12 Things You Can Do With Leftover Breast Milk
Breast milk contains INCREDIBLE properties. It goes without saying that nobody wants to throw away precious, pumped liquid gold.
Here are tips and tricks on what you can do with your leftover breast milk so you can make the most of it and never waste a single drop again!
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Reasons you may have leftover breast milk:
Your baby developed an intolerance to a food you were eating
You have excessively high lipase in your breast milk which causes your frozen breast milk to have a sour smell and taste (although this is rare and treatable)
Your baby weaned and you still have milk left in the freezer
You thawed too much milk by accident and you won’t use it all
Your baby didn’t finish a bottle
How to Know if Your Breast Milk is Expired
Breast milk contains live cells which kill bacteria which helps it stay fresh for longer than pasteurized cows milk or formula.
Up-to-date breast milk storage guidelines are done by the U.S Centers for Disease Control (CDC).
PRO-TIP: In order to minimize the amount of expired milk we recommend storing some breast milk in smaller portions. Storing your milk in 2-3 ounce bags is perfect and then you can add some extra if baby is still hungry.
We also recommend storing some 1-2 oz. portions of breast milk for those times you just need a little extra.
THESE TRAYS are perfect for storing small portions of breast milk because they’re made of silicone so you can easily pop out the breast milk and they even come with a lid!
Q&A: Can you feed your baby the leftover breast milk in a bottle after a feeding ended?
Used breast milk can become contaminated with bacteria from your baby’s mouth during a feeding so the CDC recommends, “If your baby did not finish the bottle, the leftover breast milk can still be used within 2 hours after the baby is finished feeding. After 2 hours, leftover breast milk should be discarded.”
…but don’t discard that milk just yet!
If you end up having expired breast milk (but it’s not yet rancid), you can STILL use it in several unexpected ways!
Here’s how to be resourceful with your leftover or expired liquid gold.
What To Do With Leftover Breast Milk
Thanks to breast milk’s amazing properties, it’s helpful for a lot of surprising home remedies!
Ease Diaper rash
A study found that breast milk was just as effective as hydrocortisone on babies with diaper rash. You can just pat some breast milk on your baby’s bottom and then let it dry before you put their diaper back on.
Make Breast Milk Jewelry
Create a piece of jewelry made from your own breast milk.
THIS KIT comes with everything you need and has enough material to make 12 breast milk stones!
Relieve Sore nipples
Sore nipples are quite common in the early days of breastfeeding. Breast milk provides soothing relief and helps nipples heal faster. You can express some breast milk directly onto the nipple and let it dry to reap the benefits.
If your nipples are sore, these are an absolute lifesaver. They’re super cheap, can be worn for multiple days (perfect when you’re trying to get a good latch), and are soooo soothing.
Help Fight Eczema
Up to 50% of all infants develop baby eczema in the first couple months. Breast milk was found to be an equally effective treatment for eczema compared with hydrocortisone according to this study.
Treat Insect bites + Sunburns
Add some breast milk to water to make a cloudy solution and mist over your bites or sunburns for soothing relief.
Give Milk Baths
Another way to help your baby’s skin is to add leftover breast milk to bathwater. Add just enough to make the water cloudy.
Fight Cradle Cap
Add some breast milk to water to make a cloudy solution and mist over your child’s problem areas on their head.
Make Mother’s Milk Soaps
Another innovative use for breast milk is using it in handmade soaps. You can out how to easily make breast milk soap in the video below.
Fertilize Your Plants
Plants get most of their nutrition from soil. Milk (both breast milk and cow or goat milk) contains beneficial minerals o if you add some to soil it may help your plants grow better.
3 Creative ways you can use leftover fresh breast milk
MAKE A “MOMSICLE” (BREAST MILK POPSICLE)
You can freeze your breast milk into popsicle molds to turn them into “momsicles” to help your baby’s teething gums feel better. You can also blend in some pureed fruit for some flavor variety and they also make a fabulous frozen treat for your baby on hot days.
Bonus: They can last in the freezer for about six months!
MIX WITH SOLID FOOD
Mix a bit of breast milk with your baby’s first solid foods —for a texture and taste that babies are more familiar with.
CONSIDER DONATING BREAST MILK
You can check with the nearest Milk Bank to see if your milk can be donated.
Breast milk is literally lifesaving for some babies. Even if there’s not a milk bank nearby, there may be a depot where breast milk can be dropped off.
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🤱 3. If your nipples are sore, these are an absolute lifesaver. They’re super cheap, can be worn for multiple days (perfect when you’re trying to get a good latch), and are soooo soothing.