Searching for how to take breast milk when going out? You are in the right place. It is a fact that there is no other food as ideal in nutrition, for infants, as breast milk. Your baby practically gets in breast milk, a perfect blend of vitamins, protein, and fat- that’s everything your baby needs for healthy growth. One of the other phenomenal credits of breast milk is that it comes in a form that makes for relatively easier digestion than baby formula. Hence the place of breast milk in a baby’s life cannot be downplayed.
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But of course, not every mother stays home all day, as there are stay-home moms, so are there the working type. And both categories will always need a day out, maybe once or twice in a blue moon. Thank goodness there are breast pumps!
Unless you don’t plan to enjoy your day out, you should keep your baby’s food in the big picture. You want to make sure he has enough food to take him throughout the day. And because his food at this stage is breast milk, the question is, how do you pack it?
We are here to answer the question, so you don’t have to. Just giddy up! Below is how to take breast milk when going out.
How To Pack Fresh Breast Milk
If your plan is to carry a few extra bottles, they can be packed in a small breast milk cooler when you’re traveling. In case you didn’t know, breast milk coolers are tools designed to help you transport your breast milk to and from work, or when you’re on a trip. A good example is the Teamoy Breastmilk Cooler Bag. It can take up to 4 breastmilk bottles. i.e. about 9 ounces. Its high-quality nylon material, leakproof and hot-pressing lining keep breastmilk cold for long.
An ice pack comes with most breast milk coolers. At the point of leaving, do ensure the ice pack is frozen solid, and that your breast milk is what you pack last and unpack first.
If you feel a bigger amount of breast milk will do, then all you’ll get is a larger cooler, inside which you can pack the milk with ice. The temperature of the cooler can as well be monitored by using a thermometer, which tells you the temperature status of the milk. Although, you should keep in mind that opening the cooler every now and then will increase the temperature on the inside.
The lifespan of fresh breast milk in a cooler is up to 24 hours – so yes, it works for your day out!
How To Pack Frozen Breast Milk?
If frozen breast milk is what you are traveling with, you are still going to need to pack it in a cooler. You may or may not need a piece of dry ice. For a day out, you’ll rarely need it.
Below are some ideas you can bank for packing your frozen milk in a cooler :
- Ensure the cooler is very much full. Perhaps the milk you have is not sufficient to fill the cooler, and a ton of ice isn’t an exactly good idea to you, you may want to try freezing water in plastic ziploc bags!
- Keep the freezer shut, and ignore whatever temptation to open it until you get where you’re going. Opening it will make the temperature go up.
- Consider pre-chilling your milk before you leave, if you have a smaller or soft cooler.
How To Pack Breast Milk For A Day Out By Plane
Can I bring my breast pump on a plane? One of the outstanding things about traveling through a plane is, breast pumps are considered a medical device by lots of airlines. So it’s not really seen as a carry-on. Nothing has to change about how you would pack your loads. But of course, it is best that you make a prior inquiry from the airline you want to use, so you can be sure.
Can I bring pumped breast milk on a plane?
Yes, you can. Howver, different countries have different regulations on how much breast milk you can carry. For example, in the United States, the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) specified that you can carry more than 3.4 ounces (100 ml) in your carry-on bag. But, you must declare it for inspection at the security checkpoint.
How To Feed Your Baby With Breast Milk On The Trip
Usually, the easiest thing to do would be to have your most recently pumped breast milk out at room temperature, after which you can feed it to your baby. Fresh milk is able to last outside room temperature for nearly 4 hours. What this does for you is, you are spared from worrying about breast milk for your baby in the course of traveling.
How to warm up breast milk
If you want to get milk from your cooler, and your baby happens to prefer it warm, there are ways to go about it;
- If you can, ask a restaurant around for a cup of hot water, and drop the bottle in it for a few minutes to warm.
- A portable bottle warmer could be used. The new Munchkin digital bottle warmer is perfect for this purpose. It is small, portable and it fits in perfectly in your travel bag. It warms the milk quickly so the nutrients don’t spoil. It fits most bottle brands such as Dr. Brown’s Original, Avent, Medela, Tommee Tippee, and many more.
- You could bring a thermos of hot water to help warm your bottle. A portable Thermos you can check out is the Best Stainless Steel Thermos. It keeps your water hot for up to 10 to 12 hours. One good feature that is lovely about the thermos is that you can pour water out of it without taking off the lid and letting the heat off.
How To Pack Your Breastmilk In A Diaper Bag
Looking for a way to carry breast milk in a diaper bag? You shouldn’t throw breast milk into a diaper bag just like that. The safest thing to do is to take your time and prepare the milk the proper way. Before you handle the breast milk, wash your hands, to start with. The containers should be washed with a warm solution of water and soap. To prevent the breast milk from spilling out of your diaper bag to the bag’s contents, you should use a screw cap to hold the milk.
You can place the breast milk in an insulated lunch bag, add an ice pack, then put it in your diaper bag. This is important if you want it to stay cool overnight. Another way to keep bottles cold in the diaper bag is to put the breast milk bottle in a Ziploc bag and then fill it up with ice. Wrap them in a towel and put them in your diaper bag. It will be cold.
Another thing you want to keep in mind is, labeling your containers distinctly, just so you are not confused as to which bottle to use first, and which not to use when.
Frequently asked questions (FAQS)
How long is breast milk good for?
Since you are going out with breast milk, you need to know for how long it is good for? Breast milk is good for up to 4 hours when stored at room temperature (77°F or colder). It can take about 4 days in the refrigerator. So, if you pack the breastmilk with an ice pack in a cooler, it should last for up to 24 hours. This means it should be sufficient for your day out.
Can you store breast milk in bottles with nipples?
You should not store breast milk in bottles with nipples, except you have the cap that goes over the nipple on it.
Why can’t you store breast milk in bottles with nipples?
Storing breast milk in bottles with nipples will create an environment for germs and bacteria. It will get worse faster and the taste will change too.
How long can breast milk stay in the diaper bag?
Breast milk can stay for up to 24 hours in a diaper bag if you put it in a cooler with an ice pack.
How long can breast milk stay in a cooler bag?
Breast milk can stay up to 24 hours in a cooler bag.
Can you keep breast milk in a thermos?
Yes, you can keep breast milk in a stainless steel thermos. But, you have to use it in the next 48 hours. However, breast milk can still be useful within 6 hours of expressing it at room temp. Instead of keeping the breast milk in a thermos, you can easily store hot water in the thermos, when you want to use the breast milk, warm it up using the hot water in the thermos.
How To Pack Breast Milk For A Day Out?
Nursing a baby is probably one of the hardest tasks that come with parenting. The responsibility usually wants to take a toll on your social life, but it doesn’t have to. We don’t live in a technologically sophisticated age to get worried about that.
Whether you stay at home, or you have a 7-5 job, you need a break at times. You will have a day out, some way. And you cannot afford to have your baby ruin a good day for you because he didn’t eat enough. It is to this effect that we have outlined the how-to of packing breast milk for a day out, and other how-to’s.
