https://boards.hellobee.com/ Pregnancy, Baby and Parenting blog, by Hellobee en Mon, 06 Apr 2026 21:32:56 +0000 https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-do-you-portion-your-breastmilk-to-freeze#post-2405152 Wed, 30 Dec 2015 21:42:32 +0000 MrsSRS 2405152@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@peaches1038: they're big and the plastic is more flexible </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-do-you-portion-your-breastmilk-to-freeze#post-2404855 Wed, 30 Dec 2015 17:59:54 +0000 peaches1038 2404855@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@SweetCaroline: I'm going to try the nuk bags, thank you for the advice! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-do-you-portion-your-breastmilk-to-freeze#post-2404839 Wed, 30 Dec 2015 17:41:00 +0000 bebe211 2404839@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>i didn't want to "waste" bags so i froze in 6 oz potions or more. Since i only defrosted to rotate my stash once a week. I also froze 2 oz reusable bottles for days she needed more than i pumped the day before. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-do-you-portion-your-breastmilk-to-freeze#post-2404817 Wed, 30 Dec 2015 17:17:58 +0000 SweetCaroline 2404817@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@peaches1038: I also recommend the Nuk bags. I had much better luck with them. The plastic is thicker. The downside is they don't freeze as flat. The upside is I have never had one leak and I have literally used thousands. I can't say the same for Lansinoh...they have nearly brought me to tears many times by leaking. They freeze beautifully flat though. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-do-you-portion-your-breastmilk-to-freeze#post-2404815 Wed, 30 Dec 2015 17:13:37 +0000 JenGirl 2404815@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I started doing 6 oz because I was trying to be efficient with bags. Then read it's better to freeze in smaller portions like 2 oz. So I did 2 oz for a while but it was such a PITA to portion out so many bags. So I switched to 4 oz, which is what I do now. Though I like the idea of doing 4 oz and 3 oz, so I can make different combinations, so I might start doing that. </p> <p>Right now we're fine because my husband is home with the baby, but I don't know what we're going to do about daycare. Because he doesn't take a consistent amount at each feeding. Sometimes he'll take 2 oz, sometimes he'll take 8. It really varies a lot. And all the daycare centers that I've found require you to send filled bottles and if a bottle isn't finished they won't reuse the remainder at the next feed. So I'm thinking about sending in 2 oz bottles and they can just use multiple bottles per feed, but that would mean sending something like 10 bottles per day!</p> <p>Also, when we thaw, we stand the bags upright in a tall tupperware container so that we don't risk leaks. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-do-you-portion-your-breastmilk-to-freeze#post-2404750 Wed, 30 Dec 2015 16:07:07 +0000 AngelicOne 2404750@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Started out doing 3 -4 oz bags since that's what DS was drinking. Then I increased to 6- 8 oz. as I was EP'ing &amp; had an oversupply so was trying to save room in our freezers. I mostly used Target's Up &amp; Up bags &amp; they seem to be thawing okay with 8oz in them. I hardly have any leaks with them (Lanisoh ones seemed to have a leaker every couple of days) </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-do-you-portion-your-breastmilk-to-freeze#post-2404675 Wed, 30 Dec 2015 15:07:21 +0000 PawPrints 2404675@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>4 oz portions. I have some 2 and 1 oz bags and they are fairly annoying, I thought they'd allow increased versatility but really the 4 oz ones are just simpler. Our daycare requires us to send in bottles ready to go, already thawed and with a nipple attached. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-do-you-portion-your-breastmilk-to-freeze#post-2404661 Wed, 30 Dec 2015 14:52:37 +0000 peaches1038 2404661@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@MrsSRS: why do you like the nuk bags? </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-do-you-portion-your-breastmilk-to-freeze#post-2404562 Wed, 30 Dec 2015 13:49:50 +0000 MrsSRS 2404562@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@peaches1038: I seriously recommend trying the nuk bags.