Exclusively pumping results tons of baby bottles to store, keep track of, and wash. Many moms use the “pitcher method” – storing breast milk in a pitcher – as a way to simplify their daily pumping and feeding routine, and make more room in their fridge.
Image courtesy Karly Walker
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What Exactly is the Pitcher Method?
Simply put, the pitcher method involves collecting all your pumped milk from the day and storing it in a large container. At the end of the day – or whenever your container is full – you then prepare the next day’s feeding bottles using the milk collected.
Any left over milk can be put into breast milk storage bags and frozen. This way, your baby is continuously getting fresh milk, and extra milk gets added to your freezer stash quickly.
What is the Perfect Container for the Pitcher Method?
Some of the features you want to look for in the container include:
- Ability to hold between 28-64 ounces (you want it to be able to hold more than you normally pump in a day)
- An easy pour spout, so that you don’t lose any milk when transferring it to bottles
- A lid to protect the milk when it’s stored in the refrigerator
- Made from glass or food grade plastic
Some great options that moms in our Facebook group have used include:
1. Dr Brown’s Formula Mixing Pitcher
Dr. Brown’s Pitcher is one of the most popular choices for storing breastmilk. It holds 32oz.
2. Rubbermaid MixerMate
The MixerMate holds 32oz of breastmilk and has a secure top with a spout for pouring.
3. Mason Jar
One benefit of using a mason jar is that the fat from breast milk tends to stick less to glass containers. These tops provide an airtight seal and easy pour spout for mason jars.
4. Shaker Blender Bottles
4. Shaker Blender BottlesThis shaker bottle by Blender Bottle holds 28oz of liquid.
Is Storing Breast Milk in a Pitcher Right for Me?
Anyone can use the pitcher method! Moms with oversupply or who prefer to prep bottles in advance may benefit the most from this storage method. On the other hand, if you would rather feed freshly pumped breast milk, it might not make sense for you.
Here are the pros and cons.
Pros to the Pitcher Method
- Simplifies feeding and breast milk storage and makes it more systematic
- Takes up less room in your refrigerator
- Less work for those with an oversupply
- May result in fewer bottles to wash
Cons of the Pitcher Method
- If your container is accidentally dropped or broken, you will lose all of the breast milk that you had stored in it
4 Tips for Storing Breast Milk in a Pitcher
Here are some ways to make sure you handle you breast milk safely (and don’t waste any!) when using the pitcher method.
- Always cool freshly pumped milk first so that you are not mixing cold and warm milk together. When mixing milk from multiple pumping sessions, it is recommended that the milk always be the same temperature.
- Label your container with the date of the oldest milk, and remember that breast milk is generally good for 3-8 days in the refrigerator.
- Fully incorporate the fat by swirling the container so that your milk is well balanced.
- Use a silicone spatula to scrape off any fat stuck to the sides of your container.
Have you tried storing breast milk in a pitcher? Tell us your experience in the comments!
References- Bonyata, Kelly, IBCLC. “Breastmilk Storage & Handling.” https://kellymom.com/bf/pumpingmoms/milkstorage/milkstorage/
So as soon as I pump should I allow the milk to cool down before putting it in the fridge? Then as I pump throughout the day Let the milk cool down before adding it? Wouldn’t I have to put the pumped milk in the fridge before adding it to the pitcher so it’s the same temp?
Yes, exactly. I would put it in the fridge after you pump to cool, and then the next time you pump, add it to the pitcher. Hope that makes sense!
Hi. I’ve always wondered – what is the actual reason for not combining pumped (fresh/warm) milk with already cooled milk? I had heard elsewhere that you can do this, so was just curious!
Hi Brittany! It’s because it raises the temperature of the cooled milk, allowing bacteria to grow. 🙂
Hi I just started the pitcher method and am using the dr browns pitcher and love it! Question about the pitcher . I know it should be cleaned every 24 hours. I clean it every morning once I empty the pitcher of the days milk. Should I be sterilizing the pitcher everyday as well? It fits inside of my bottle sterilizer.
Hi Natalie! If your baby is a newborn, is sick or was a preemie, I would since it fits in the bottle sterilizer! If your baby isn’t in any of those categories, less often is okay. 🙂
Hi, I’m under supply and currently mix feeding my LO. I want to start the pitcher method and eliminate formula. I just want to be ahead by at least a day or 2 with her feeding. How do I go about using the pitcher method with that? I’m planning on formula feed her until I have enough for 1 day feeding and then I can put aside the formula. Would that be possible? And how do I add my pumped milk in the pitcher? Just keep adding it to what I’ve pumped? I know it says it has to be sale temperature. Can I put my freshly pumped milk in the fridge then transfer it to the pitcher once it’s cold? Please help! Thanks
Hi Marcy! Yes, that will work. And yes, I would put freshly pumped into the fridge, then combine once cooled (I would just do it the next time you pump as you’ll be back in the fridge then). Hope that helps!
