Pumping takes time and effort, and no one wants to throw away a bottle because the storage time is unclear. The popular 3-3-3 rule is easy to remember, but the official guidance is a little different.
What is the 3-3-3 rule?
The rule says three hours at room temperature, three days in the refrigerator, and three months in the freezer. It became popular because it is simple, but these are not the official storage limits published by a health authority.
What does the CDC recommend?
For healthy, full-term babies, the CDC says freshly expressed milk can stay at room temperature for up to 4 hours and in the refrigerator for up to 4 days. Frozen milk is best used within 6 months, although up to 12 months is acceptable. Store milk toward the back of the refrigerator or freezer rather than in the door, where the temperature changes more often.
Warming milk and keeping track
Do not microwave breast milk. It can heat unevenly and create hot spots that may burn your baby's mouth. Warm the bottle or storage bag in a bowl of warm water instead. Nerumi can record when and how much you pumped, making it easier to use the oldest milk first.