Once outside the mommy’s teats, breast milk must be stored safely and correctly to the last drop. Maybe you are a new mum, or a dad and you are confused between breast milk storage bags vs bottles and wondering which one is best. Picking up the right storage product is essential to store the milk hygienically while preventing the loss of nutrients that your baby needs.
- My Top Picks
- Why you might need to invest in breast milk storage bags or bottles
- What are the benefits of breast milk storage bags or bottles?
- What are the drawbacks of breast milk storage bags or bottles?
- Things to look for before buying breast milk storage bags or bottles
- Best overall bags – Lansinoh Breastmilk Storage Bags
- Best leakage-free – Medela Breast Milk Storage Bags
- Most convenient to use – Philips Avent Breast Milk Storage Bags
- Best as a baby bottle – Tommee Tippee Closer to Nature Baby Bottle
- Final word
My Top Picks
- Best overall bags – Lansinoh Breastmilk Storage Bags
- Best leakage free bags – Medela Breast Milk Storage Bags
- Most convenient to use – Philips Avent Breast Milk Storage Bags
- Best baby bottle option – Tommee Tippee Closer to Nature Baby Bottle
Why you might need to invest in breast milk storage bags or bottles
When you are breastfeeding, you need to store the breast milk you have pumped when using a portable pump (e.g. one from Elvie or Momcozy) either in a bottle or bags. You may be a stay-at-home dad or mom, or you are on leave and determined to feed your little one from the breast. At some point, however, you will need to store milk for the few times you need to rush to the store or before it’s time to go back to work. My fianceé is currently staying at home, but even then, she stores her milk so we always have milk to give our daughter.
Other times, an emergency may occur, and if you know anything about emergencies, they don’t come with flowers or ring the front door. If you can’t take your baby with you, you need to be sure your little one will still get the same nutrients she needs when you feed her. Breast milk becomes a lifesaver as your baby will continue feeding as usual, and their feeding schedule is maintained. It will also give the father the chance to be left home with the little one as you take care of other things or catch a mom break.
What are the benefits of breast milk storage bags or bottles?
Pump directly into the bag. There are several breast milk storage bags and bottles that allow you to pump milk directly into the bag or use an adapter for any other pump. This reduces the chances of any impurities contaminating the milk.
- Safety – Breast milk storage bags and bottles are certified BPS- and BPA-free and pre-sterilized. You have to use it and throw away the bags to reduce the risk of contamination or clean and sterilize the bottles so you can use them over and over again.
- Lie or stand – You can lay your bag down in the freezer or keep it standing up for secure storage.
- Minimal or no leakage at all – The bags come with a double zipper seal and a double-sealed seam to prevent leakage even when it is frozen. Bottles are also secure because you close the lid to avoid spillage.
- Standard size – The bags and bottles come in different sizes, and you can choose the preferred size.
- Easy labeling – The breast milk storage bags and bottles are easy to label to keep track of the date and stock you have. This way, you know which bottle or bag to start with when you start using your stock.
What are the drawbacks of breast milk storage bags or bottles?
- Potential leakages in both the breast milk storage bags and bottles
- You can’t feed them directly from some storage bags and bottles
- Inability to pump directly into some bags and bottles
Here’s a video I’ve found – it shows you how to properly freeze and store breast milk using breast milk bags.
Things to look for before buying breast milk storage bags or bottles
Before purchasing any, you should know how to pick the best one. Here are the factors to consider before placing that milk storage bag or bottle in your shopping trolley.
Hygiene
You should consider proper hygiene for your stored milk to prevent it from going bad quickly. Between the two, breast milk storage bags are more hygienic as they come pre-sterilized.
Durability
Be sure to look for a product that lasts long enough to ensure that it is still hygienic and safe to use. Both the milk storage bags and bottles are durable; however, if you are looking for a long-lasting solution, the bottles are best. You can use them and wash them numerous times. The milk storage bags are only used once and then disposed of unless they’re reusable ones.
Seal
You want to ensure that the milk stays safe in the bag or bottle until you use it. Bags have a strong seal compared to bottles as they come with a double-zipper to ensure maximum milk protection.
Size
Go for the best-suited storage product that can hold enough milk that meets your baby’s feeding demands. Both the bottles and bags are available in different sizes.
Pump
Convenience is another primary consideration when it comes to choosing the best breast milk bag and bottle. Most milk storage bags come with a pump to fill the bag directly from the breast. But, when using bottles, you will have to pump into another container to fill the bottle.
Usage
A complicated breast milk storage kit will give you a headache every time you use it. Both the bags and bottles are easy to use, making the whole process simple and time-saving.
Best overall bags – Lansinoh Breastmilk Storage Bags
Lansinoh Breastfeeding storage bags are best for freezing, storing, and protecting your valuable breast milk. They have a double zipper seal to prevent messy leakage, and they hold up to 6 ounces of milk. They are pre-sterilized and are made of BPS-free and BPA-free plastic. They have a pour spout to make transferring the breast milk into a feeding bottle easy. If you need a breast pump to go with these bags, check out our Lansinoh and Medela breast pump review.
