7 Things to Avoid When Reheating Breast Milk

Breast milk is a priceless gift from mother to baby, brimming with essential nutrients and protective antibodies. So when reheating breast milk, you should handle it with care to preserve its precious qualities. In this article, we’ll explore seven things to avoid when reheating breast milk, ensuring your baby receives the best nutrition and safety.

Overheating

You should never overheat breast milk. When the milk is too hot, it can lose some of its essential nutrients. This will make it less beneficial for your baby's growth and health.

To avoid overheating, use warm water to gently reheat the breast milk. The aim is to reach a temperature similar to your body's warmth and ensure it's neither too hot nor too cold.

A reliable method to check the temperature is to place a few drops of breast milk on your wrist. If it’s comfortably warm on your skin, it’s good to go.

Microwaving

You should also refrain from microwaving breast milk. Microwaves can be unpredictable when it comes to heating liquids, often creating uneven spots that can burn your baby's mouth. Plus, it can kill the milk’s immunoglobulins.

Instead of using the microwave, opt for safer methods like warm water or bottle warmers. These methods provide gentle and even heat, ensuring the milk remains safe and suitable for your baby.

Heating in a Pan Over the Stove

Heating breast milk in a pan on the stove is not advisable as well. Like using a microwave, it can create uneven hot spots and damage the milk's precious nutrients.

Again, stick with gentler methods like warm water baths and bottle warmers. That way, you can maintain the milk's safety and nutritional quality.

Using Boiling Water

Avoid using boiling water to reheat breast milk. Boiling water is extremely hot, and exposing the milk to such high temperatures can lead to overheating. That’s not even mentioning the loss of vital nutrients and antibodies that bolster your baby's health.

Pouring the Milk in Recycled Plastic Bottles

Using recycled plastic bottles to store reheated breast milk can be unsafe for your baby. Some of these containers contain BPA (Bisphenol A), which can be harmful to babies and adults alike.

Instead of recycled storage bottles, use storage bags specially made for breast milk. You can also use clean, food-grade glass jars or bottles. If you have no other choice but recycled bottles, make sure they’re not stamped with the recycle number 7. 

Reusing Already Heated Milk

You should never reheat breast milk that has already been warmed and partially consumed. Since your baby already drank some of it, it might contain bacteria from their mouths.

If your baby doesn’t finish a bottle of breastmilk, you can keep it for up to two hours at room temperature. Under no circumstances should you store or reheat it after this timeframe.

Combining Fresh and Frozen Milk

Lastly, you should avoid mixing fresh and frozen breast milk when reheating the latter. Fresh milk is typically warmer than frozen milk. When you combine the two, the temperature difference can cause the frozen milk to thaw rapidly, potentially affecting its quality.

To maintain both the safety and quality of the milk, try to use milk that is at the same temperature when mixing. You can thaw frozen milk gradually in the refrigerator or gently warm it in warm water, ensuring that both milks are in sync.

Summary

Reheating breast milk is an important part of caring for your baby, so it must be done correctly. By steering clear of these seven mistakes, you can ensure your baby's milk remains safe, nutritious, and appealing. Your little one deserves nothing but the best, and with these straightforward guidelines, you can provide just that.