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One essential item parents who are pumping andstoring breast milkneed is a quality breast milk storage bag. Once you’ve started pumping, you'll want to safely store any breast milk as that can maximize its nutritional value and ultimately benefit your little one’s health.
Reviewed & Approved
TheLansinoh Breastmilk Storage Bagsare sterilized and ready to go, and feature a double zipper that prevents messy leaks. For a budget-friendly option, we recommend theMedela Breast Milk Storage Bags.
While it may seem like any container in your kitchen can make do,Leigh Anne O’Connor, IBCLC, LCCE, recommends bags that “attach easily to the pump, have a good and easy seal, and feature BPA-free plastic.”
Take into account how often you personally pump, which will influence the budget you have as well as the bag’s capacity (though most will have a maximum capacity of 6 ounces). Equally important is pre-sterilization and a secure closure type, to minimize waste. We carefully considered design, material, value, ease of cleaning, pumping compatibility, and and capacity when reviewing products.
No matter where you are on your feeding journey, these are the best breast milk storage bags on the market.
Best Overall: Lansinoh Store Breastmilk Storage Bags, 100 Count
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Courtesy of Amazon
Double zipper closure
Double seamed sides
Can pump directly into the bags with compatible pumps
Single use
Aren’t universal to fit any breast pump (converters are available, though)
The Lansinoh Breast Milk Storage Bags earned our top spot because they have a special design to help avoid any seepage. The bags, which hold up to 6 ounces, are sterilized and ready to go, and the double zipper prevents messy leaks. They can lay flat in your refrigerator or freezer for easy storage, and they have a pour spout to make transferring the breast milk into a bottle easy.
For added convenience, you can pump directly into these bags, so there are no extra bottles to wash. If you use a Lansinoh pump, then you’re all set. If you use another brand, you can still pump directly into the bags, you’ll just need to use an adapter (sold separately).
Capacity:6 ounces |Closure Type:Double Zipper |Quantity:100
Runner-Up, Best Overall: Dr. Brown's Store Breastmilk Storage Bag, 50 Count
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Courtesy of Target
Stand upright
Double zipper closure
Easy labeling
Can’t pump directly into them
Single use
Thick and durable, these breast milk storage bags from Dr. Brown’s are simple and straightforward to use. They can hold up to 6 ounces of milk and are self-standing, so they’re easy to fill.
Women say these extra-thick, BPA-free bags are sturdy, and countless satisfied customers say double-zipper closure means they never leak. They also like the fact that they lie flat in the freezer, which means you can store more in a smaller area. You can’t pump directly into these bags, but their high quality makes them worth the extra steps for many.
Capacity:6 ounces |Closure Type:Double Zipper |Quantity:50
Best Budget: Medela 6oz/180mL Breast Milk Storage Bags
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Courtesy of Walmart
Affordable
Come sterilized
No leaking
Cannot pump into them directly
Not reusable
For less than 13 cents a bag, these breast milk storage bags from Medela get top marks all around. The self-standing bags have many of the same features as more expensive bags, such as a double-zipper closure and a flat profile for freezing and defrosting, but the price is hard to beat. Bonus: They also come with a transport pouch that keeps unused bags clean.
这些袋子不是设计注入directly, but for simple storage, women say they’re great. They say the material is strong, and they feel confident storing their precious breast milk in these bags. While bags are labeled to hold 6 ounces, many women report you can actually get much more than that in them.
Capacity:6 ounces |Closure Type:Double Zipper |Quantity:100
Best Breast With Spouts: Ameda Store Store N Pour Breast Milk Storage Bags
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Courtesy of Amazon
Designed to pump directly into them
Don’t leak
Easy to pour from
Smaller capacity
Only 40 in a pack
When it comes to pouring your breast milk from the bag into a bottle, you want to make sure that you don’t spill a drop. These breast milk storage bags from Ameda each come with an easy-pour spout to make sure it all gets into the bottle with no waste. To use, you just tear off the corner and pour. You can pump directly into these bags, though you will need an adapter.
Women say they’re convenient and well-made, and it’s a bit perplexing why more bags don’t come with a similar spout. Some report leaks with these bags and they only hold 5 ounces, so if you’re pumping a lot of milk they may not be the best choice. Overall, however, most women give these bags a glowing review.
Capacity:5 ounces |Closure Type:Zip Seal |Quantity:40
Best Large Quantity: Mommy's Precious 110 Count Breastmilk Storage Bags
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Courtesy of Amazon
Hold up to 8 ounces
Bulk quantity in box
Pre sterilized
Small writing label
Single use
If you’repumping large quantities of milk, good for you mama, but you also want storage bags that can hold a significant amount of all that goodness you’re producing. While many breast milk storage bags on the market store just 5–6 ounces of milk, these from Mommy’s Precious are designed to hold 8 ounces, and some women report that they can get up to 10 ounces in them. The bags are self-standing and freeze flat.
Hundreds of women give these bags a top rating. They say they’re durable and don’t leak at all, and they love the bigger size as it means using fewer bags overall.
Capacity:8 ounces |Closure Type:Double Zip Lock |Quantity:110
Best for Travel: Kiinde Twist Cap Breast Milk Storage Bags
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Courtesy of Amazon
Twist cap closure
Can pump directly into them
Can attach nipple to convert it into a bottle
On the pricier end
Cannot be reused
Take up more freezer space because of their design
For a twist on traditional zippered breast milk storage bags, there are these bags from Kiinde. You can collect, store and prepare the milk for your baby all in one pouch, which is both convenient and economical. They lock onto any pump with an adapter, which is sold separately, and a twist-on cap keeps them secure while they're being frozen. When it’s time to feed the baby, you attach a nipple to the top. There are no bottles or other accessories to wash. The bags are self-standing, freeze flat, and are designed to hold up to 6 ounces of milk. They are also available in 8 oz size.