Product Information
- Size: 5.1*3*9.6 inches (100 counts) and 5.8*4.3*2.3 inches (50 counts)
- Weight: 1.1 pounds (100 counts) and 8 ounces (50 counts)
- Material: BPA Free; BPS Free
- Style: Milk Storage bags
Reasons why you might love it
- Time-saving – You can pump directly into these bags to save time, reduce milk waste, and for convenience
- Secure – The double zipper seal prevents the milk from leakage while the pre-sterilized nature means the milk bag is safe for storage purposes
- Convenience – My fianceé loves them because you can lay them flat in the freezer for proper storage and space-saving
Pros:
- Easy to pour and pump-in design
- Portable
- It can be frozen standing or lying down.
- Perfect size
- Durable and strong
- Minimized leakage
- Easy to label
Cons:
- Can sometimes leak during thawing
- Cannot feed directly from the milk bag
Best leakage-free – Medela Breast Milk Storage Bags
For new moms pumping breast milk for your little loved ones is essential, but keeping it safe is as vital. This where the Medela Breast Milk Storage Bags may come to the rescue. These bags have double zippers to seal breast milk hygienically. They have been pre-sealed with double layer durable material to avoid any milk leakage during storage. They are designed to lay flat or self-stand in the fridge to save space.
Product Information
- Size: 6.6*3.7*6.5 inches
- Weight: 1.15 pounds
- Style: Milk Storage bags
Reasons why you might love it
- Hygienically pre-sealed – The bags are sealed with durable material with a double zipper to avoid leakage
- Large labeling area – The bag has a large labeling area for dating makes it easy to keep track of your stock
- Bonus – The bags come with a transport pouch that keeps unused bags clean and organized
Pros:
- Very secure and hygienic
- Easy to use
- It can be placed in a fridge while standing or lying down.
- Spacious
- Durable material
- Minimized leakage
Cons:
- Cannot feed directly from the milk bag
- Leakage Problems
- Difficult pumping into these bags
Most convenient to use – Philips Avent Breast Milk Storage Bags
These bags are durable and robust with dual-layer and reinforced side seams, and it prevents leak with double zipper. They have been pre-sterilized for quick use, and they are easy to pour and filling as they have a wide neck. Philips Avent Breast Milk Storage Bags can easily be used for storage in a freezer or refrigerator as they can stand and lay down.
Product Information
- Size: 7.6*4.5*6 inches
- Weight: 4.8 ounces
- Style: Milk Storage bags
- Material: PET/PE, BPA Free
Reasons why you might love it
- Choice of quantity – The bags are available in boxes of 25, 50, or 100 making it easy to choose your preferred size
- Tamper Resistant tops – You can tell if these bags have been tampered with
Pros:
- Safe for baby
- Durable Zipper top
- Easy to label
- Stand-alone or flat
- Double sealed sides
Cons:
- Can’t pump into bag
- The top is hard to tear
Best as a baby bottle – Tommee Tippee Closer to Nature Baby Bottle
Switching between breast and bottle feeding becomes easier than ever before with Tommee Tippee Closer to Nature Baby Bottle. With a teat shape that mimics the natural flex, stretch, and movement of mum’s breast, leaving the baby with the daddy will be very convenient. The bottle is made with super-0-sensitive valves, encouraging the baby’s intuitive feeding action for comfortable and relaxed feeding. You can also use this as baby bottles. Our other review shares the best baby bottles for your little munchkin.
Product Information
- Size: 3.4*9.5*6 inches
- Weight: 8 ounces
- Style: Milk Storage bottle
- Material: BPA Free, Phthalate Free
Reasons why you might love it
- Natural Latch – The bottle has a wide nipple shaped like mom’s breast to encourage a natural latch
- Easy to clean – You can simply unscrew the bottle into three parts for easy cleaning and sterilizing
Pros:
- BPA free hence safe for baby
- Easy to use and hold design
- Durable design
- Breast like nipple
- Accurate feeding and measurements marking on the bottle
Cons:
- Cannot pump inside the bottle
- Occasional leaks
- Travel lid pops off easily
Final word
Breast milk bags and bottles come with tons of advantages. Whether you need to go back to work or your spouse wants to help feed the baby, these two will give you the flexibility to make it happen. You should, however, ensure your bottles and bags are BPA-free, so your little one does not ingest harmful chemicals. Bags save a lot of space in your freezer, but, unlike bottles, you can only use them once (unless they’re of the reusable type).
Bottles you can use without an end, however, with reusable bottles, there’s a certain limit to their reusability. Just make sure you know how many milk storage bags you’ll need.
Depending on what’s more relevant to you, you should know more now whether to go for bags or bottles. When you go for bags, will you choose a Lansinoh bag or a Medela? 🙂
Last update on 2024-10-29 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API