Freezing breast milk

[crownest]

I want to have some back up milk in the freezer. Do I need to buy the special breast milk storage bags or can I use zip lock bags or freezer bags.

 

[kdmalk]

I wouldn't use ziplock bags. They probably aren't sterile like breastmilk bags are made to be. I'm sure somebody has done it before, but I suspect it is much easier with the bags designed for it. I would also worry about leaking and tons of air in the bag.

Just my two cents.

 

[Ellie Bean]

I would use the bags specifically for breast milk bc they're sterile.

 

[crownest]

Makes sense thank you

 

[mrshan]

You can also freeze in ice cube trays. I have the silicone trays so that I can boil it to sanitize the tray before using it. Then once the milk is frozen solid, I put the cubes in a normal quart size freezer bag and label it. With the ice cube tray I have, each cube equals half an ounce. I made sure that the cubes will fit into my bottles whole, so that I can thaw it right in the bottle instead of transferring again.

This is a good option for feeding another ounce or two when baby is hungry, and you don't have a whole bag of milk going to waste.

 

[Ellie Bean]

I only froze 2 or 3 oz in each bag initially so that it wouldn't be wasted. Now my son's 8.5 months old and I will freeze 5-6 oz in each bag but initially I didn't freeze too much in one bag.