虽然他们比历史更贵一些l bags, thousands of women say they’re worth it. While some say the twist caps take up more freezer space and make them more difficult to organize, most say the ease of use makes up for that.
Capacity:6 ounces |Closure Type:Twist Cap |Quantity:80
Best No-Leak: NUK Simply Natural Seal n' Go Breast Milk Bags
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Courtesy of Amazon
100% leak proof design
Durable
Cannot pump directly into them
Self-standing, but often fall
Every drop counts when it comes to breast milk, and these Nuk Seal N Go breast milk storage bags come with a 100 percent leak-proof guarantee. Thick and durable, the self-standing bags are designed to hold up to 6 ounces of milk.
They’re not designed for direct pumping, and some women report that they don’t stand up well when filling. Overall, however, most women say they’re a solid, affordable option for safely storing breast milk.
Capacity:6 ounces |Closure Type:Double zip |Quantity:25, 50, 100 or 200
Final Verdict
While all of these breast milk storage bags are great, Lansinoh Breast Milk Storage Bags (view at Amazon) ranks highest on our list because you can pump directly into them, they are well-made and won’t leak, and they have a spout that makes it easy to pour milk into bottles.
What to Look for in a Breast Milk Storage Bag
Cost
Since the vast majority of breast pump bags are single-use, you will want to consider how many you will be using in a given day, week, and month, and what the overall cost will be. There are many factors that play into how many bags you’ll use, like whether or not you’re exclusively pumping, how much milk you are able to produce in a single session, and how long you anticipate pumping.
You may consider buying in bulk, as the amount of bags you use definitely adds up over time, so even a $.10 difference in price per bag can make a huge impact on your wallet
Capacity
How much milk do you tend to output in a single session? Some women get one or two ounces in a single session while others can seem to produce more milk than they know what to do with. Based on your personal supply, consider whether a six ounce bag would be sufficient or if you need something that can hold eight ounces. Or, maybe you want to get a few different sizes so that you are prepared no matter what. Regardless, be sure to pay attention to how much the bags can hold and consider that amount in relation to your standard output.
The Cleveland Clinic recommends storing milk in small,two to four ounceportions, especially for infants less than six weeks old. Smaller increments can help reduce waste once defrosted and speed up warming time.Closure Type
There is a reason they call breast milk “liquid gold” and the last thing you want is for your milk storage bag to start leaking, wasting all of that goodness. This means you want to look for a durable storage bag that’s designated for breast milk, doesn’t tear at the seams easily, and closes tightly.
The most common closure types are twist top, single zip, and double zip. None of these styles are guaranteed spill-proof, but, depending on the brand, some are more reliable than others. When you’re shopping for a breast milk storage bag, read over some customer reviews to see whether or not other users have had frequent issues with leaking or adequately sealing the bag.
Material
Most breast milk storage bags tend to be made of plastic, and it’s an especially budget-friendly material. While it may be tempting to reach for any plastic container you have lying around, the best options are designed specifically to hold breast milk.
If you do decide to go with plastic, make sure the bag is BPA-free (look for bags without therecycle symbol 7). Storage bags tend to be the most prone to leakage compared to plastic or glass containers, so take into account details like secure closure types, double zippers, and extra thickness.
常见,stions
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According to lactation consultantAmanda DeWeese, MPH, CPH, IBCLC, the CDC recently updated theirrecommendation for breast milk storage5,“规则的“不再适用。而不是, they advise parents to follow a “4-4-6 rule,”where fresh milk can stay at room temperature (77 degrees F or below) for up to four hours, in the refrigerator for four days, or in a freezer for up to six months.
Carefully following timing rules helps prevent theopportunity for bacteria to multiply, and to be extra safe, make sure not to refreeze breast milk and to limit its exposure to heat and direct sunlight.
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This depends entirely on the brand that you purchase. “Most breastmilk storage bags are disposable and not meant to be reused,” DeWeese says. “However, there are some brands that are specifically made to be reused, including those made from thicker, stronger plastic or silicone materials.”
You should look closely at the manufacturer’s information to determine whether or not the bags are reusable. And if they are, DeWeese notes that even those can only be used a certain number of times before they need to be replaced. Some options are even recyclable so you can feel better about single-use bags.
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“One needs to pump if they are separated from their baby or if baby is not latching,” saysLeigh Anne O’Connor, IBCLC, LCCE.She continues, “A person will want to pump if their baby gets a bottle as this keeps the body in balance with baby’s needs and avoids clogged milk ducts which can lead to low milk supply.”
Based on your personal supply or preferences, you may choose to pump regularly, or only occasionally. If you choose toexclusively pump, and have a newborn, aim to pump every few hours, up to 12 times a day.
As your baby grows older, expect them to need a larger supply and more spaced out pumping sessions. When baby reaches six months old, they will need between36 and 48 ounces per day.
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As heat can destroy precious nutrients, there are several methods recommended by the Cleveland Clinic and CDC. When you’re ready to thaw frozen breast milk, always choose theoldest milk in the freezerto prevent a decrease in quality. Your first option is to run the container under lukewarm water for several minutes. Avoid microwaves as they don’t offereven heat distribution.
另一个除霜方法,你也可以热water in a pan and after removing from the stove, place the container inside. Before giving the milk to your little one, always test the temperature to make sure it’s not too hot. You can also wait for the milk to cool down to room temperature, though this may not be up to your baby’s preferences. Once the breast milk has thawed, make sure to use it all in one sitting, or within two hours.
Why Trust Verywell Family
Ashley Ziegleris a full-time parenting writer and mom to a 2-year-old and a 4-year-old. She has personal experience in researching and purchasing a variety of children’s products.
Additional reporting byTori Zhou.