Best Tried & True Brand: Lansinoh Breastmilk Storage Bags

When polling experienced moms about freezer bag storage for breast milk, the winner hands down is Lansinoh. These bags allow you to attach them directly to the breast pump and they work with Lansinoh, Medela, Ameda and Avent pumps. Lansinoh storage bags have a double zipper seal to prevent leaks. You can store them in the freezer stacked flat to save space as well.

Here’s more on why we thought these bags were the best option:

What We Liked

• Lay flat to freeze. You’d think that would be common, but this is one of the few milk storage options that actually lay flat in a freezer. After they are frozen, they can be stored standing up.

• Easy to thaw.

• Date/time can be written on bag. 

What Needs Work

• Occasionally leak. In our testing, we didn’t have any leaks but we see reports that indicate this is an occasional issue.

Best Durable Storage Bag: Medela Breast Milk Storage Bags

Medela is one of the biggest names in breast pumps and their milk storage bags do not disappoint. After testing Medela’s bags versus other brands, we recommend Medela. Here’s more:

What We Liked

• Self standing with double zipper.

• Durable. 

• Can write date and time on the bags.

What Needs Work

• Don’t work directly with Medela’s pumps. To pump directly into a storage bag, you need to use Medela’s Pump & Save Bags. If you are using another brand of pump, these bags would be a great storage option.

• Don’t lay as flat as other brands. In our testing, we thought other brands like Lansinoh were better at lying flat in a freezer.

• Not microwave safe. But that is true for all milk storage bags we tested—we don’t recommend using a microwave to thaw frozen breast milk because of uneven heating.

• Strong plastic smell.

Best Easy Pour Storing Bags: Dr. Brown’s 100 Piece Breastmilk Storage Bags

You’d think having an easy-to-pour spout would be a standard feature for all breast milk storage bags—but as it turns out, Dr. Brown’s is one of the few. So kudos to this brand for their bag design, which includes a specially-designed bottom that holds that bag upright and makes it easy to open, say our readers.

Here’s more:

What We Liked

• Freeze flat. Yes,  you can stack these bags flat to store in a freezer (as long as you have five ounces or less of milk).

• Thick zip closure to keep the bag sealed.

• Affordable.

• Pre-sterilized.

• BPA free.

What Needs Work

• Too stiff? That same design that holds the bag upright irks some users, who tell us they find the bags hard to pump directly into.

Best Parent Favorite Bag: Kiinde Twist Pouch Breast Milk Storage Bags

These storage bags are unusual—they are part of a system that includes bottles and nipples. And parents we interviewed raved about Kiinde’s bags (and the bottle system itself)! They certainly are a reader fave. Here’s more:

What We Liked

• Single pouch can collect, store and feed. Yes, the nipples and bottles are sold separately. But this is a time saver, since the same bag goes from freezer to bottle (after thawing, of course).

• Can directly pump into bag.

• Recyclable. 

What Needs Work

• Expensive. Yep, this entire system is rather pricey. But folks like the convenance.

• Bulky when stored in a freezer.

• Measurement markings could be more accurate.

Advice & tips on storing expressed breast milk

Even if you plan to exclusively breast feed your baby, you still want to feed your baby by bottle—ideally, one bottle of expressed (pumped) breast milk at two to four weeks of age. Why? There are several reasons:

  • Dad gets involved.
  • Mom can go out to get her hair cut (remember you are nursing every 2-3 hours).
  • Baby learns that food comes in different packages. A common mistake is waiting until the end of maternity leave or when you want a date with your spouse to try a bottle. Once a baby is in the breast-only mode, he is less flexible about change.

Here’s an FAQ from our book, Baby 411 on how to pump and store breast milk:

Q. How do I pump and store my milk? Here’s what you need to know:

  • Wash your hands.
  • Clean all breast pump apparatus thoroughly.
  • Freshly pumped breast milk will last eight hours at room temperature and 24 hours in a cooler with blue ice.
  • Use sterilized opaque plastic bottles (polypropylene) or polyethylene disposable bags for collection of milk. Our top pick above is the best bet, based on our testing.
  • Fresh breast milk retains more of the antibodies and vitamins than breast milk that has been frozen and then thawed/warmed. So limit the amount of breast milk that is frozen and stored.
  • Remember to put a collection date on the bottles or bags! Use the oldest milk first.
  • Yes, you can combine expressed milk from different pumping sessions together in one container. Just keep it going for a full day, then divide the milk up into individual servings.
  • Start with three ounce servings of milk to freeze. Store four to six oz servings when your baby is three months old. Leave room in the container; fluids expand when frozen.
  • Newly expressed breast milk can sit out at room temperature for up to six to eight hours. So you can take freshly pumped milk with you when you are out and about without keeping it on ice.

This excerpt is reprinted with permission from the book, Baby 411: Clear Answers & Smart Advice for Your Baby’s First Year. 

Why Trust Us

We’ve been rating and reviewing products for the home and families since 1994. We do hands-on testing—we buy the products with our own money and evaluate with an eye toward quality, ease of use and affordability.

Here’s another key point: we don’t take money from the brands we review. No free samples, no sponsors, no “partnerships.” Our work is 100% reader-supported!