On this Page:

• What Are Breast Milk Storage Bags?
• Can You Wash And Reuse Breast Milk Storage Bags?
• Do Breast Milk Storage Bags Matter?
• What Are The Best Storage Bags?
• Can You Use Sandwich Bags To Store Breast Milk?

Breast milk storage bags have become the latest go-to product for storing, freezing and warming your precious breast milk, and especially reusable storage bags. However, if your are a new mum, or if you haven’t used them before, you may have questions about how to use these new storage bags.

In this article, we answer some of the most popular questions that we receive about our storage bags here at the Cherub Baby HQ:

What Are Breast Milk Storage Bags?

Breast milk storage bags are a super convenient way for you to store, freeze, warm and serve your expressed breast milk. They are BPA and BPS free and come pre-sterilised so you can start using them straight away. Good quality storage bags should be leak proof so that you can use them to freeze and store the bags flat. This will save you more space in your fridge or freezer than using conventional bottles or plastic containers.

Can You Wash And Reuse Breast Milk Storage Bags?

Not all brands of breast milk storage bags are the same. Unfortunately, most brands are disposable. They use thinner, single-use plastic that is not reusable. Some others, like our Cherub Baby brand are specifically designed to be reusable. Reusable storage bags are made from thicker and stronger double layered BPA free plastic that has been independently tested for re-use.

You can clean reusable storage bags by washing them in warm soapy water, or your dishwasher. Make sure to sterilise each bag after every use.

Here are some tips for washing your reusable milk bags:

By Hand Washing:

You can wash the milk storage bags by using a bottle brush with warm soapy water. Just follow these easy steps:

• First open the seal.
• Then rinse out the initial milky residue.
• Place the bag in warm soapy water and wash thoroughly. The wide opening should allow you easy access to be able to clean all the corners of the bag.
• Use a bottle brush to clean the bag thoroughly. This will help to avoid any residue buildup.
• Rinse thoroughly with clean water.
• Finally leave the bag open in a steam steriliser.

Using Your Dishwasher:

• First open the seal.
• Then place the milk bags upside down on the top rack of the dishwasher.
• Finally leave the bag open in a steam steriliser.

Do breast milk storage bags matter?

One of the main reasons these new storage bags matter is because they can help free up space in your fridge or freezer, rather than using bottles or plastic containers. In addition, unlike normal food bags (like Ziplock bags), they are made from thicker, durable, food grade BPA-free plastic. This means they are safe for storing breastmilk for longer periods of time, without fear of them splitting.

You can use breast milk storage bags to store your valuable expressed milk in the back of the fridge for up to 4 days. If you are not going to use it during this time we advise you to freeze your precious milk. It is best to store frozen breast milk at the back of the freezer for up to 6 months. However, you can store frozen breast milk in a chest or deep freezer for up to 12 months.

Nowadays, many brands design their bags to allow you to pump directly into them. This helps to eliminate opportunities for any contamination which makes them safer for you and your baby.

What are the best storage bags?

The best storage bags are reusable, which means they are more economical on your pocket and better for the environment. Other things to look out for include the following:

• Look for storage bags that are specifically designed for storing breast milk and are chemical free.
• Make sure they have strong, leak proof seals and tamper resistant lids.
• Are they free-standing for ease of use?
• Can you store them flat in the freezer? And can you stack the bags so they don’t take up too much space?
• Each bag should have enough labelling space for you to record the date you express and store your milk.
• In addition, check that there is enough labelling space for your baby’s name if they have to go to child care.

Can you use sandwich bags to store breast milk?

You should never use sandwich bags or any other food bag that is not specifically designed for storing breast milk. These are not made from strong enough plastic and may split in the freezer. There’s nothing worse than crying over your spilt expressed breast milk!

Any other questions?

While these are the most common questions we receive about our breast milk storage bags you may have one of your own. If you have a question that we haven’t answered please let us know. Alternatively, please share your experiences in the comments below.

Reference:

All You Need to Know About Breast Milk Storage Bags – PBC Expo