Milk & formula storage · In the freezer
How long can you freeze breast milk?
Last reviewed November 2026 against AAP, CDC, NHS and WHO guidance · Sources
Quick answer
Breast milk can be frozen at 0°F (-18°C) for about 6 months for best quality, and up to 12 months is acceptable, according to the CDC. Freeze it in 2 to 4 oz portions, leave an inch of space at the top, label it with the date, and use the oldest milk first.
- Best within
- About 6 months
- Acceptable to
- 12 months
- Portion
- 2–4 oz (60–120 ml)
On this page
How long does frozen breast milk last?
The CDC says about 6 months in the freezer is best and up to 12 months is acceptable. The quality is best in the first 6 months, so rotate your stash and use the oldest milk first.
Store it at the back of the freezer, not in the door, where temperatures change each time it opens.
How much breast milk should I freeze in each bag?
The CDC suggests 2 to 4 oz (60 to 120 ml), or the amount your baby takes at one feed. Smaller portions mean less waste, because thawed milk can't go back in the freezer.
Leave about an inch of space at the top of the container, since milk expands as it freezes. Use containers with tight lids or bags made for breast milk, never ordinary plastic bags or bottle liners. Check typical bottle sizes in the ml to oz converter.
How do I thaw frozen breast milk?
- In the fridge overnight.
- In a bowl of warm or lukewarm water.
- Under lukewarm running water.
Never thaw or heat breast milk in a microwave. Once thawed, follow the thawed breast milk rules: 24 hours in the fridge, 2 hours once warmed, and never refreeze.
All breast milk storage times
| Where | Freshly expressed | Thawed from frozen |
|---|---|---|
| Room temperature, 77°F (25°C) or cooler | Up to 4 hours | Use within 2 hours once at room temperature or warmed |
| Fridge, 40°F (4°C) | Up to 4 days | Use within 24 hours of fully thawing |
| Freezer, 0°F (-18°C) | About 6 months is best; up to 12 months is acceptable | Never refreeze |
| Insulated cooler bag with frozen ice packs | Up to 24 hours while traveling | Not covered by CDC; use it, chill it or freeze it on arrival |
| Leftover after a feed | Use within 2 hours after your baby finishes | Use within 2 hours after your baby finishes |
How do I keep track of the clock at 3am?
Storage rules all start from a time: when you pumped, when it thawed, when you mixed it, when the feed began. Those are exactly the times tired parents forget, especially when someone else made the bottle.
- Label every container of expressed milk with the date (and time, if you'll use it within days).
- Write the mixing time on a formula bottle you've put in the fridge, or tape a note to the fridge.
- Note when each feed starts. That's the clock for the 1-hour formula rule and the 2-hour leftover milk rule.
Feedoo Baby logs the time of every feed and who gave it, so whoever takes the next shift can see when the last bottle started. See how to track baby feeding for a simple routine.
When to call your pediatrician
- A rectal temperature of 100.4°F (38°C) or higher in a baby 3 months or younger. The AAP says to call right away, even if your baby seems otherwise well.
- Fewer wet diapers than expected for their age (fewer than 6 a day from about day 5), or dark yellow urine.
- Very sleepy and hard to wake for feeds, floppy, or unusually quiet.
- Refusing feeds, or feeding poorly several times in a row.
- Signs of dehydration: dry mouth, no tears, or a sunken soft spot on the head.
- Forceful or green vomiting, or vomiting after most feeds.
- Red, black (after the first meconium poops) or white/pale gray poop.
- Yellow skin or eyes that spread or deepen, or any yellow color in the first 24 hours.
- Trouble breathing, blue or gray lips, or your baby is limp or very hard to wake: call 911 (or your local emergency number) now.
If something feels wrong, trust that feeling and call. You never need a reason beyond worry.
Questions parents ask
Is frozen breast milk good after a year?
The CDC says up to 12 months in the freezer is acceptable, and about 6 months is best. Beyond 12 months is outside the guidance.
Can I refreeze breast milk?
No. The CDC says never to refreeze breast milk after it has thawed.
Should I freeze fresh milk right away?
If you won't use it within 4 days, yes. The CDC says to freeze it right away rather than keeping it in the fridge first.
Related guides
- Breast milk storage guidelines: room temperature, fridge and freezerHow long breast milk lasts: 4 hours at room temperature, 4 days in the fridge, 6 to 12 months in the freezer, plus thawed milk and leftover rules from the CDC.
- How long can breast milk sit out at room temperature?Freshly pumped breast milk can sit out up to 4 hours at 77°F or cooler. Thawed or warmed milk gets 2 hours. What changes in a hot room, plus CDC sources.
- How long is breast milk good in the fridge?Fresh breast milk lasts up to 4 days in the fridge at 40°F. Thawed milk gets 24 hours. Where to put it, when to freeze it instead, and the CDC rules.
- How long is formula good for?Mixed formula: use within 2 hours, 1 hour once feeding starts, 24 hours in the fridge. Opened powder: most within 1 month. Every CDC formula rule in one place.
- How to track baby feeding and diapersWhy pediatricians ask about feeds and diapers, exactly what to log for breast, bottle and combo feeding, and paper vs notes app vs tracking app compared.
Free tools
Sources
Last reviewed November 2026. Numbers are ranges from these public health sources; 1 oz ≈ 30 ml.
Feedoo Baby shares general information, not medical advice. Every baby is different. If you're worried about feeding, weight gain, diapers or your baby's health, call your pediatrician, midwife or health visitor.