Keeping expressed breastmilk handy, cold and safe for your little ones? It's a tall order especially for working mums. We know the struggle. It's at time like this that you need the help of the best cooler bags for breastmilk, so you can keep your expressed milk nice and fresh for your little one.
If you're pumping on the go, we've done the legwork and have rounded up 7 best cooler bags for breast milk you can ever trust!
Best cooler bags for breast milk
Product name: Mama’s Choice Sling Cooler Bag
Brand name: Mama’s Choice
Price: $35.90
Dimensions: 23 x 23 x 17 centimetres
Mama’s Choice Sling Cooler Bag is designed for utmost convenience and practicality. It features two compartments to ensure the hygienic storage of your breastfeeding essentials. The upper compartment is ideal for keeping your breast pump, valves, tubes, and spare bottles handy.
Meanwhile, the bottom compartment is spacious enough to accommodate up to 9 small breast milk bottles. Isn’t that amazing? Plus, this space is also insulated to help maintain the freshness of your freshly expressed milk for up to 8 hours!
This breast milk cooler bag from Mama’s Choice manages to keep up with different mums’ preferences too. It has a comfortable handle that lets you carry it like a tote bag and a long strap so you can also wear it as a sling bag.
Pros:
- Great as a tote bag or as a sling bag, with its detachable strap.
- Comes in various designs so you can choose which one suits your style.
- Works great as a lunch bag for mums and dads, too.
- It uses high-quality nylon and leather so it's sturdy, durable, and safe from stains and spills.
- It even has a small exterior pocket for storing change or knick-knacks.
Cons:
Product name: Mini Fridge SB
Model: FTG-1200S BTLR
Brand: Fridge-To-Go
Price: $89.00
Dimensions: 16 W x 16.5 D x 22.5 H CM
Surround cooling: 10 - 12 hours
A trusty companion especially if you frequently need to use it, keeping your breastmilk cold for up to 12 hours.
After 20-30 minutes of leaving your breastmilk at room temperature in the cooler, you'll be pleasantly surprised that it will be pretty chilled. It works just like a regular fridge — one of the best cooler bags for breast milk you can find in the market, though a little steep on the price.
Pros:
- Slim body, space-saving design
- Thin and removable freezing panels (placed at the side compartments with zips, so they don't shift around with the bottles or pumping parts)
- You don't have to place the whole bag into the freezer
- Very durable and usable
Protip: Put the ice panels in the freezer overnight so that it'll be solid hard the next morning
Cons:
- Plain; colours are mostly single coloured
- Fabrics deteriorate over time — but it can last 5 years and more so it could be understandable, especially if you are stretching the bags with containers and such
- Price might be steep but it is reliable and quality is guaranteed
*You can register your product warranty online too.
Protip: You can add one additional cooling panel (a generic one is fine, like the one from Daiso) on top of your milk bottle so that it stays cold longer, just in case. If you don't work in air-conditioned settings, you might want to consider doing this.
Online store
They have many physical stores as well, check them out here.
Product name: PackIt Freezable Lunch Bag with Zip Closure, Black
Price: $14.88 (U.P. $19.99) - excluding shipping fees
Dimensions open: 10 H x 8.5 W x 5 D inches
With PackIt's patented cooling technology, freezable gel is permanently built into the bag; so you will never waste money on separate ice packs or gel packs again!
Simply flatten and freeze overnight (12 hours), then pack when ready to go. For additional storage space, flatten the freezable divider. For simple care, wipe thoroughly or hand wash the interior and spot clean exterior; allow the bag to dry completely before freezing.
Protip: You can freeze the milk together with the whole bag so that the frozen milk acts as extra "ice packs".
Pros:
- The exterior does not get wet or damp when defrosting
- Many designs, colours, and styles
- Good functions and holds a lot of food (fits nice and snug)
- Keeps food cold for around 8 ~ 10+ hours
Cons:
- Not machine or dishwasher safe
- Velcro closure weakens over time (but the bag is zippered at the top as well, so it's not a huge issue)
- Seams could pose a problem over time with heavy items
[caption id="attachment_329129" align="aligncenter" width="670"]
You can choose from up to 8 colours![/caption]
Product name: V-Coool Double Layer Plain Cooler Bag
Brand: Pupsik Studio
Price: $12.80 (U.P. $16.00)
Dimensions: 24*22*16 cm
The ultimate cooler bag that is thoughtfully designed to be an all-in-one pumping bag — for storing both bottles and breastpumps. It comes with two compartments that let you stash your various accessories and pump parts.
It has a fully insulated inner padding that keeps milk cold for up to 10 hours, flexible for both work and outing purposes. Recommended for babies 0+ months.
