FIRST THINGS FIRST!
Why Should I Buy Breastmilk Storage Bags and not just any typical plastic bags?
You are probably thinking on why you can just use any plastic bags like ziplocks or any generic storage bags with tight/secured locks. The reasons are because Milk Storage bags are different from these generic ziplock bags that we use for sandwiches, food etc. Milk bags are also specially made for milk and theya re BPA FREE, Thicker and can be used to Freeze, Thaw and Warm Milk. Milk Storage bags are not only heavy duty but also STERILIZED which means your little one has less chance of getting germs from the expressed milk since the bags are 100% clean and sterile. Of course, handling & storage procedure is a different story. These milk bags are also easier to pour in to the milk bottles as they often have spout or small opening where you follow the cut out guide so you can easily transfer the expressed milk in the milk bottle.
Why Can’t I Use Cheap Breast Milk Storage Bags?
Generic or Unbranded does not mean cheap. When i say cheap, these are those that you can just buy anywhere at a very LOW price that you also might wonder why the price was so low! Like in any other merchandise purchase,you wouldn’t go buy and pick out a certain product simply because they are the cheapest ones in the store. You don’t want to pick out breast milk storage bags solely based on price either as you want to look for quality, and you need to ensure the ones you pick are meeting all of your needs. Even though they are all just bags, some of them have features that make them better than others.Me for example, i did not use nor try any of the leading brands simply because it does not meet the specifications that i need when it comes to storing my liquid gold.
Breast milk bags are not the most complicated baby product you will come across. In fact, many brands look incredibly similar to one another.
However, there are some important but subtle differences between the materials used and their design. These small differences can have a huge impact on reliability and performance.
Fortunately, you don’t have to look at each bag under the microscope. have reviewed all the most popular brands of milk storage bags, the differences between them just may shock you
Milk bags may look lie a complicated product and I have tried many breastmilk bags that many brands. Some products has subtle differences between the materials used, their design etc. These have huge impact on the reliability, performance and of course, if it will suit your needs.
Breast Milk Storage Bag Reviews
Cheap but with good quality Storage bags currently on the market that i have tried ranging from P275 to P300:
1. BEBETA
These bags also use a double zipper seal, and they guarantee they are 100 percent leak-proof. Bebeta bags have a top seal that prevents tampering and have a gusset-free bottom which should mean fewer leaks from the bags’ corners.
The bags are self-standing, but they can also be stacked in the freezer to save room. It also has thick bag material that makes it more reliable not to break or tear.The bags hold 6 ounces of milk but for me, i was able to fill this one up to 7.5 ounces (just to do leak test) and it did not leak or break. Take note that you cannot fill until the ziplock as the milk expands it's size once frozen. When frozen, you simply run warm water over the bags to thaw the milk. Because the bags are waterproof and seal well, all you’ll get is pure milk after you’ve melted it and poured it into a bottle – not a watered-down mixture.
2. Ebelbo
My favorite as it can store up to 10oz of milk (yes, i have a great amount of supply) that saves you from having to clean up your fridge and pump extra milk to make up for the loss and they have a patented double zipper seal, which means your breast milk shouldn’t spill. I also tried filling it up until the 11oz and it did not also break. Just make sure you wont drop a frozen milk as i have encountered it cracked when it slipped my hand but this is probably because there was already a force from the frozen milk to the bag that made it popped due to pressure.
Though this does not have any spout to help get breast milk into bottles but with careful transfer and creating a small opening, you can get the pouring done without spilling a drop.
On the downside, You might not like that these bags are tricky to stand up while pouring milk in because they are made of a thinner plastic than some other storage bags as these bags are designed to lay flat in the refrigerator or freezer to save room while storing multiple bags.
3. Fisher Price
These bags were made with a multi-ply design to help avoid splits and cracks. Fisher Price bags have resealable zippers that are easy to close.
Although they do not have a spout for easy pour, you can still easily transfer thawed milk from the bottle as these bags are made of a thick plastic that helps the bags stand up on their own.Just create a small opening so it won't spill. The bags are BPA free and safe for the freezer.
It includes also a sticker label if you wish to use them instead of writing down the details as it does not have a guide on the bag on what you will write because all of the details are in the sticker like the date & time you expressed the milk.
Fisher Price bags are bigger than many others branded bags, as it can hold up to 8ounces. Again, i tried to fill it up more that it says on the bag and it did not spill or break once frozen and thawed.
4. Mom & Baby
Mom & Baby bags stand up by themselves because of their gusseted bottom design, so you don’t have to struggle and prop them up just to fill them.
The bags are BPA free & uses a double zipper lock for closure. These are some big bags – they hold up to 9 ounces of milk. Once filled, they can be frozen standing up or flat to save on storage space. A sizable record panel on these bags has a spot for you to write the date, the number of ounces, volume & time you pumped the milk.
Transferring breast milk from bag to bottle can be a bit hard especially to new moms, but these Simba breast milk bags make it easy. The pour spout prevents spills and ensures that every precious drop makes it into your baby's bottle. Made from thick material and very reliable. It also has the labelling stickers that you stick before placing inside the freezer.The only thing that i do not like about this product is that i cannot find any available bags that can store more than 160ml but this is perfect for new moms who is just starting their stash.
STORAGE & HANDLING GUIDELINES
To avoid waste and for easier thawing & warming, store milk in portions per feeding. Always indicate the date of the expressed milk before storing. Milk from different pumping sessions/days may be combined in one container but you should use the date of the first milk expressed.Avoid adding warm milk to a container of previously refrigerated or frozen milk. If you wish to combine different batch (from the same day), cool the new milk before combining but this is not advisable if the milk was already warmed. Me, i do not warm milk. I just let it cool down using running water until it is no longer as cold as when i got it from the fridge.
Breastmilk is not spoiled unless it smells really bad or tastes sour. It has a certain soapy smell but it is not spoiled. Spoiled milk smells really bad and it sometimes tend to curd when it is no longer good even if it is in the fridge.
Previously frozen milk may be kept in the refrigerator for up to 24 hours after it has finished thawing. Do not refreeze. If baby does not finish milk at one feeding, discard after an hour if will be placed inside the fridge then 20 to 30 mins if room temp.
Proper thawing should also take place so your liquid gold will not be put in to waste. Do not leave any milk to thaw outside the fridge, letting milk sit out at room temperature to thaw. For quicker process,you may also thaw milk overnight in the refrigerator, or hold the bottle under warm running water to quickly thaw. You can also place the sealed container in a bowl of warm water for 20 minutes to bring it to body temperature. Thawed milk is safe in the refrigerator for 24 hours.
SHELF LIFE
Standard Household Freezer- 1 to 2 months
Upright/Chest Freezer- 6 month
Fridge-3 days
Room Temp (cool) 1 to 2 hours
Room Temp (warm-outside) 30 mins
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You may also like to check my other blog about breastfeeding station and what you should bring when you are a breast pumping mom on the go
---->>> http://nickimercado.blogspot.com/2016/06/journey-of-breastfeeding-working-mom.html
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