Can I keep adding milk to the pitcher and keep it up to 4days and then freeze it?
You can (assuming the milk that you’re adding is cooled), but if you know you’re going to freeze it, the earlier the better.
Thank you so much for this information!
Hi, will the fat be stuck to the pitcher?
It can! You can use a silicone scraper to get it off and mix it. 🙂
Mason jars are smart! Shouldn’t the lids be sterilized though? Do you use a dishwasher sterilization cycle? I’d love to be able to microwave sterilize. Is washing them thoroughly acceptable? (Especially after LO is >3mon old?)
I would sterilize in the dishwasher or boiling water!
What do you use to label your pitchers? Would a dry erase marker work?
Yes!
Hi, any tips for sterilising the pitcher as it is too big to fit in my microwave steriliser or a pot?
Hi Stef! If boiling or using a sterilizer won’t work, bleach is an option. Here is more info:
https://exclusivepumping.com/how-to-sterilize-breast-pump-parts/
I use the “pitcher method” and absolutely LOVE it. I started using this method when I returned to work, which allowed me to just fill all my bottles at the end of the day for the following day. It also gave me a visual as to how much milk I was pumping daily. I use mason jars (quart size) due to the fact that I had them on hand and I had multiple jars. Having multiple jars also allows me to keep up with the age of the milk. I use a new jar everyday so that I make sure that I am using the oldest milk first. Only thing I worry about is that they are glass.
So you still recommend using fresh bottles to pump every time? Is that because you’re pumping warm milk into cooled bottles with (probably) little dribs and drabs of cooled milk in it still?
Hi Megan! I do because the CDC recommends using clean sets of pump parts each time you pump. That’s also a good point about the warm milk on top of a bit of cooled milk, yes.
My question is how do i know what is the oldest milk if all of the milk is combined? And is it okay to give the milk if i freeze it after i combined all of the milk within a day or two?
Usually when you use the pitcher method, you are prepping milk pumped on one day for the following day’s bottles, so it’s okay to not worry about the oldest milk. You only really need to do that when you have milk from multiple days. Hope that helps!
Hi! I hope I word this question right. So if I pour my freshly pumped milk into a bottle to wait for it to cool, will it be at the right temperature 2-3 hours later when I pump a new bottle? Can I use the same bottle over and over as my “warm but waiting to cool” milk or do i need a fresh bottle every time.
Thank you!
I would use a fresh bottle. 🙂
Can i use stainless steel? Like a yeti?
I think that would be fine!
Thank you so much for the wonderful info! Does it matter whether the milk was pumped in the am/pm? Is that a concern when mixing it all together? Or is it okay to mix and feed your baby a combination of it all?
It’s okay to feed a combination! 🙂
How often would I need to completely empty the pitcher and wash it?
I would do it every 24 hours. 🙂
Can the milk be left in the refrigerator
for up to 48 hours before deciding to freeze it?
Yes!
What method to people use to combine the milk? How do you get your freshly pumped milk cool before combining with milk from the pitcher?
Hi Kristen! I would just put the bottles in the fridge to cool, and then the next time you pump, dump it in the pitcher.
Does my milk have to be from the same day, or can I combine multiple days into one pitcher?
You can combine multiple days as long as they are both cooled and you use the milk by the day you would need to for the oldest milk that you combined. 🙂
Hi, can I put the pitcher in room temp
only for a day (6-8hrs) so that all the milk I pumped will be of same temp when putting in the pitcher? If I’ll put the pitcher in a ref, I will need to put every pumped milk in a separate bottle before I can combine them in the pitcher. Also, I can do this vice-versa? Can i combine all the thawed milk in 1 pitcher (to be consume in 1 day/8hrs while I’m at work) so that the milk can immediately pour in the bottle every feeding session?
Hi Rose! I think you could theoretically keep it at room temp from 6ish hours (depending on the temp of your house) from when the first milk was put in there. After that, it would need to go in the fridge.
Yes, you can combine all the thawed milk in a pitcher! You just need to use it within 24 hours of the oldest milk. (So basically, put it all in there at once, don’t thaw more milk and add it to the pitcher.)
Can this method also be used for thawed breast milk? If you thaw out a days worth of milk, is it still a safe method of storage?
Hi Rebecca! I don’t see why not as long as it’s not defrosted at room temperature and the milk is used 24 hours after thawing? I definitely wouldn’t add any milk to a defrosted pitcher because I would say it should be used and washed 24 hours after the first frozen milk is put in there.