Sunday, July 18, 2010

Breastmilk Storage Tips

I've seen a few eco-tips related to storing breastmilk recently, so thought I'd share them here.

Reuse
I got this link from my friend, Sara, a while ago.  It's a neat way to reuse one of the many gift bags you might get at a baby shower to help you keep your stored milk organized.

http://greenlitebites.com/BreastMilk/

Recycle 
If you plan to use the breastmilk storage bags, it turns out that many are recyclable.  For example, Lansinoh's fall under the recyclable plastics category #4.  Some communities only recycle plastics #1 & #2, but some will recycle up to #7, so check with your local recycling center for details on whether they'll accept these bags when you're done.

Reduce
There is a lot of information out there about some of the bad things that can be found in plastics these days. Beyond the Bisphenol-A (BPA), which has been removed from most baby products, there are other compounds used in plastics that have not been fully studied for their health effects and are on the EPA's "chemicals of concern" list.

If you're worried about any of these chemicals, there's one storage container that appears to be a healthy and eco-friendly alternative: glass.  You're probably already recycling the glass jars you get from the store, so wash those out well and you'll have a ready-made eco-friendly milk container!

Photo Credit: care2.com

Just make sure you're aware of the following caveats.  They'll take up more room in your freezer/fridge than the plastic bags and be sure you only fill them up halfway to account for milk expansion.

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