Breast milk storage bags can get quite pricey, especially if you exclusively pump or have to pump while away from your baby often.
Most breast milk bags are made of plastic and come pre-sterilized. These types of bags are intended for only one use.
After milk is stored, frozen and thawed in these single use bags, the bag starts to break down. They should be discarded after one use.
Recently, reusable breastmilk storage bags have come to the market that are made of silicone! These bags are great options if you are looking for something reusable.
What are Breastmilk Storage Bags?
Bottles and food containers can take up a lot of room in your fridge! Enter breast milk storage bags.
These bags are exclusively made to store milk. They are pricier than regular baggies, but for good reason.
Breastmilk storage bags are designed to store and preserve breastmilk in the most effective way possible. You will notice that breastmilk storage bags are a thicker plastic and have a double seal to ensure your milk is safe from leaking and unwanted objects getting in.
What Can I Do with Used Milk Storage Bags?
It is probably best to trash the milk storage bags that have already been used. The bags are designed for single use only.
If you have bags left over after you are done pumping, you can use them for a variety of different things like:
- Storing baby puree
- Storing juice or formula on the go
- Snacks
- Jewelery storage for travelling
- Spice mixes
Which Breast Milk Storage Bags can you Reuse?
Most breast milk storage bags cannot be reused, however there are certain brands that do have reusable breast milk brands. Those brands are:
- Legendairy
- Horigen
- Momcozy
- Haaka
- NCVI
- Ziptop
The brands that are not reusable are:
- Medela
- Pigeon
- Event
- Swisspers
How do you Reuse Milk Storage Bags?
I love that brands are coming out with reusable milk storage bags. Better for the environment and your pocket book!
Making sure to care for reusable breast milk storage bags is important, and helps to maintain the integrity of the bag.
Hand Washing
Here is the best way to hand wash reusable breast milk bags:
- Open the bag and rinse it out with plain water.
- Next use soapy warm water to let the bag soak briefly. This helps to dissolve any milk residue in the bag that is left over.
- Use a wash cloth or bottle brush to really scrub the inside and the zip portion of the bag.
- Thoroughly rinse the inside of the bag out.
- Place upside down to dry.
Using a Dishwasher
Make sure to read and ensure that your reusable storage bags are dishwasher safe because some aren’t. If they are here is how you will want to care for them:
- Rinse out with warm water, to get most of the milk residue off.
- Place in the top rack of the dishwasher upside down, so the opening is facing down.
- Run your dishwasher as normal.
- When taking out the reusable breastmilk storage bag, make sure to dry it thoroughly.
Is it Safe to Reuse Breast Milk Bags?
The only breastmilk bags that are safe to reuse would be those that are designed to be reuse. It is important to use the bags as directed.
Bags that are not reusable come presterilized. There is no way to safely re-sterilize these types of bags due to the plastic used.
Benefits of Reusing Breastmilk Storage Bags
Reusable breastmilk bags definitely have their benefits! Here are just a few!
One of the big benefits of reusable is saving money! Breast milk storage bags can become very expensive, so having a reusable option is amazing!
I really like that reusable breastmilk storage bags helps to reduce waste. Anything that can help reduce our carbon footprint is a good thing!
Reusable breast milk bags helped me to stay organized easier, which is always a plus!
Why do I need Breast Milk Storage Bags?
Milk storage bags are great to have because they take u less room in your fridge and freezer. When I was breastfeeding/pumping I liked to be able to freeze the bags flat and then stack them sideways, you can’t do that with bottles!
If you are storing your milk breastmilk storage bags are preferred over other containers for sterilization purposes.
All non-reusable breastmilk storage bags are sterile before opening. This gives you peace of mind that your milk is not being contaminated.
Our Favorite Breastmilk Storage Bags you Can Reuse
I want to share with you my favorite brands of reusable breastmilk storage bags! These brands have amazing reviews and I love them too!
Nuliie
The Nuliie milk storage bags breastmilk have 2 seals. One on the inside and one on the outside for double protection and leak-proof storage of breast milk.
The material is created in one piece, there is absolutely no leaking before you open the breast milk bags, preventing problems like leaks that could wet your refrigerator or diaper bag. In order to prevent the milk storage bag from readily slipping out of your hand, the seal is very easy to grasp.
Ziptop Bags
Zip Top breast milk bags stand up, stay open, and snap shut. Their pour corners and sturdy one-piece design has no glue or seams and won’t rip. Freezer and dishwasher safe and easy to sterilize. You can even write on them.
