partially used milk but I'm guessing the fridge is preferable).

Never refreeze thawed breastmilk!

If you've pumped some milk and it's in the fridge and you want to add to it, make sure the added milk sits in the fridge in order to cool down to the same temperature first. Never add warm breastmilk to already cooled breastmilk.

Hope this helps!!

BrandiCanucks · Dec 19th, 2011, 07:54 AM

If after an hour to two hours os partially use milk, the rest is still not used, discard it. There is bacteria from saliva and saliva breaking down the milk at that point and it is no longer good.

robinator · Dec 19th, 2011, 10:24 AM

We were told the rule of 6's:

6 hours at room temperature
6 days in the fridge
6 weeks in the freezer

cutie4evr01 · Dec 19th, 2011, 10:57 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by robinator

We were told the rule of 6's:

6 hours at room temperature
6 days in the fridge
6 weeks in the freezer

Do you mean 6 months in the freezer? I was told a similar rule of 5's, but the freezer was months (5 hours at room temp, 5 days in fridge, 5 months in freezer).

To the OP, I think it's fine to freeze after being the fridge for a few days, as long as baby hasn't drank from it. I believe the longer it's in the fridge first, the shorter it will last in the freezer (i.e. if it's in the fridge 5 days and then frozen, it may only be good for a month or two, whereas if it's frozen right away, it should be good the full 5-6 months in the freezer), but I can't remember where I heard/read that.

robinator · Dec 20th, 2011, 11:13 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by cutie4evr01

Quote:

Originally Posted by robinator

We were told the rule of 6's:

6 hours at room temperature
6 days in the fridge
6 weeks in the freezer

Do you mean 6 months in the freezer? I was told a similar rule of 5's, but the freezer was months (5 hours at room temp, 5 days in fridge, 5 months in freezer).

To the OP, I think it's fine to freeze after being the fridge for a few days, as long as baby hasn't drank from it. I believe the longer it's in the fridge first, the shorter it will last in the freezer (i.e. if it's in the fridge 5 days and then frozen, it may only be good for a month or two, whereas if it's frozen right away, it should be good the full 5-6 months in the freezer), but I can't remember where I heard/read that.

Yep, you're right. 6 months

Dec 17th, 2011, 17:57 PM	#1
lau86 Mum (Mom) BnB Addict Join Date: Dec 2009 Location: Uk Posts: 3,121	Do you need to freeze milk straight away or can you leave it in the fridge first? I was just wondering whether you should freeze milk straight away or whether you can put it in the fridge for a few days then put it in the freezer if its not used?

Status: Offline

Dec 17th, 2011, 18:19 PM	#2
BrandiCanucks Waiting To Try (WTT) BnB Addict Join Date: Aug 2010 Location: Brantford, Ontario, Canada Posts: 5,091	I believe this is fine, so long as it's no longer than 8 days. And if you thaw milk in the fridge, you can only refreeze if it is not completely thawed and hasn't been used at all.

Status: Offline

Dec 18th, 2011, 01:04 AM	#3
lisaf Other BnB Elite Join Date: Mar 2010 Location: California Posts: 15,135	my LC told me it was fine to freeze after a few days in the fridge (same guidelines)

Status: Offline

Dec 18th, 2011, 04:37 AM	#4
JZW Mum (Mom) Chat Happy BnB Member Join Date: Jan 2011 Location: London Posts: 1,751	Yup it's fine. I have done this several times. Obviously if you know you won't use it then freeze as soon as you can as the antibodies in the milk will be less if you leave it in the fridge for a couple of days and then freezing it. Still better than formula though which has no antibodies.

Status: Offline

Dec 19th, 2011, 00:05 AM	#5
lucy_lu10 Mum (Mom) Chat Happy BnB Member Join Date: Jan 2011 Location: BC, Canada Posts: 1,167	I have a breastfeeding booklet that the MW gave me and it says you can store: a) milk at room temperature for 4 hours b) milk in the fridge for 3 days c) milk in a standing freezer for 6 months d) milk in a deep freeze for 6+ months A few other 'rules': To thaw breastmilk, place bottle in fridge overnight or place container in warm water. Never microwave it as that changes the milk's composition. Once thawed, do not store milk at room temperature but it can be stored for 24 hours in the fridge in an unfrozen state. If baby doesn't finish his/her entire bottle, it should only be kept around for another hour or two before discarding (it doesn't say how to store partially used milk but I'm guessing the fridge is preferable). Never refreeze thawed breastmilk! If you've pumped some milk and it's in the fridge and you want to add to it, make sure the added milk sits in the fridge in order to cool down to the same temperature first. Never add warm breastmilk to already cooled breastmilk. Hope this helps!!

Status: Offline

Dec 19th, 2011, 07:54 AM	#6
BrandiCanucks Waiting To Try (WTT) BnB Addict Join Date: Aug 2010 Location: Brantford, Ontario, Canada Posts: 5,091	If after an hour to two hours os partially use milk, the rest is still not used, discard it. There is bacteria from saliva and saliva breaking down the milk at that point and it is no longer good.

Status: Offline

Dec 19th, 2011, 10:24 AM	#7
robinator Other Active BnB Member Join Date: Apr 2011 Location: Washington State Posts: 14,660	We were told the rule of 6's: 6 hours at room temperature 6 days in the fridge 6 weeks in the freezer

Status: Offline

User Name		Remember Me?
Password