In some scenarios, it’s not always clear whether breast milk is safe to give to your baby or needs to be discarded. Here are the most common “can I feed my baby this breast milk” questions, and answers according to the available guidelines and information.
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My baby didn’t finish a bottle. Can I reuse it and offer the bottle later?
If my baby drank some breast milk but didn’t finish the bottle, can I feed the leftover milk later?
Yes. You can offer it again within two hours.
Per the CDC, the guideline that we should follow is:
If your baby did not finish the bottle, the leftover breast milk can still be used within two hours after the baby is finished feeding. After 2 hours, leftover breast milk should be discarded.
What’s the reasoning behind this guideline? When your baby begins drinking from a bottle, there will be some bacterial contamination that occurs in the breast milk.
How quickly this will make the breast milk unsafe to consume depends on the room temperature, how long the milk has been stored, and the bacteria present.
As a general guideline (without knowing the individual circumstances of each bottle) the CDC states that offering again within two hours should be safe for consumption. After that, it may not be, and so should be discarded.
If I warmed a bottle and baby didn’t drink from it, can I put it back in the fridge? How long does breast milk last after warming?
If I warmed a bottle of breast milk and my baby didn’t drink any (she went back to sleep), can I put it back in the refrigerator and offer it again?
Yes. You can offer it again within the next two hours.
Per the CDC:
Once breast milk is brought to room temperature or warmed after storing in the refrigerator or freezer, it should be used within 2 hours.
The reasoning here is that bacteria starts to grow more quickly when the milk is warmed.
Can you reheat a bottle of breast milk?
If I’m reusing a bottle within the two hours, should I put it back in the fridge and rewarm it, or just leave it at room temperature?
Either rewarming or leaving it at room temperature is fine – whichever works best for you. Per Kellymom:
If you do save the milk for later use, some mothers re-refrigerate the milk and others leave it at room temperature – no studies have been done, so we don’t know whether one method is preferred. We do know that for any food, refrigeration slows bacteria growth. Milk storage guidelines do not include any warnings against rewarming milk, and many moms rewarm with no issues.
Just be sure to use or discard within two hours of the first warming.
Can I refreeze frozen breast milk?
My milk thawed in a power outage. I’m heartbroken! Can I refreeze it?
This is the worst feeling – I’ve had all my milk thaw due to one of my older kids unplugging my deep freezer.
But unfortunately, you cannot refreeze thawed breast milk, and you need to use it within 24 hours of when it has finished thawing (not from when the power outage started or you took it out of the freezer).
One important thing to note when considering this is that “finished thawing” means that all of the ice crystals are gone. If your breast milk still has ice crystals, it is considered safe to put back in the freezer.
Can I take breast milk out of the fridge and let it come to room temperature?
Can I take my breast milk out of the refrigerator and let it gradually warm up, instead of using a bottle warmer?
Yes, you can. However, there is a time limit on how long you can leave it out.
Again, per the CDC:
Once breast milk is brought to room temperature or warmed after storing in the refrigerator or freezer, it should be used within 2 hours.
So you have two hours once your milk comes to room temperature to feed it to your baby. How long does it take breast milk to come to room temperature when sitting out? I love experiments, so I tested it out.
It took about two hours when I tested it out (room temperature in my Chicago-in-January house was 66 degrees).
How long it will take your breast milk to warm to room temperature will depend on how much milk is in the bottle, what the ambient temperature is, and the composition of the milk. However, I think two hours is a good general guideline.
Can I leave refrigerated breast milk out, and feed it to baby in the middle of the night?
In the past, you’ve recommended letting freshly pumped milk sit out until baby’s first nighttime feeding (within 4-8 hours*). Can I do this with previously refrigerated milk, or does it have to be freshly pumped?
You can, as long as the feeding occurs with four hours – two for it to come to room temperature, and the two that it can sit out according to the CDC guideline discussed above.
So, if your baby goes to bed at 8pm, you take the milk out and go to bed at 11pm, and your baby normally wakes up for a feeding before 3am, that will work fine.
*Note: The guidelines on how long freshly pumped breast milk can be safely left out at room temperature vary. The CDC says 4 hours is the maximum; Kellymom says 4-8, with 3-4 being ideal.
Can I take thawed breast milk out of the fridge and let it come to room temperature?
I’ve weaned from the pump and am feeding my baby from my freezer stash. I want to take some breast milk with me on an outing with my baby. I know I can’t thaw the milk at room temperature. But can I thaw it, and then let previously frozen milk come to room temperature in a my diaper bag before feeding it?
