Finding the best breast milk storage bags can make all the difference—our top picks ensure convenience, safety, and peace of mind for every mom.
As someone who’s breastfed for a total of 4 years, I know the frustration all too well: spending 20 or 30 minutes pumping, only to have the storage bag fail and your precious milk spill out, pooling in the bottom of your fridge or cooler. The mix of anger and sadness in that moment is something only parents who've experienced it can truly understand. That’s why I want to make sure you never have to witness your hard work, your baby's vital nourishment, ruined by a bag failure among your Diet Coke cans and cheese stash.
What to Consider When Choosing Breast Milk Storage Bags
Though most breast milk storage bags are quite similar, there are a few key factors to keep in mind: materials, sealing methods, bag size, and storage options.
Materials
For a while, we didn't put much thought into the materials of storage bags, but we've learned our lesson. According to the CDC, the bags should be made from food-grade, BPA-free materials. Options include plastic, single-use bags, reusable plastic bags you can sanitize, and even food-grade silicone bags that can be washed in the dishwasher. Some of these bags can even be attached to your breast pump, though most require you to pour the milk in.
Sealing Method
The sealing method is crucial to how securely the bag holds the milk. There are single-zip bags (like Motif), double-zip bags, twist caps (such as Kiinde, our best overall), and peel-and-seal options (which didn’t make the cut for this list due to lower performance). The more reliable the seal, the less chance of spills or leaks.
Size of the Bag
Most bags typically hold around 4 ounces, but larger options are available. A crucial detail is the markings on the outside of the bag, which should clearly and accurately indicate how much milk is inside. This helps with tracking and ensures you know how much you’re storing at a glance.
Storage
Some bags are designed to be laid flat in the freezer for easy stacking, while others need to stand upright. Depending on your freezer space, this can make a huge difference. If you have limited room, the ability to freeze bags flat could be a deal-breaker.
How We Tested
While I didn’t use actual breast milk for testing (my pumping days are behind me), I did put the bags through a rigorous series of tests using almond milk. I filled the bags using breast pumps, bottles, and funnels, then sealed and tested them by tossing them around in various scenarios. I threw them on my porch, sidewalk, and even into my bathtub. I also carried them around in my bag while running errands, froze and thawed them, and slowly reheated them. Every situation that a bag might face was thoroughly tested to ensure reliability.
1. Motif Medical Milk Storage Bags with Easy Pour Spout
There is something really satisfying about snipping off that corner piece and pouring the milk into the bottle. It reminds me of the "juice packs" you could buy at music festivals in the '00s. And seeing as how breast milk has a similar effect on babies that those juice packs did on me, I think it's a fair comparison.
The Motif bags aren't as spill- or leak-proof as the Kiinde, but they store easier, and they're more affordable, with a pack of 100 running under $16. The Motif breast milk storage bags are also made of BPA-free plastic, but they aren't made to be pumped into directly. That being said, they're not hard to use, thanks to the fact they stand up pretty well.
One thing I didn't love about the Motif bags is that while the marks are accurate, they're harder to read, and though the bags have an 8-ounce capacity, the marks stop at 6 ounces. Other than that, they're fantastic. They also accept marker on the outside easy, and it dries more quickly on Motif than others.
2. Momcozy No Leak Silicone Breastmilk Storage Bags
Reusable breast milk storage bags aren't as popular as disposable bags, but they're gaining in popularity. These are far-and-away my favorite. They're made of silicone, and they're dishwasher-, microwave-, and boiling-water safe, making these the easiest to reheat of any of the milk storage bags on the list. They don't leak, either.
There are no ounce markers, which I don't love, but they hold 250 ml, or 8.5 ounces, so they're also the largest on this list. They take up a lot more space than any other bag on the list, which can be a pain, but you get a lot more use from them. Long after they've held breast milk, they can hold purees, juice, whatever your child needs. They clean up like an actual dream; just throw them on the spokes of the top rack of the dishwasher and you're done. They don't smell, and they take a long time to discolor.
3. NANOBÉBÉ Breastmilk Storage Bags & Organizer
I get that these are weirdly-boob shaped, and yes, I also find them funny. Alas, the shape isn't as relevant as the convenience of the storage container. This is hands-down, the best-for-storage on the list if you love a system. It's easy to keep up a "first-in-last-out" policy with milk, taking it from the bottom. It takes up little space, the bags are extra thick, with a double-zipper, more leak-proof design, and overall, these bags are just so nice.
I love that they're only 5 ounces, which feels perfect for little ones and for storage. The markers are clear, accurate, and easy to read. They're easy to write-on as well. Where these fall a little bit short is pouring from the boob-shaped bags. It took me a few tries. Let me help you out. Only open a corner of the bag, and pour into a funnel over the bottle. Use a wider funnel than you think you need. That eliminates spillage.
4. Tommee Tippee Breast Milk Pouches
Tommee Tippee is another brand that you can pump directly into (or not, I'm not the boss of you). I like these almost as much as I like the Kiinde, but because I don't love the lids as much, they didn't end up winning best overall, even though they're often less expensive.
Tommee Tippee breast milk storage bags have exceptional labels that allow you to easily read what you write on them. They take a hair longer to dry than others on the list, but I love the surface and white background so much I don't care.
These bags, too, can take a beating. They won't leak, they won't spill, and they don't puncture easily. Like the Kiinde, they're harder to store, but not that hard. They're a wonderful, useful, set of bags at a great price.
5. Kiinde Twist Cap Breast Milk Storage
Technically, the Kiinde breast milk storage bags are designed to be used directly with your pump, pumping straight into the bag (though you may need an additional adapter), and honestly, that works well, but so does a funnel. If you're using a wearable breast pump, which aren't generally compatible with bags, you'll still love this, and you already have a funnel unless you're a a major risk taker.
The ounce and milliliter marks on the sides of the BPA-free plastic bags are accurate, and the threaded-top doesn't leak. Truly, it is leak free. I hurled this bag right at the ground, and it was fine. Dirty, but fine.
One bonus of this bag is that you can buy a Kiinde bottle that let's you plug that bag right into it, negating the need for traditional bottles. It's an entire convenient ecosphere of breast milk feeding and storage.
These take up a bit more space in the freezer when lying flat than some others on the list, but what it lacks in space-saving it makes up for in the prevention of milk loss, and the ease of use. Attach it to your pump, pour milk right into it, it's my favorite.