Bottom compartment: store milk and icepack
Upper compartment: store pump and pump parts
Pros:
- Keeps breastmilk / drink chilled for 8-24 hours if used together with ice packs
- Durable and easy to maintain (waterproof and dirt-resistant outer layer)
- Removable inner divider can help you expand the bottom room
- Has a lot of storage space not for just bottles but also for pumps
Cons:
Not much we can say... Just a really usable and affordable option for pumping mums! Definitely one of the best cooler bags for breast milk for mums.
Product name: Autumnz Posh Cooler Bag - Henna (Grey)
Brand name: Autumnz
Price: $25.60 (U.P. $27.90)
Dimensions: 24cm (W) x 27cm (H) x 13cm (D)
Definitely, a small investment that goes a long way. One of the best cooler bags for breast milk that is tested to keep them chilled for up to 14 hours (under normal room temperature) with 3 pcs of Autumnz Reusable Ice Pack.
Additional product information:
- Holds up to 8 standard neck bottles measuring 5 oz
- Holds up to 8 bags of filled Autumnz Double Ziplock Breastmilk Storage Bags (7oz each)
Protip: Mums are advised to keep electric breastpumps separate from milk, i.e. in the 2 separate compartments available, to avoid unnecessary contact with liquid
Pros:
- Fully insulated inner (with padding) to keep breastmilk cooler for a longer time
- Durable zippers with stylish buckles that give a touch of sophistication
- Wide opening when unzipped giving easy and spacious access to the interior
Cons:
None!
Product name: Sarah Wells Kelly Convertible Breast Pump Bag and Backpack (Black and White)
Brand name: Sarah Wells
Price: $125.00 (free returns)
Dimensions: 15 x 7 x 12 inches
This Kelly convertible breast pump bag and backpack is not your generic tote bag. It's designed specifically for the larger hospital-grade pumps, with specialised and innovative compartments. Well-thought design definitely positions it as one of the best cooler bags for breast milk!
Besides, it's comfortable for everyday use; whether you want to carry it as a work-pump bag, diaper bag or even camera bag! It's also unisex so your hubby can help you carry it around too.
Protip: Flatten the inside of the bag into the pocket where the pump is when you don't need to use it - to make more space inside.
Pros:
- Has an XXL side pocket that is designed to fit bigger or hospital-grade pumps such as the Medela Symphony
- Easily converts from a shoulder bag to a backpack. Foam padded straps make all-day wear a breeze.
- Lifetime warranty available - contact the seller directly for more details.
- Uses durable and lightweight materials. Extremely easy to clean so you don't have to worry about spills
Cons:
- On the expensive side but according to reviews, it's worth every penny
- It's on the smaller size so a larger item, like a laptop, may not fit
Product name: Medela Breastmilk Cooler Set - US Version
Brand name: Medela
Price: $46.90 (U.P. 89.90)
Dimensions: 14 x 17 x 17 cm
Perfect for transport to work and daycare. As a feature of Medela double-electric breastpumps, this essential cooler is a mom-favorite! It's compatible with Medela 5-ounce/150ml breastmilk bottles to keep breastmilk cool on-the-go. Medela bottles have narrow necks.
Set includes:
- 1 x Cooler Bag - Microfiber bag material made without PVC
- 1 x Contoured Ice Pack - Ice pack safely stores fresh breastmilk for up to 12 hours. Contoured shape fits around breastmilk bottles perfectly.
- 4 x 5 oz/150 ml bottles
- 4 x solid lids.
Pros:
- Useful set for travelling and pumping (convenient and easy to carry)
- Able to fit into most diaper bags
- Keeps cold milk chilled for hours
Cons:
- According to reviews, the bottle caps of the medela bottles that come with the bag may have some defects and cannot be closed securely tight (but cooler bag is useful and compact)
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Skip Hop Grab and Go Double Bottle Bag, Chevron[/caption]
Product name: Skip Hop Insulated Breastmilk Cooler And Baby Bottle Bag, Grab & Go Double, Chevron
Model number: 205301-CNSZP
Brand name: Skip Hop
Price: $14.99 (with free returns)
Dimensions:
Inches: 6.75l x 3.5w x 9h
Cm: 17l x 9w x 23h
Heading out for a long day with your baby? The double bottle bag is insulated to keep two bottles or sippy cups cold for up to four hours. It also makes a great bag for baby’s snacks! It's also BPA-free and phthalate-free. One of the best cooler bags for breast milk, surely.
Need to pump at work? It works like a charm! This bag can fit between four to six 5 ounce bottles in there!
Pros:
- Freezer pack is included
- Insulated interior keeps sippy cups and snacks chilled for hours
- Two-way zippers allow single or double bottle access
- Easy-open strap to attach to stroller
- Wipeable lining keeps bottles warm or cold
- Interior mesh pocket for storage
Cons:
- No net or compartment on the outside (net pocket inside the bag is designated for ice packs and may get cold)
- May have to buy bigger ice packs to keep it cooler
We hope you found these 7 best cooler bags for breast milk ideas useful!
Also READ: 7 ways of pumping and storing that cause breastmilk contamination