I could not find a clear answer to this question.
There are two parts to the question – a) can I let a bottle of previously frozen milk come to room temperature over time, and b) can I let a bottle of previously frozen breast milk sit out at room temperature until baby is ready to drink it?
We have to answer to the second part of the question from the Department of Health and Human Services:
Once breastmilk is thawed to room temperature or warmed after being in the refrigerator or freezer, use it within 2 hours.
So yes, a bottle of previously frozen breast milk can sit at room temperature for 2 hours.
However, they do not specify how the breast milk must get to room temperature. We know that we can’t thaw milk at room temperature (it needs to be done in the refrigerator or in water), but after it’s thawed, can it sit at room temperature to warm, or does it need to be warmed to room temperature by putting it in a bowl of lukewarm water? I read through a lot of documentation, and was not able to find an answer.
So, if you want to be on the safe side, I would recommend keeping the previously frozen milk cold in a cooler (more options here) and then warming it using one of the methods described here for warming breast milk outside the house.
What “can I feed my baby this breast milk” questions do you have that I missed? Share them in the comments, and I’ll try to find the answer!
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References- Bonyata, Kelly. “Breastmilk Storage & Handling.” https://kellymom.com/bf/pumpingmoms/milkstorage/milkstorage/
- Bonyata, Kelly. “My power went out and I have breastmilk in the freezer – Help!” https://kellymom.com/hot-topics/frozen-milk-power-outage/
- Bonyata, Kelly. “Reusing Expressing Breast Milk.” https://kellymom.com/bf/pumpingmoms/milkstorage/reusing-expressedmilk/
- CDC. “Proper Storage and Preparation of Breast Milk.” https://www.cdc.gov/breastfeeding/recommendations/handling_breastmilk.htm
- Department of Health and Human Services. “Pumping and storing breastmilk.” https://www.womenshealth.gov/breastfeeding/pumping-and-storing-breastmilk
- Englash, Anne, and Simon, Liliana. “ABM Clinical Protocol #8: Human Milk Storage Information for Home Use for Full-Term Infants, Revised 2017. https://abm.memberclicks.net/assets/DOCUMENTS/PROTOCOLS/8-human-milk-storage-protocol-english.pdf
Comments & Chitchat
Juliana says
Hello, I was going over to my mothers house and I took breast milk from the fridge at noon that was pumped over night and put it into an insulated cooler. (Had no ice, so it was just in the insulated bag) then realized it was still in the insulated bag at 4pm, it was still cool andI put it right into the fridge. Can I still freeze it? To keep it at her house?
Amanda Glenn, CLC says
Hi Juliana! If it was not room temperature yet, then you could still keep it. If it came to room temperature, you would need to use or discard within a few hours. 🙂
Alex P says
I forgot to put the cap on a bottle before putting in the fridge. Can I still use the milk or does it need to be discarded?
Amanda Glenn, CLC says
Hi Alex! If it’s been more than a short time, I would.
Raina Lee says
I have a stash of breastmilk going back a few months and I’m planning to stop pumping soon. How far back can I feed my baby (9 mos now, will prob be 10 mo by the time i have to dip into the stash) from the stash? I’ve heard that breastmilk nutrition profile changes as the baby gets older, so can I feed my 9-10 mo old frozen milk from when he was 4 months or 6 months?
Amanda Glenn, CLC says
Hi Raina! It doesn’t change enough that it makes a difference. You can feed any milk that’s not expired. Congrats!
Kalynn says
Example, if I have a 2oz bottle of room temp milk out for baby (not previously drankin).. is it safe to add an oz of refrigerated milk to it and give immediately to baby?
Amanda Glenn, CLC says
As long as the room temp milk isn’t expired, yes that’s fine.
Karina says
Hi,
I just have a question as I’m exclusively pumping for my second child. I usually pump and leave it at room temperature and feed it to her within the 4hr. 1 night she woke up and the milk was 3 1/2 hr passed, she drank only 10ml and felt asleep and woke up after half hr or more, is the milk still good to feed or should i toss it out?
Amanda Glenn, CLC says
Hi Karina! at the half hour mark it would be okay. The hour and a half after that are a grey area that’s not clear (4 hours at room temp is okay and 2 hours after feeding is okay, but what if it’s already been at room temp for 4 hours? CDC does not go into this nuance). After that time, it should be discarded.
