Cruising with baby- pumping and milk storage

[hamm1207]

What's the best way to store pumped breast milk on the cruise? I don't think the mini fridges/coolers in the room will be cold enough to store the milk for more than a few hours.

 

[Tonka's Skipper]

Just ask the Cabin Steward for a bucket with some ice!
AKK

 

[wilkeliza]

Just not the fridges are more like coolers. So things that are hot will take a while to chill. For something perishable like breast milk I would get the ice bucket. You can also put the ice bucket in the mini-fridge to bring the temperature down.

I don't think the cruise has many other options as they won't store it for you.

 

[darnheather]

I don't think I would try this at all as you can't guarantee that the milk will not spoil. Your best bet is to pump and use within 30 minutes or pump and dump and use formula. Talk to your pediatrician for further advice. But better formula than spoiled breast milk.

 

[marlinrj]

What's the best way to store pumped breast milk on the cruise? I don't think the mini fridges/coolers in the room will be cold enough to store the milk for more than a few hours.

What ship will you be on? I was on the fantasy and kept yogurt and milk in the fridge.

 

[PrincessShmoo]

What ship will you be on? I was on the fantasy and kept yogurt and milk in the fridge.

Right. Only issue we ever had with it not being cold enough was when the Magic & Wonder still had "cooling boxes" not fridges. And then, only once.

All the ship now have real fridges, although, to maximize cooling it's a good idea to leave the cabinet door open, allowing the fridge mechanism to operate efficiently.

 

[hamm1207]

What ship will you be on? I was on the fantasy and kept yogurt and milk in the fridge.

We'll be on the Wonder--at the end of November. It'll be interesting to see what she looks like after the dry dock!

All the ship now have real fridges, although, to maximize cooling it's a good idea to leave the cabinet door open, allowing the fridge mechanism to operate efficiently.

Leaving the door open works?! I'll definitely have to give that a try--I never thought to try that before. Thanks!

 

[PrincessShmoo]

We'll be on the Wonder--at the end of November. It'll be interesting to see what she looks like after the dry dock!




Leaving the door open works?! I'll definitely have to give that a try--I never thought to try that before. Thanks!

Well, it worked for use. But it does kinda get in the way, leaving the door open. If you're not traveling around the room a lot, it's fine.

 

[roobug]

When we went with our 6 month twins I put the pumped milk into the ice bucket to cool it down and then into the fridge - it worked for us - although on the cruise we used the milk by the next day at the latest so we were not storing it for very long. We also had to keep the door of the cabinet open or the inside of the fridge would start warming up.

 

[bafleyanne]

The fridges, at least on the Magic, definitely work well now. Our daughter made Flubber in the kids club and it actually froze in the top compartment. So I'd say you will be fine.

 

[Samantha Gilbreath]

I am actually a NICU nurse, and just wanted to add that pumped breast milk is actually good at room temp for up to 8hrs! (Of course we have much stricter guidelines in the NICU, but the in the real, not-so-sterilized world, up to 8hrs!) EBM has natural antimicrobial properties to it that make it different from formula. Of course, once baby's saliva has touched the milk, it needs to be consumed within an hour. Enjoy your cruise!

 

[Quellman]

Shouldn't you be able to store in the medical bay of the ship as well? They certainly will hold medications that require it. This looks like a call to Disney (probably a few) to get a consensus answer.

 

[Seamama]

For evidence-based articles on breastmilk storage, check out this site: http://kellymom.com/bf/pumpingmoms/milkstorage/milkstorage/ (in particular, scroll down to the storage chart). There's also tips there on traveling w/ pumped breastmilk (specifically, if you're going to be flying) there. I would call DCL after the dry dock and ask how cold the fridge temp gets, then consult the chart I linked to and plan based off that. Some people have meds that require refrigeration, so when you call DCL, ask them how they handle that... can they loan you a better fridge or do people take things to the medical bay? Whatever they do in that situation, they should do for you. Unfortunately, many people (including doctors, even) are not well-educated on breastfeeding or breastmilk, so you could run into challenges getting DCL to support your needs. But you're smart to start looking into things early. If you have other questions, kellymom.com is an awesome resource, as is the La Leche League (www.llli.org).

 

[hnthomps]

Breast milk will keep in a cooler for at least 8 hours, and usually longer. So I would imagine that you will be fine with the fridges on the ship since, after all, your child will be with you (right?). I didn't have access to a refrigerator at work when I was pumping, just a cooler. 10 hour days, plus commute, and I often pumped first thing when I arrived. Total of more then 2 years of pumping across both kids. Never had milk spoil from that (you can tell when it spoils, it gets stinky). So as long as you are tracking which milk is oldest, and using that first, it should be totally fine. I think the fridges are pretty close to regular fridges, not just coolers.

Also, FYI, kellymom used to be evidence based, but it is not any more -- many articles have not been updated in years, and are now quite outdated. While it is still where I would go first, I would confirm any critical information with another source or with a certified lactation consultant.

 

[Mariciram]

We'll be on the Wonder--at the end of November. It'll be interesting to see what she looks like after the dry dock!




Leaving the door open works?! I'll definitely have to give that a try--I never thought to try that before. Thanks!

The wood door to the cabinet/cupboard that hides the fridge, not the actual refrigerator door.

 

[Seamama]

Also, FYI, kellymom used to be evidence based, but it is not any more -- many articles have not been updated in years, and are now quite outdated. While it is still where I would go first, I would confirm any critical information with another source or with a certified lactation consultant.

Oh, I'm so bummed to hear this! That was my go-to source for many years (kids aren't nursing anymore, so I don't need it myself but do send people there). I wonder what happened- that was the best online source around! In any case, I think the milk storage info is still accurate, and you also gave the OP good tips.

 

[annacali]

I will just add that you have to be careful about putting water bottles or anything too heavy on the door of the mini fridge--I discovered after a few hours that having weight in the door kept the door of the fridge from staying fully closed!

 

[HappilyEverAfter80]

Correct me if I'm wrong, but isn't breast milk ok room temperature for several hours? That's what a nurse told me when I was trying to pump for my baby a few years ago. She said I don't have to put it in the fridge unless it's over 8 hrs I believe.

 

[Ginamarie]

I used the cabin fridge to store some pumped milk without any problem, but wasn't storing it for more than a day because I had the baby with me most of the time. The fridge on the Magic was cold enough for that without question. We also had regular milk and yogurt in there without any spoilage.

 

[Seamama]

Correct me if I'm wrong, but isn't breast milk ok room temperature for several hours? That's what a nurse told me when I was trying to pump for my baby a few years ago. She said I don't have to put it in the fridge unless it's over 8 hrs I believe.

Yes, several have posted here confirming that very thing. Up to 8 hrs at room temp is fine.