Can You Reuse Breast Milk Storage Bags?
Wondering can you reuse breast milk storage bags?
Then let us answer your questions and more with our guide on can you reuse breast milk bags.
Breast milk storage bags are a fantastic tool for storing your breast milk.
You can use them to freeze your breast milk for long term storage or storage in your fridge for short term use.
But can you reuse milk storage bags?
In this guide to reusing breast milk storage bags we are going to answer to this question and find out what the consequences are, if there are any.
Ultimately, the health of you and your child is the most important thing, so we’re here to help you make sure that this stays at the top of your priority list.
And if you love this guide can I reuse breast milk storage bags, make sure to check out our guides on best freezer for breast milk storage, best mini fridge for breast milk, and best bottles for breastfed babies. Or even this guide to the best breastmilk storage bags.
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The Medela Breast Milk Storage Bags are hygienically pre-sealed with durable material and double-zipper protection to prevent leaking.
You can use these bags to safely store breastmilk in the freezer, fridge, or when traveling.
The storage bags have even been designed to lay flat for space-saving storage. This unique feature also allows quick thawing of frozen milk.
They are also self-standing and come with a large write-on area, so you can document the date and other vital information for safer storage and use.
What Does A Breast Milk Storage Bag Do?
The primary function of a breast milk storage bag is to provide a safe place to store freshly expressed breast milk until it’s time to feed your baby.
This allows mothers to avoid the need to express their breasts more frequently than necessary or pump multiple times in one day.
The bag also provides a convenient location where mothers can safely store breast milk between feedings as well as keep it clean.
By keeping breastfeeding infants from coming into contact with dirty hands, mothers can ensure that they don’t pick up bacteria and infections from their bodies.
Different Types Of Breast Milk Storage Bags
Breast milk storage bags come in different sizes and shapes depending on how much milk you plan to store.
The size of the bag will depend on whether you want to use it for storing breast milk overnight or just during the day.
If you intend to use them over several days, then you may opt for larger capacity bags.
These bags usually hold anywhere from 1 to 2 liters of milk which means that you’ll be able to store enough breast milk to last for several feedings.
How Long Can I Store Breast Milk In My Breast Milk Storage Bag?
There isn’t an exact time limit that you should wait before reusing your breast milk storage bags.
However, some people recommend waiting no longer than 24 hours after expressing to ensure that your milk hasn’t gone bad or sour.
It’s always better to be safe than sorry.
You’ll probably be reheating the milk when your baby needs to feed, so the coldness probably won’t be present by the time your child gets hungry.
If you put your bags away immediately after using them, then you could risk adding bacteria and other contaminants to your stored breast milk.
It’s best to keep these bags in a refrigerator or a freezer so that they have good, cold temperatures to keep the milk from going bad.
The colder the better, however, remember that they will probably be heated up by the time your child needs to freeze.
Can You Reuse Breast Milk Storage Bags?
We’ve already mentioned that the health of your child is the most critical factor when deciding whether to reuse your breast milk storage bags or not.
Indeed, the bags themselves aren’t harmful to babies even if they contain bacteria and viruses.
They are made of food-grade plastic and are designed to be washed by hand.
With that being said, it’s still recommended that you wash your bags thoroughly before refilling them with new milk.
This helps remove any germs, dirt, and oils that might have been left behind.
There are plenty of cleaning products available online and in stores that you can use to wash your bags without any problems.
We recommend that you choose sterile versions of the bags so that they limit the build-up of germs and bacteria.
On top of this, we recommend that you don’t reuse these bags more than once or twice because of these germs and bacteria making their way onto the surfaces of the bags.
Benefits Of Using Reusable Breast Milk Bags
Durable And Relatively Leak-Free
The first benefit of using reusable breast milk bags is that they are durable.
They are designed to withstand high levels of wear and tear while protecting your breast milk from exposure to the elements.
These bags are meant to last through many feedings and multiple uses.
When choosing the right size bags for you, make sure to get ones that can handle the amount of milk you expect to store.
Reusable Breast Milk Bags Are Easy To Clean
The second benefit of using reusable breast milk storage bags is that they are easy to clean.
Unlike disposable bags, you don’t need to worry about getting rid of all traces of milk residue.
Instead, you can simply scrub the surface of the bag with warm water and soap, rinsing it clean afterward.
Eco-Friendly
The third benefit of using reusable breast milk bags is that they are eco-friendly.
Since these bags are usually made from recycled materials, they are less damaging to our environment.
Because you’re reusing them for extra use, you can make sure that you reduce the amount of waste being thrown away, which is always great.
Downsides Of Using Reusable Breast Milk Bags
Price
The prices for these bags usually come in more expensive than the non-reusable versions because of how often they can be used.
This is the main downside to using these bags because, in the long term, you can get a lot more use out of them and reduce the amount of waste being produced.
Lack Of Versatility
On top of this, a lot of these bags might not freeze as well as other forms of breast milk bags and can lead you to want another version of them, if this is a big problem for you.
Final Thoughts on Can you Reuse Milk Storage Bags
In conclusion, yes you can reuse breast milk bags, however, there are upsides and downsides to doing this.
If you want to save money on breast milk storage bags, then it’s best to look into buying the non-reusable kind instead.
However, if you do decide to go ahead and buy reusable bags, make sure that you use them correctly and properly maintain them to avoid contaminating the milk inside of them.
There are benefits to using these bags and you’ll be able to find one that suits your needs the best.
As we’ve said, as long as you and your child are healthy, then that’s the most important thing.
And if you’re looking for more great guides, make sure to check out these guides on Spectra S1 vs S2 Vs S9, manual vs electric breast pump, and how to warm bottles on the go.