Jess says
I have a question. I have started collecting my letdown while my baby feeds on other breast which means it’s only small amounts (30-50mls). Can I combine the frozen bags from different days to make a bottle worth? I have tried researching and cannot find this exact question or answer anywhere, please help.
Amanda Glenn, CLC says
Hi Jess! Yes, you can. More on mixing milk here:
https://exclusivepumping.com/mixing-breast-milk/
Lindsay says
I probably already know the answer to this but I wanted to make sure before I discarded or used for milk bath. I accidentally left about 16oz of refrigerated breast milk out on the counter while I was bagging up to freeze. It was out for probably 3 hours in a glass jar. It was still pretty cool to the touch when I found it. Would it be ok to freeze and use later?
Amanda Glenn, CLC says
Hi Lindsay! As long as it’s still cool, should be okay. 🙂
Lucy says
Hi Amanda, I’ve had to save your website/blog on my favorites because it’s so useful! What about milk that’s been previously cold (thawed, then put in the fridge, then placed in bag w/ ice pack) on a 5-6 hour road trip? Once we arrive at our destination can I place the milk in the fridge for later feedings or should they be tossed? If it helps any, AC has been on in the car and milk has been stored away from sunlight.
Amanda Glenn, CLC says
As long as it stays cold the whole time in the cooler, I think it’s fine to put it in the fridge and use later. Given that it’s been thawed, I’d use within 24 hours or as soon as you can – but as long as it’s still cold and hasn’t returned to room temperature, my understanding is that it should be okay.
Lynn says
I took a bottle of breast milk out of refrigerator and tried to feed my grandson( one month old) he fell asleep and did not drink any of the milk. When I tried to feed him he sucked for a second. I returned the bottle to the refrigerator and it was still cold. Does this bottle have to be used within two hours because he had contact with the bottle? Thank you
Amanda Glenn, CLC says
Hi Lynn! That’s what the CDC would say. I’m sorry!
Torri says
Thank you so much for this post! I hope you’re still reading the comments! I accidentally left frozen milk out on the counter around 8PM and didn’t realize it until I awoke in a panic at 2:17AM, realizing the milk was still out. It was still slightly cool to the touch and I put it directly in the fridge. Now it’s 4:30AM and I’m searching the internet to find out if I can still feed it to my baby… Has this milk gone bad already? Or can it be used in 2, 4, or 24 hours? Thank you!!
Amanda Glenn, CLC says
Hi Torri! When you say frozen milk, do you mean it was frozen or previously frozen? If previously frozen, I think I would discard. If it was a like a bga of frozen milk that was frozen when you left it out and was still cool when you found it, that’s tougher. I think I would either discard or use at the very next feeding. Sorry, I know that’s not what you want to hear!
Lauren says
Hi! I warm d a bottle of refrigerated milk and baby fell asleep not touching it. Is my only option to feed in 2 hrs or can I freeze it right away?
Pamela says
Hi
When expressing breast milk into bottles can you store the breast milk in the fridge in the bottle with the teat and teat cap on the bottle?
Or should it be only stored in a bottle with a screw top lid?
Amanda Glenn, CLC says
As long as the cap is on the teat it’s fine!
Naureen says
I have a 6 week old newborn that loves falling asleep in the middle of feeding sessions. Anyway if I keep a bottle of freshly expressed nreastmilk out for say 4 hours and she ain waking to have it can I put it in the fridge AFTER it’s been sitting at room temperature for 4 hours? 77 degrees f is our room temperature
Amanda Glenn, CLC says
The CDC would say you could do put it in the fridge until 3 hours and 59 minutes and then after 4 hours exactly it’s bad. 🙂
Debra Pogodzinski says
Picked my son up from daycare and his caregiver said she had just put his bottle in the warmer less than 2 minutes ago. It was still cool to the touch. It was half thawed frozen milk, half fresh from refrigerator. I immediately put it in to a cooler with ice packs and transferred it to the refrigerator when I got home 30 minutes later. Want to still give tomorrow morning before the 24 hr window expires. Will this be ok?
Amanda Glenn, CLC says
If it was still cool to the touch that’s fine. If it had warmed to room temp or warmer I would have said use within 2 hours. But you should be good!
Debra Pogodzinski says
Thank you Amanda. I did go ahead and give it. Ended up being just after the 24 hr expiration for thawed frozen milk. Not entirely sure as there may have still been ice crystal in it longer than I am thinking. He drank 4 of the 5 oz. Seems to be ok.
