Types of breast milk containers

Glass Bottles – Glass bottles are a great choice. Not only is glass the best choice environmentally, but one study showed that breast milk stored in glass bottles had higher amounts of Leukocytes — the cells that help boost immunity. 4oz Jelly Jars used for canning are an especially great choice as they are a great size, cheap, stackable, and meant to withstand drastic temperature changes. The one downside with glass is it can break, so be extra careful when handling! 

Clear, Plastic, BPA-Free Bottles – If using plastic bottles, you’ll want to ensure they are clear plastic (not cloudy) and BPA free. This can be a convenient option if storing milk in the same bottles baby uses for feeding. Keep in mind, that any plastic increases exposure to microplastics. One study found that using plastic bottles for feeding exposed babies to more than 1.5 million microplastic particles per day.

Breast Milk Storage Bags – These can be handy as they take up less space than bottles; however, the risk of leaking and contamination is increased with breastmilk storage bags. Breast milk storage bags can also shed microplastics. If going the bag route, be sure to use the thicker, BPA-Free bags as studies show that the thinner style breastmilk bags can lead to freezer burn and a loss of fat and antibody content in the stored milk.

Whatever product you are using to store your milk, we recommend storing in 2-4oz increments and labeling each container with the date and amount.