9
Guide to storing fresh breastmilk for use with healthy, full-term babies
PLACE
TEMPERATURE
HOW LONG
THINGS TO KNOW
Countertop,
table
Room temperature
(up to 77°F)
Up to 4 hours
Containers should be covered and kept as cool
as possible. Covering the container with a clean
cool towel may keep milk cooler. Throw out any
leftover milk within 2 hours after the baby is
finished feeding.
Refrigerator
40°F
Up to 4 days
Store milk in the back of the refrigerator. When
at work, it's OK to put breastmilk in a shared
refrigerator. Be sure to label the container clearly.
Freezer
0°F or colder
Within 6
months is
best. Up to
12 months is
acceptable
Store milk toward the back of the freezer where
the temperature is most constant. Milk stored at
0°F or colder is safe for longer durations, but the
quality of the milk might not be as high.
Source: Adapted from 7th Edition American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) Pediatric Nutrition Handbook (2014);
2nd Edition AAP/American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG) Breastfeeding Handbook for
Physicians (2014); Academy of Breastfeeding Medicine (ABM) Clinical Protocol #8 Human Milk Storage Information
for Home Use for Full-Term Infants (2017); CDC Human Milk Storage Guidelines (2018).
Date all breastmilk and use the oldest breastmilk first.
NOTE:
DO NOT refreeze milk once it is thawed.
Thawing
Thaw frozen milk in the refrigerator or place the containers under cool running
water, gradually warming the water until the milk is thawed. Thawed milk can be
kept in a refrigerator for up to 24 hours.
Breastmilk is not homogenized and you may notice that it separates as it sits. Gently
swirl thawed milk before feeding to baby to mix the layers that have separated.
Breastmilk can vary in color and consistency depending upon the time of the day
that the milk was expressed, what you have eaten, and the age of the baby at the
time of pumping.
Please reference the below link for the most current breastmilk storage and usage
guidelines: https://www.cdc.gov/breastfeeding/recommendations/handling_
breastmilk.htm
NOTE: DO NOT MICROWAVE HUMAN MILK! Microwaving alters the composition of the
milk. Microwaving also may create “hot spots” in the milk that could burn the infant
NOTE: DO NOT thaw breastmilk in hot or boiling water.