Lauren says
Hi. I use a pitcher method and accidentally left a refrigerated pitcher full out at 1030 pm until 420am. I instantly put it back in the fridge. Would you say this is safe to feed if it was closed and doesn’t have bad smell or taste?
Amanda Glenn, CLC says
Hi Lauren! According to the rules, no – I’m so sorry!
Christi says
Hi! I moved a days worth of breast milk from the freezer to the refrigerator, and 24 hours later it still hasn’t completely defrosted. Can I still use this if I defrost it in warm water?
Amanda Glenn, CLC says
Hi Christi – yes! the 24 hour clock doesn’t start until it’s completely defrosted. 🙂
Carolina says
I just want to say THANK YOU for the above scenarios!! I’ve literally looked for four months for this!
Gwen Myers says
For some reason i thought breast milk was safe in the fridge for 8 days. UGH. Do i need to trash everything i’ve frozen?
Amanda Glenn, CLC says
Hi Gwen, some sources say up to 8 days – it’s confusing. Personally, I wouldn’t trash what you’ve frozen, I would just do four days going forward. But ask your pediatrician if you have concerns. I hope that helps!
Michelle says
It depends how cold your refrigerator is. There are guidelines i got from my pediatrician when I asked about it.
Elisa says
Hi, I hope you’re still reading this! Should I dump my breast milk if both my baby and I had a cold while it was expressed? Thank you!
Amanda Glenn, CLC says
Hi Elisa! No, you can feed it.
Cristina says
I didn’t know you couldn’t freeze breast milk that baby didn’t finish. I would put in fridge right after and freeze the remaining at the end of the day. Unfortunately I don’t know which of my stash was reused breast milk or not. What should I do?
Amanda Glenn, CLC says
Hi Christina! Oh, that stinks. Honestly, I would ask your pediatrician. They might recommend different things based on your baby’s age, health, whether they were a preemie or not, that kind of thing. Sorry this happened!
Hannah says
Hi question: I didn’t realize it was bad to combine freshly pumped milk into already chilled milk and have some frozen, should I dump it or is it safe to still feed baby? Each bag frozen is from the same day I just didn’t cook down the milk before combining it with previous milk. Thanks in advance:)
Amanda Glenn, CLC says
Hi Hannah, if you only warmed it once (dumped warm milk into chilled milk one time) I personally wouldn’t dump it. If you did it multiple times, I might use it for a milk bath. Hope that helps!
Kristen says
The AAP has changed this guideline! Look under “milk storage” https://www.aap.org/en/patient-care/breastfeeding/frequently-asked-questions/
Dureshahwar Saima says
Hi! Thank you for the amazing resource! I offered my daughter freshly pumped breast milk but she only drank a few sips from it. Can I heat that milk before offering it to her again in that two hour periof or would reheating it increase the chances of bacteria spreading?
Amanda Glenn, CLC says
Hi! You can reheat within the 2 hour window according to kellymom.com. Hope that helps!
Isabelle says
Hi! I’m a working new mom and breastfeeding. At work, i pump and store my milk in a cooler with ice packs until i get home and then i freeze the milk. Is this ok? I also follow the fridge method with my pumping parts, as i can’t wash all my parts at work. Is this okay as well? Thank you!
Amanda Glenn, CLC says
Hi Isabelle, that’s fine as far as milk storage goes. Here’s a great video about the fridge hack that might be helpful: https://www.instagram.com/tv/CKUoAsIAu8e/
Shiva says
Hi, my many dint finish the freshly pumped breast milk which was offered to him within one hour after pumping . Can I refrigerate the remaining milk ?
Amanda Glenn, CLC says
Hi Shiva! It should be used within 2 hours, I’m sorry!
Sonji says
Hi there,
I put my breastmilk from the freezer into the fridge the night before I need it. I thought my baby would wake up for a feeding so I warmed it up ahead of time. I ended up giving her the bottle about 1 hour after I warmed it up but she didn’t finish it. Is the milk still good for 2 hours from the time she started feeding or from the time I warmed it up?
Thanks so much!
Amanda Glenn, CLC says
Hi Sonji! The CDC isn’t good with nuance but I would say 2 hours from warming. I agree it’s confusing!! Congrats on your sweet baby!
Candice says
Hi! I pumped 3 bottles at work today and they were refrigerated. I pumped one more bottle after I left work. I forgot to put my ice packs back in the cooler when I left work. Unfortunately I was not going straight home and the bottles were in the cooler in the car without ice packs for ~2.5 hrs. When I got home the previously refrigerated ones were not as cold. Do I need to dump them or can they still be consumed?
