Pumping/Storing for daycare

[thinkchocolate05]

Do any of you have tips for how you send pumped milk to daycare? I started out at my provider's suggestion pouring the milk into individual Ameda pour bags in 2.5 oz increments but that was a pain for both me and her and created extra work since she had to pour it into bottles I would send and I had to put it in the bags. He's been eating between 10-14 oz, so now she suggested I could put the milk into prepared bottles (4-5 bottles bc he's a frequent eater of small quantities--2.5 oz every 2-2.5 hours). The other option would be to combine all the milk from multiple pumping sessions into a jug and then she could pour from that all day into several bottles. I would definitely do the latter with formula but for some reason it makes me feel weird combining breast milk from different sessions. Thoughts?

[addymac]

Sometimes I combine storage bottles that aren’t full if I’m running low. Are you bringing her fresh milk every day? No frozen? I think combining it into one isn’t a big deal- milk stays fresh for 5 days (according to the cdc) so as long as you know the date of the oldest one and use it all up so it doesn’t get wasted if mixed with too old or too new milk, I don’t see the issue. But idk.

This is something I need to add to my list of things to ask my provider how we are going to do it. 🤔

[thinkchocolate05]

Nov 10, 2017 12:53:39 GMT -6 addymac said:

Sometimes I combine storage bottles that aren’t full if I’m running low. Are you bringing her fresh milk every day? No frozen? I think combining it into one isn’t a big deal- milk stays fresh for 5 days (according to the cdc) so as long as you know the date of the oldest one and use it all up so it doesn’t get wasted if mixed with too old or too new milk, I don’t see the issue. But idk.

This is something I need to add to my list of things to ask my provider how we are going to do it. 🤔

I've been pumping enough at work so far to bring fresh milk except on Mondays. It would definitely be easier to have it in one jug and then she can pour it out as needed.

[kristyw]

I would be ok with putting it all in one jug if she will be good about lightly mixing it so baby gets enough foremilk, hindmilk, and fat with each feeding. I usually just send individual bottles but do whatever works best for you!

[jexxa]

So here’s what I do:

Whatever I pump at work that day goes into the bottles for the next day (so Monday’s milk is for Tuesday, Tuesday’s pumped milk is for Wednesday, etc). If there’s any left over it goes in the freezer (we’re still doing a little trial and error with P but it seems like she takes three 3oz bottles, and I pump way more than that during the day). On Fridays all of the milk gets frozen, and then on Mondays I use the oldest milk in the freezer. I freeze milk in a mixture of 2oz, 3oz, and 4oz bags (sometimes there’s half ounces tacked on there too) in case I need more or less for whatever reason. If for some reason P comes home with an untouched bottle, it goes in with the next day’s bottles with a note to use it first. I also keep a bag of frozen milk at daycare in case she’s extra hungry, or a bottle spills, or whatever.

You can combine milk from different pumping sessions as long as they’re the same temp. If it’s from different days, make sure you use the oldest date to store it or determine when it needs to be used by.

Different providers have different specifications on how they want you to send the milk in (already in the bottle, still frozen in the bag, etc). Ours originally told us to send it frozen in the bags but since I don’t freeze in the exact amounts she takes, they’re ok with me sending the bottles already prepped (which really is less work for them anyway since all they have to do then is heat them).

[cali]

Seems like PPs have already given you good answers, I'll just add that I always combine pumped milk to get full bottles, I just don't mix freshly pumped milk with cold milk, I make sure it's all cold before combining. It's never been a problem and I've been doing it pretty much since she was born since my supply blows and I rarely pump enough in one session for a full bottle.

[thinkchocolate05]

Thanks guys!!! These are all super helpful.