Made with 100% platinum silicone, they won’t leach harmful chemicals like plastics can. Zip Top containers are completely free of BPA, lead, PVC, and phthalates.
Haakaa
Haakaa breastmilk bag has with a big opening that allows to breast milk to be poured in or out easily. These bags are also self standing and can be stored laying down or standing up to save room in the freezer.
Haakaa Silicone Milk Storage Bags are made of 100% food grade silicone, BPA, PVC and phthalate-free. These bags are made from reliable material and you can have confidence in storing your precious breastmilk from the fridge and freezer to heating in hot water.
Momcozy
Momcozy silicone milk storage bag can store liquid, mushy food, such as juice and rice cereal, puree, ect. You can also easily turn it into other storage bags, as well as ice packs or hand warmers.
These bags have a strong seal and you can easily to pour milk into the bottle. The Momcozy silicone milk storage bag can be stored in the refrigerator and freezer, flat or upright, saving space and keeping it neat.
Stankeloko Storage Bags
Stankeloko silicone breastmilk storage bags are made from food-grade silicone material, safe, non-toxic and BPA-free. They is the perfect solution for safely storing your precious breast milk!
The tightly fitting silicone plug keeps milk from spilling no matter how you shake, grip, turn upside down or swing. Stankeloko Silicone Milk Storage Bags are fridge and freezer safe and can be stored laying down or standing up.
Junobie Bag
If you have pumped, you know the hard work that goes into it. These bags are free of BPA, BPS, PVC, Latex, and Phthalates. The Junobie bags are leakproof bags can be stored lying down or standing up.
I love that these bags are created to stand on its own and durable to be washed in the dishwasher, microwave, or boiled.
SBello Bags
Moms don’t have time to waste and I love that these bags help to save time! SBello silicone storage bags have markable and washable outside (no tags needed!). These bags are perfect for daily use.
Morlike Reusable Bags
I really like these bags because the silicone lid is so stretchy that it can be written on with dry erase marker. The markings can be removed easily by washing with mild dish soap and water for reuse.
This breast milk bag is dishwasher safe, just put them in the dishwasher(top rack recommended). What’s more, it can be fliped from the inside out for easier cleaning.
Legendairy Milk
Another step toward a plastic-free world and protecting Mother Earth. Our pump and store or pump and pour Reusable Silicone Breastmilk Storage Bags are perfect for your day-to-day milk storage needs.
The Milk Mission
The Milk Mission silicone milk/food storage bags are a wonderful alternative to one use plastic bags. These bags are reusable and free from toxins commonly found in plastics. Feel secure in knowing that you are not only saving money but you are now apart of an eco-friendly movement.
The Milk Mission silicone bags can be used to store precious liquid gold breast milk, pureed fruits and veggies, ice and more! The top carrying loop makes it super easy to tote around your liquid and solid necessities.
Pros and Cons of Reusable Breast Milk Bags
Some advantages are:
- Over time, they save you money
- Less waste
- Made of silicone and not plastic
- They don’t leak
- You can use for other things when you are done breastfeeding
The Cons of Reusable Breast Milk Bags
- Pricier to start
- You typically have a more limited amount
- Add another thing to clean to your list
- Generally not sterile for every use
- Must wash after every use
- Bulkier storage
When Should you use Reusable Storage Bags
Reusable storage bags are great for moms that are pumping and don’t have much of a stash and are planning to cycle through them more quickly.
The great thing about single use bags is that they are pretty inexpensive, so if you are pumping more than your baby eats and creating a stash of milk you will need lots of bags.
What are other Breastmilk Storage Options?
Other safe breast milk storage options that are bottle storage and using single use bags. We will discuss these two options below.
Bottle Storage
If reusable breast milk bags aren’t your thing, you might like the bottle storage option! Bottle storage is quite a bit bulkier in terms of fridge and freezer space, but it may be easier for you!
Medela’s Breasts Milk Collection and Storage Bottles are designed to work with all Medela breast pumps. Pump, store, and feed with one container.
These six breastmilk bottles and containers are capped with screw-on lids that deliver leak-proof storage, travel, and freezing.
These bottles are made of food grade borosilicate glass, which has very low coefficients of thermal expansion, making it thermal shock resistant (can be boiling sterilized, freezer & oven safe). This glass iis also known to be chemically stable.
The bottles contain no harmful chemicals, and no plastic taste leaching into your baby’s milk. The wide neck glass bottle design are also easier to clean and use.