Amanda Glenn, CLC says
Hi Candice! If they were only at room temp for 2.5 hours, they can still be consumed. If you’re nervous, though, you can use them for a milk bath.
Hanna says
I accidentally left fresh pumped milk out for 8 hrs over night in my 75 degree house. I forgot to put it in the fridge before I went to bed. Should I dump it?
Amanda Glenn, CLC says
I would, I’m sorry! Or use it for a milk bath if it’s not spoiled. Sorry Hanna!
Aarthi says
Hi! Thanks for this resource.
1. can I keep freshly expressed pumped milk out for 4 hours and THEN store it in fridge after 4 hours if Cam doesn’t drink it ? Or should I throw it away after 4 hours? I know I can keep the milk out upto 4 hours..
2. If I take pumped milk from fridge and warm it, how long can it stay out ?
Amanda Glenn, CLC says
Hi Aarthi! up too 4 hours is okay but AFTER 4 hour you’d want to dump. 🙂
You should use within 2 hours of warming!
Lauren says
I have a bottle warmer with a “constant warm” function. If I put breast milk in the warmer and it stays at 95 degrees F, how long can I keep it warm before I have to discard it?
Amanda Glenn, CLC says
Hi Lauren! 2 hours. 🙂
Megan says
I took a bottle out to feed baby while we were out but she didn’t need it. The bottle is untouched. Can I refrigerate or does it need to be thrown?
Amanda Glenn, CLC says
If it got to room temp, you should use within two hours. Otherwise you can refrigerate. Hope that helps!
Carol Roberts says
This is great info for us grandmothers-who-babysit, too. Thank you so much!
Amanda Glenn, CLC says
You’re welcome Carol! 🙂
Patty says
Hi! Thanks for all the info that you provide. I’m having trouble figuring out a day out with frozen bagged milk. Would I be able to thaw it overnight in the fridge and for a day trip and then pack the partially thawed milk in a cooler bag with ice packs (like a lunch cooler) and let it keep thawing like that? Or would I have to just take it almost completely frozen and keep it in the cooler? I would rather not buy a portable warmer as we don’t really go out (but I will if that’s the safest route). My LO doesn’t mind cold milk so it doesn’t need to be warm, just completely thawed.
Amanda Glenn, CLC says
Hi Patty! I would fully thaw it overnight (finish in cold water if it’s not fully thawed) and then pack it with ice packs and keep it cold to feed. HOpe that makes sense!
Diray Jolly says
Thank you ladies for the amazing helpful tips! This page is def provided me a lot of comfort bc I am a new mom and breastfeeding and I wasn’t sure of a lot of things brought up or mentioned here today!
Amber A says
Thank you for your super informative website! I’ve been wondering, if baby doesn’t finish their bottle, can I freeze the remaining milk?
Thank you!
Amber
Amanda Glenn, CLC says
Hi Amber, no, sorry! You can reoffer it for 2 hours and then you should discard it. You could freeze it to use in a milk bath though?
Amber says
Hi! I just got back from a 7-hour road trip on Sunday night. Before leaving, I added a couple of bags of breast milk to an insulated cooler with a block of ice. Once I made it, the block of ice had melted down into pieces (there was still ice present) so the milk was completely submerged in ice water. I immediately put it in the refrigerator. So I am wondering if the milk is still good. And if so, for how long.
Amanda Glenn, CLC says
Hi Amber, if there were still ice crystals, which is sounds like there were, you should use it within 24 hours of it finishing thawing in the fridge. Hope that helps!
Mirabel says
Great Read, had the answer to every single question I have ever asked on breastfeeding. Thanks Mirabel
Farhah says
Hi Amanda, i have few questions and I hope you’re still reading this 😅
1. Can i add freshly expressed milk with previously refrigerated milk to feed my baby? Incase i didnt pump enough and need to add few more ml. If yes then should I warm both together or just the cold milk before mix both together
2. Once previously frozen milk has been thawed using warmer, but false alarm because my baby go back to sleep, can I put back the warmed milk in the fridge and use it within 24hrs or 4hrs or 2hrs? Then warm it back before the next feeding time.
Really hope you can answer these. Thank you so muchh!!
Amanda Glenn, CLC says
Hi Farhah! For #1, if you’re feeding immediately, that should be fine. I’d warm the cold and then add the freshly expressed.
For #2, you can use it within 2 hours after warming.
Hope that helps!
