Review of containers for storing breast milk: prices, reviews, rules of use

Mother's milk is a unique product containing a full range of beneficial substances and antibodies necessary for the active growth and full development of the baby.

But what to do if the mother cannot be with the child all the time? Special containers for storing the product will help organize the process of feeding breast milk without interruptions.

All you need to do is fill the containers with expressed breast milk and store them. At the right moment, the container is opened, and the child receives the necessary portion of a nutritious, natural product.

What is it and why do we need it?

Containers for storing breast milk are special containers with a measuring scale that make the task of collecting and storing breast milk as easy as possible. They will be a real salvation for those mothers who, for some reason, are forced to leave their baby under the supervision of a nanny for a day (sometimes for a longer period of time).

How to choose?

When purchasing a breast milk container, first of all, you need to pay attention to the material of manufacture (glass or plastic).

Glass is the safest material (does not emit toxic substances, does not change its structure when exposed to high or low temperatures).

The surface of glass containers does not absorb foreign odors and is not scratched by abrasive detergents.

Disadvantages include high cost and fragility of the material. (Glass containers cannot be used to store milk in the freezer).

Plastic containers attract with their price, variety of shapes and colors, and lightness (convenient to take on the road). But when buying plastic products, you need to carefully study the labeling.

The “O” or “Other” symbol indicates that the container is made of polycarbonate. Under certain conditions, this material emits harmful substances, so it is better not to purchase such a product for a child.

The “PP” marking indicates that polypropylene was used to make the container., which can withstand the highest possible temperatures (up to +140°C), and does not emit any life-threatening substances upon contact with food.

Additionally, breast milk containers made of polypropylene must have a BPA free symbol (a marker that the plastic does not contain bisphenol A).

Also, when purchasing, you need to pay attention to the following points:

• compatibility with a breast pump (it is better to choose containers from the same manufacturer as the breast pump);
• the presence of a measuring scale (helps to accurately determine the volume of expressed milk);
• additional functions (it’s good if the container is equipped with a special device for removing air, which helps preserve even small portions of breast milk).

How to use?

Collecting breast milk in a container is carried out in the early morning (during the day it is more difficult to express the required amount of milk).

The baby is fed with one breast, and the other breast is expressed, filling the prepared container with milk (the container is first treated in a sterilizer or boiled over low heat for five minutes).

The milk is expressed until it stops flowing in streams (during the process it is necessary to take short rest breaks of three to four minutes).

The filled container is tightly closed to the brim with a lid, onto which a sticker is glued indicating the date and time of pumping (alternatively, instead of a sticker, you can use a piece of plaster).

Where is the best place to store a container with expressed product?

For those who are going to feed their baby expressed milk during the day, It is better to store the filled container at room temperature, on a table, away from direct sunlight.

If long breaks are planned in breastfeeding, the filled bottle is stored in the refrigerator or freezer.

Do not place containers of breast milk in the refrigerator or freezer door. Constant temperature changes that occur when opening and closing the door can negatively affect the quality of storage of the dairy product.

How long is it stored?

Expressed breast milk can be stored in room conditions (air temperature from +22°C to +26°C) for no more than 6 hours. The best storage option is in the refrigerator. At temperatures from 0°C to +4°C, breast milk in a container retains its nutritional value for up to eight days.

Breast milk can be stored in the freezer (at a temperature of -13°C) for no more than three months. Containers of breast milk can be stored in a deep-freeze chamber (temperature -18°C) for up to six months.

Before freezing, place the container with expressed milk in the refrigerator for two hours, then into the freezer drawer. The decrease in temperature must be gradual, otherwise shock freezing destroys the nutritional value of mother's milk.

TOP 5 best products

On the shelves of children's stores and specialized departments of pharmacies with goods for babies there is a wide range of containers for storing breast milk. The following manufacturers deserve special attention:

Philips Avent

Set of ten sterile containers, adapter for connecting to a manual breast pump. The tightly screwed lid reliably protects the container from leaks during transportation or storage.

The reusable Avent container (volume 180 ml) is made of high quality plastic, suitable for storing breast milk in the refrigerator or freezer.

Happy Baby Milk

Set of six containers for storing breast milk and baby food. The containers are made of polypropylene - a safe, environmentally friendly plastic that does not enter into chemical reactions with food and does not release substances hazardous to health during sterilization.

The containers are hermetically sealed with lids with a special recess (helps to carefully place the container in the refrigerator or bag). The volume of one container is 180 ml.

The average cost is 650 rubles. (per set).

Medela

Set of three containers with lid. Breast milk collection containers (150 ml each) are compatible with Medela mechanical and electric breast pumps. The containers are made of polypropylene and do not contain bisphenol-A. The containers can be used as a feeding bottle (silicone nipple must be purchased separately).

The average cost is 850 rubles. (per set).

Canpol Babies

Set of four containers (180 ml each). The container is made of polypropylene, ideal not only for storing breast milk, but also a variety of baby food.

There is a special scale on the wall that helps you accurately determine the amount of expressed milk and the volume of product consumed. The containers are compatible with the Easy Start breast pump. The thoughtful shape of the lid allows you to place the containers very compactly in the refrigerator. The average cost is 800 rubles. (per set).

Nuk

Set of three containers for collecting and storing breast milk. Reusable containers, withstand sterilization at high temperatures.

The containers are compatible with the NUK Sensitive breast pump and can be used as a feeding bottle with the NUK FIRST CHOICE nipple. The average cost is 600 rubles. (per set).

You should not risk your baby’s health by buying a cheap product from an unknown manufacturer. The quality of the container for storing breast milk must be confirmed by appropriate certificates (the seller is obliged to issue it at the buyer’s request).

Alternatives

A good replacement for breast milk storage containers is special disposable plastic bags. These sterile products do not require heat treatment before use.

Soft disposable bags do not take up much space (very convenient when loading milk containers into the refrigerator or freezer). The only downside to breast milk bags is that they cannot be reused.

Alternatively, for storing breast milk You can use glass baby food jars. The main thing is that before filling the jars with expressed breast milk, they must be boiled (at least five minutes) and checked for tightness of the lid.

Adviсe

To maintain the nutrition and flavor of expressed milk in the room or in the refrigerator, it is important to fill the container to the brim.

When exposed to air, milk fats oxidize, which causes mother's milk to have a rancid taste.

When freezing breast milk, do not fill the container completely. A 2 cm air gap is enough to prevent breast milk from tearing the lid off the container when it freezes.

After use, the container is thoroughly washed with soda solution, rinsed under running water, and then sent for sterilization.

Conclusion

Mother's milk is the basis of nutrition for a child in the first year of life.. Special containers for storing breast milk ensure continuity of the breastfeeding process, even in the absence of the mother next to the baby.