<br /> It's true about the volume increase tapping off eventually. DS started at 3oz per bottle and never got above 5oz. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-do-you-portion-your-breastmilk-to-freeze#post-2404497 Wed, 30 Dec 2015 13:04:48 +0000 cheert16 2404497@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>4 oz bags </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-do-you-portion-your-breastmilk-to-freeze#post-2404491 Wed, 30 Dec 2015 13:01:14 +0000 Beehive 2404491@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I always froze in 2 or 3 oz portions. That way I could make up any number of ounces I wanted by combining bags. It worked well for us (though used more bags!). </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-do-you-portion-your-breastmilk-to-freeze#post-2404312 Wed, 30 Dec 2015 11:21:31 +0000 peaches1038 2404312@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Ms.Badger: ack! I'm not sure!! I have lasinoh bags and they do only go up to 6 oz. maybe I'll have to defrost them inside another ziplock. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-do-you-portion-your-breastmilk-to-freeze#post-2404311 Wed, 30 Dec 2015 11:19:24 +0000 MoonMoon 2404311@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I always froze in 1-2 oz increments, with a few 3-4 oz bags. I figured that would give DH flexibility and ensure that LO wasn't overfed, since more could always be thawed, but unused portions couldn't be refrozen. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-do-you-portion-your-breastmilk-to-freeze#post-2404295 Wed, 30 Dec 2015 11:09:42 +0000 Ms.Badger 2404295@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I started freezing in 4 oz portions when my LO was about the same age as yours, but he started taking 5 oz bottles before my mat leave was up and now it's a fairly frustrating volume. Now I just freeze in random volumes (up to 6 oz) so that I can mix and match what I need. </p> <p>Are you sure your bags can handle 8 oz? Most that I've seen top off at 6 oz, there needs to be extra non-milk room because milk expands when it freezes. I wouldn't want you losing precious milk to leaky bags </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-do-you-portion-your-breastmilk-to-freeze#post-2404275 Wed, 30 Dec 2015 10:58:04 +0000 MamaCate 2404275@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I have those milk trays so I freeze in one oz cubes and then put into ziplock bags. LO takes 13 oz/day at daycare so it is convenient to supplement what I pumped or measure out just what I need. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-do-you-portion-your-breastmilk-to-freeze#post-2404262 Wed, 30 Dec 2015 10:50:44 +0000 kiddosc 2404262@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@peaches1038: I froze in 4oz portions and used the gift bag storage method to reduce storage space. It worked awesome and took up very little room. <a href="http://greenlitebites.com/2011/06/breast-milk-storage/" rel="nofollow">http://greenlitebites.com/2011/06/breast-milk-storage/</a> </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-do-you-portion-your-breastmilk-to-freeze#post-2404199 Wed, 30 Dec 2015 10:16:34 +0000 snowjewelz 2404199@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I usually freeze 4-6 oz bags. I was more strict about them being 4 oz in the beginning but as I got more used to the routine I was more lax. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-do-you-portion-your-breastmilk-to-freeze#post-2404095 Wed, 30 Dec 2015 09:21:17 +0000 mrsjyw 2404095@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Usually 4-6oz portions. In the early weeks I just froze as I pumped.... even if it was only 2-3oz. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-do-you-portion-your-breastmilk-to-freeze#post-2404090 Wed, 30 Dec 2015 09:18:52 +0000 autumnlove 2404090@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Usually in 6-8 oz portions. I thawed what I needed for daycare. .I think it was three 4 oz bottles for a long time. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-do-you-portion-your-breastmilk-to-freeze#post-2404084 Wed, 30 Dec 2015 09:14:33 +0000 Alivoo01 2404084@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>At first, I froze in 4oz portions. When I felt like I had a decent amount, I started freezing in 2-3oz portions as toppers when he got older/was extra hungry. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-do-you-portion-your-breastmilk-to-freeze#post-2404082 Wed, 30 Dec 2015 09:13:53 +0000 blackbird 2404082@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@peaches1038: our daycare will thaw the frozen bags for us and portion them out but most don't </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-do-you-portion-your-breastmilk-to-freeze#post-2404067 Wed, 30 Dec 2015 09:08:25 +0000 peaches1038 2404067@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@regberadaisy: I was wondering about that, I read that he shouldn't need more milk as he gets bigger but was curious if that was really the case for most babies. </p> <p>Thanks everyone! Looks like it's a mixed bag. I think I'll do some 4 oz, 8 oz and 2 oz bags. I have a super small freezer and live in an apartment so I want to fit as much as I can. </p> <p>Next question: Did you send the bottles with defrosted milk or send the bags and they divvied it up at daycare? </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-do-you-portion-your-breastmilk-to-freeze#post-2404017 Wed, 30 Dec 2015 08:30:15 +0000 blackbird 2404017@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I freeze 4 oz bags and I used to do some 2 oz extra bags, too. Now T is 7 months old and eats a lot of solids, so I don't do 2 oz anymore. I freeze flat and stack in a box </p> [attach=618/15/o06avz.600x450.image.jpeg] https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-do-you-portion-your-breastmilk-to-freeze#post-2403994 Wed, 30 Dec 2015 08:12:22 +0000 regberadaisy 2403994@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Since your LO takes 4oz I would freeze in 4oz portions. Most likely with BM his intake won't increase because BM is supposed to adjust nutritionally as they get older. This was true for both my girls. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-do-you-portion-your-breastmilk-to-freeze#post-2403985 Wed, 30 Dec 2015 08:06:05 +0000 SweetCaroline 2403985@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I did 4oz portions. This has served us well and she is 10 months now. She has taken 4, 6, and 8 oz bottles. When she took 6oz bottles, we would use 3 bags to make 2 bottles. I will do the same for the next baby.</p> <p>ETA: now I remember I did some 2oz portions too, for when she needed 3 - 6 ounce bottles. They would thaw 4 - 4 ounce bags and 1 - 2 ounce bag. Honestly, the bags were too expensive for me to put 2 oz in every single one, so this system worked well. I'd just make more 2 oz bags whenever they were running low. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-do-you-portion-your-breastmilk-to-freeze#post-2403982 Wed, 30 Dec 2015 08:05:36 +0000 ElbieKay 2403982@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I wanted to minimize transfer loss, so I typically just stored whatever I pumped. Then each morning I would match up a combination of bags that added up to whatever bottles I needed for the day. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-do-you-portion-your-breastmilk-to-freeze#post-2403981 Wed, 30 Dec 2015 08:05:21 +0000 Adira 2403981@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I always froze in 2 oz portions because it gave me the most versatility. For a while, I needed three 5 oz bottles for daycare, so I'd thaw 8 bags and have basically the perfect amount. Now I sent 6 oz bottles, so I thaw 9 bags. And when I start mixing with WCM to transition off breast milk, I'll be able to mix in 2 oz increments. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-do-you-portion-your-breastmilk-to-freeze#post-2403965 Wed, 30 Dec 2015 07:56:17 +0000 peachykeen 2403965@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I weaned this summer, but I always put 4 oz per bag. As she got older she always took 3.5-4 oz, and even if she didn't, we would easily finish it over the course of the day. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-do-you-portion-your-breastmilk-to-freeze#post-2403957 Wed, 30 Dec 2015 07:48:05 +0000 autumnleaves 2403957@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I froze 4-5 oz in a bag. Sometimes if I put 6-8, I found the bag more likely to leak even if the bag was supposed to hold 8-9 oz. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-do-you-portion-your-breastmilk-to-freeze#post-2403944 Wed, 30 Dec 2015 07:12:30 +0000 NavyRN2012 2403944@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I freeze in 4 oz portions because that is how much he takes from a bottle. </p>