Jane says
Hi! I warmed previously refrigerated milk and added an ounce of formula to it (8 oz milk, 1 oz formula). My baby fell back to sleep and it’s now been out for two hours – can I still use it?
Amanda Glenn, CLC says
Hi Jane, so sorry, but after 2 two hours I wouldn’t feed it. I would use it for a milk bath though!
Lauren says
Hello! So if my baby drinks fresh breast milk that has already been out for 4 hours but doesn’t finish do I still have 2 more hours? Or is it leave out for 2 hours and they can finish in another 2 hours?
Amanda Glenn, CLC says
I think as long as your house is on the cooler side (less than 72 degrees) that’s okay. If not, I would maybe put it in the fridge and re-warm. (The CDC doesn’t go into this much detail, so this is a guess/what I would do, not anything official.)
Jennifer Capote says
I have a frozen stash built up and want to know if I need to dump it all? Soo I just found out that you need to chill freshly pumped milk before adding it to refrigerated milk. Well I have a pretty big frozen stash that I did not follow that rule with and I’ve actually defrosted and fed my baby to bags worth. Should I throw out all that milk and is my baby at risk since she did drink about 2 6ounce bags? Also do I need to let freshly pumped milk get chilled in fridge before putting it directly into the freezer?
Amanda Glenn says
Hi Jennifer, I think if your baby hasn’t gotten sick she’s probably fine. I would ask your pediatrician but I think my approach if it were me would be different if you dumped warm milk in once versus all day long (so the milk is warmed and warmed and warmed). I would dump the latter I think.
You don’t need to chill it before putting it in the freezer.
Aileen says
Thank you for such a thorough and helpful page!
Amanda Glenn says
Thank you so much!
Tuong L. Pham says
How many degrees is ‘room temperature’? Thank you Amanda!
Amanda Glenn says
Hi! The CDC defines it as 77 degrees and under 🙂
LUDMILA TAN says
Does freshly expressed milk need to cool down to room temperature (mine can be really warm right after pumping) before storing in the fridge/freezer?
Amanda Glenn says
No it doesn’t! 🙂
Julia says
My baby didn’t finish her bottle. I want to give it to her again within two hours but I’m sure it’s not enough to fill her belly so she goes back to sleep. Can I add freshly expressed or refrigerated milk to the leftovers, warm it all together and then give to my baby the next time she wakes. She’s just under 3 weeks right now and I exclusively pump.
Amanda Glenn says
Hi Julia! No, the concern is that the bacteria from the unfinished bottle would then have time to grow. Even if you dilute the milk, the bacteria will still be there. You need to discard it. Sorry!
Amal says
Is it possible to place refrigerated breast milk in a thermos to keep it cold, if we were to leave the house for a few hours? The thermos would only be used for baby’s breast milk and I would wash it in the dishwasher before use.
Thank you!
Amanda Glenn says
Yes, I think this would be fine! An insulated bag with an ice pack might be easier (so you can keep it in the bottle) but I see no issue with using a Thermos as you describe.
Megan says
I’ve been asking the question about caffeine output.
I’ve been told by lactation nurses that caffeine is most potent after 2-3 hours of consumption. My question is what if I drink more caffeine than recommended but don’t pump for 5,6 or 7 hours, does that milk still have the high caffeine content or has it lost some of that over the hours?
Amanda Glenn says
I think it is probably like alcohol, where it leaves the milk as it leaves your blood. However, I’m not 100% sure, sorry!
Kelly says
My husband was trying to get a head start on heating a bottle of breast milk because he thought the baby was waking up from her nap, but she fell back to sleep. So he asked me what he should do with the bottle. Given the above information, even though she didn’t drink from it, I told him use within 2 hrs to be safe. Is that right? Or because she didn’t drink from it yet, would it still be good for a longer period?
Amanda Glenn says
You got it right!
Jordan says
Oh my gosh! These are literally all the questions I have had over the last 8 months of my baby’s life. Thank you, thank you!
Eva says
Hi! I gave my baby thawed milk, he didn’t finish it – can I offer it to him again in a couple of hours? Should I put it back in the fridge or toss it? Thanks
Amanda Glenn says
I would offer it again within two hours and then toss. Personally I would just keep it at room temp.
Hannah says
Do you know how long breast milk can stay in the fridge before you freeze it? Can it be in the fridge for days and then frozen or does it need to be frozen immediately?
Amanda Glenn says
It can be in the fridge for a few days (up to 4, per the CDC) and then frozen. If you know you’re going to freeze it, it’s better to do that right away – but if not, it’s okay.