As any pumping mama knows, there is nothing worse than having to ditch the breastmilk you've put so much time and energy into making and pumping for your baby because it has passed the 24-hour safety window. That's where preparing slushy bottles can come in so handy!
Did you know that the 24-hour clock doesn't begin until your breastmilk is 100% thawed?! It's true!
When you prepare a bottle that is slushy, meaning it is still partially frozen, you can extend the amount of time that your breastmilk will be usable. Preparing slushy bottles is a great trick if you'd like to prepare all of your bottles at night so they are ready to go and easy to grab for the next day. I don't know about you, but this certainly comes in handy for me!
HOW TO PREP A SLUSHY BOTTLE:
- Thaw your bags of frozen milk just enough to get the milk to a slushy state.
- Pour the slushy breastmilk into whatever bottles you'd like to use and put it immediately in the refrigerator. They will gradually thaw overnight and into the next day.
- If your bottle is still slushy when you are ready to use it, run the bottle under hot tap water and it will quickly thaw.
To learn more about freezing your milk properly, check out this blog post. Looking for the best breast milk storage bags? Click here! Wait, maybe you want to freeze little 1/5 ounce cubes!? CLICK HERE!
