Storing breast milk
Room
temperature
6-8 hours
at up to 78 °F
(25 °C)
Tips:
•
Do not store breast milk in the door of the refrigerator; instead choose the coldest part of the
refrigerator, usually toward the back.
Thaw frozen breast milk in the refrigerator overnight rather than using heat.
•
•
Thawed breast milk should be stored in the refrigerator for a maximum of 10 hours at 59°F
(15 °C).
It helps to label frozen breast milk with the date it was pumped, to help you track how long it's
•
been there.
Sources: CDC.gov and kellymom.com
Recommended storage guidelines
In carrying case
or cooler with
ice pack
24 hours
at 59°F
(15 °C)
Refrigerator
3-8 days at 39
°F or lower
(4 °C)
Freezer
6-12 months at
at 0-4 °F
(-18 –
20°C)
-
39