You work to produce breast milk––no matter the amount or the delivery method, lactation is no easy feat. We want to honor the time and effort you spend producing it by teaching you how to safely store your breast milk for future use.

How to Keep Breast Milk Fresh While Traveling

Whether you are traveling with your baby or not, there are certain guidelines you will want to follow when storing your breast milk.

First, you’ll need to do some prep work. You’re going to want a cooler with ice packs (or a roomy pumping bag with a cooler) during your travel.

Breast milk can be stored at room temperature for up to 4 hours. If you are traveling to your baby or with your baby, this could be an option for you if it lines up with your itinerary. If you are unable to do this, you will need to plan for storage.

Breast milk can safely be stored in a cold, insulated cooler for up to 24 hours. Once you hit the 24 hour mark, you are going to need a fridge or freezer. When preparing your bag for travel, you are going to want to make sure you have storage containers that you trust.

Whether you choose a bottle or a milk bag does not matter. Just be sure you trust the container will stay closed and consider double bagging if you are using breast milk bags.

Refrigerating and Freezing Breast Milk

Once you arrive at your destination, if you are still away from home, you will want to make sure you have access to a refrigerator.

How long you refrigerate your breast milk is going to rely heavily on your travel dates. If you are staying in a hotel for two nights away from your baby, you can safely store your milk in the refrigerator.

Breast milk can be left in the refrigerator (preferably in the back) for up to 4 days before it will need to be frozen. If you are going to see your baby and use the milk in that time window, there is no need for freezing your milk!

In the event you do need to freeze your milk, just remember that it is crucial you do not refreeze any milk that you allow to thaw completely.

Pro tip: If you can’t tell if milk has defrosted or not, check for ice crystals. If the ice crystals are present, you can safely put the milk in the freezer.

As with all things, there is a shelf life to freezing breast milk. For the best results and lower chance of developing any new tastes, you should aim to freeze your milk for about  6 months. Depending on your baby and the composition of your breast milk, you can freeze breast milk for up to one year.

Can I Fly With Breast Milk?

Yes, you absolutely can!

If you want to check your breast milk, you can pack a cooler with ice and your bags of milk and have it checked at the counter like any other piece of luggage.

If you are anything like us, the thought of parting with your milk like that is stressful. You could also be traveling with your baby and need to be able to access your milk.

Breast milk is exempt from TSA fluid restrictions.

Now, this does not mean that TSA will not examine your milk. In fact, many people are shocked to learn that TSA is allowed to examine your milk. You will want to be sure that the containers you store your milk in are resealable and will not compromise your milk if opened.

Signs Your Breast Milk Has Gone Bad

A cooler can open without you realizing it, days can get mixed up, life happens! No matter how careful you are, when traveling with breast milk there is always a chance that your milk could spoil.

Common signs of breast milk having spoiled are:

• A bad smell (it is spoiled milk, after all)

• A metallic or sour taste

• Baby refusing to drink the milk

Stop Worrying About Spilled Milk With Willow

Traveling with breastmilk can be stressful, especially when you are pumping on the go. The saying goes, “there’s no use crying over spilled milk” but any mama who has spilled her freshly pumped or defrosted milk knows that does not apply to breast milk.

All Willow pumps are equipped with milk containers that make transferring milk from your pump a breeze. Willow 360 gives the added bonus of 360º leak-proof mobility, so you don’t have to worry about spills, unlatching, or really anything that feels restrictive!

Don’t believe us? See for yourself why Willow stands out from the crowd!