Freeze breast milk or baby food—or anything really. To reheat a frozen jar, simply thaw on the counter for a few minutes or in a bowl of warm tap water for minute.
I love the minimalist design to upcycle beyond baby stage!
t is essential to ensure the safety of breast milk: the bottle body is made of food-grade borosilicate glass. While ensuring that it can be refrigerated, heated and stored at normal temperature, it does not contain any harmful substances, and there will be no plastic smell seeping into the baby’s milk (the penetration of harmful substances will lead to plastic smell).
There is no need to worry about the safety of breast milk. All parts can be disassembled for cleaning.
Exclusively pumping results in tons of baby bottles to store, track, and wash. Many parents then use the pitcher method, which means collecting all your pumped milk for one day and storing it in a large breastmilk storage container or milk saver, and creating the next day bottle from the collected milk. as a way to simplify their daily pumping and to make more room in their fridge.
Any excess is then put in a breastmilk storage bag and frozen.
Single Use Bags
Single use bags are probably one of the most convenient systems to use for breastmilk storage. Here are a few of my favorite brands!
The Momcozy bags are designed with double sealed side seams & double zipper to protect and freeze breastmilk. Presterilized & BPA/BPS free thickened milk bag, safely build your milk bank.
Milk import/export separation design ensures that there is no contamination. Simply open the sealing strip when pouring milk, and cut along a cutting line when you need to breastfeeding. It’s that easy!
Nuliie breast milk storing containers are designed with style and practicality in order for the users to pour milk directly without secondary pollution. Instead of pouring through the sealing strip above and polluting the breastmilk, mothers can tear the small zipper of the spout, they can easily and simply pour out breast milk without spilling it.
These breastmilk bags have been healthily pre-sealed with double-zipper. The milk bags also have a side seal protection in order to prevent leakage. These bags for milk storage are healthy and sufficient.
Lansinoh bags are designed with double sealed side seams and a double zipper to protect and freeze breastmilk. You can pump directly into the bags using your Lansinoh pump or most major pump brands using our Lansinoh pump-into-bag adapter.
Rather than stress about running out of breast pump bags, plan ahead and cherish more bonding moments during infant feeding. Stocking up on breastfeeding storage bags saves you much-needed mommy time and creates future peace of mind!
These breastmilk storage bag keeps every drop of your precious breastmilk safe and fresh for your little one. Double-fastened zipper seal keeps air out and prevents spills or leaks while the durable double-layer material and reinforced sides preserve the freshness of breast milk longer in the freezer or fridge.
Freezing Milk Cubes
Another neat way to store breastmilk is in breastmilk cubes. Freeze your liquid gold, and then put it in a baggie that contains the frozen cubes.
Unfreeze as needed!
Ideal for breastfeeding moms that need easy ways to store excess milk our breast milk freezer trays keep milk fresh, frozen, and easily accessible, so you can quicky thaw milk ice cubes out for a nutritious meal for babies.
The nibbler tray can be used as a freezer tray, steaming tray, separated nibble plate, or breastmilk ice cube mold. The cubes are easy pop-out and clean! The silicone liner allows for easy pop out of frozen portions.
Safe in dishwashers, microwaves and boiling water.
I love that this tray is made of premium quality food-grade silicone. It is naturally odor and stain resistant and free of any BPA’s, BPS, PVC, phthalates, lead, latex, nitrosamines and other nasties that can leach into baby’s food.
This breastmilk storage tray features good stability and flexibility. This is great for stacking.
The baby food freezer containers are designed with lids, which can avoid odors contaminating the milk. 6 trays come in the pack so you have lots of storage!
Sprout Cups Tray
These trays are stackable perfect for storing and freezing baby food and breast milk! The silicone liner allows for easy removal of frozen portions as well.
Frequently Asked Questions about Reusing Breast Milk Storage Bags
If you have questions about reusing breast milk storage bags, you certainly aren’t alone! Here are some of the most common FAQ’s!
Can I reuse Medela or Lansinoh Breast Milk Storage Bags?
Unless they are labeled as reusable, I would not reuse these bags. Single use bags are typically made of a thin plastic.
The single use bags are usually labeled as single use.
Do you need to sterilize breast milk storage bags before use?
It is best to resterilize before use. This is because babies do not have strong immune system so the bacteria that can accumulate can cause illness.
One thing I want to say is that you should use whatever storage system that works best for you! That means that you can mix reusable and single use bags or the bottle storage method.
I hope that you found some good and reliable products to use while on your breastfeeding journey. Do you have any favorites that I missed? Let me know in the comments below!
