Creativity with Extra Breast Milk: Using a Surplus

Got Milk? Here's How to Put That Extra Breast Milk to Good Use!

Not every mom is fortunate enough to have a surplus of breast milk. But if you’re pumping milk and realize you’re producing more than you need to feed your baby, or if you find yourself at the end of your journey with a freezer full of milk, consider these ideas for putting that hard-earned liquid gold to good use.

• Donate It! Breast milk donation is an incredible way to help mothers and babies who need it most. When you donate through an official milk bank like the Human Milk Banking Association of North America, your breast milk donation is used to help premature babies in the NICU, newborns with gastrointestinal problems or other illnesses, and babies whose mothers cannot breastfeed.

• Mix Breast Milk Into Baby’s Food. Once your baby is eating solids, you can mix extra breast milk into any foods that call for milk, like oatmeal, pancakes, or mac and cheese. Or, just give your little one a sippy cup of breast milk to drink instead of juice or cow’s milk.

• Make Breast Milk Ice Pops. If you’re pumping more than your baby is regularly eating, try freezing extra breast milk into popsicle molds or ice cream. These “momsicles” are especially great for teething babies, or as a summer treat for toddlers.

• Give Baby a Milk Bath. If your breast milk is no longer good to drink (anything longer than 6 months in the deep freezer), consider using it in other ways. Many moms recommend pouring your little one a milk bath to help moisturize and soothe their sensitive skin. All you need is enough breast milk to make the water cloudy. Just remember, don’t leave your baby unattended in the bath!

• Get Crafty. Again, if your breast milk is past its “use by” date, there are a lot of fun ways you can use it up. A quick internet search will yield many fun recipes for homemade breast milk soap, lotions, or diaper creams – and even sites that will make jewelry keepsakes out of your breast milk!

Don’t despair and feel like you have to watch all that liquid gold go down the drain – you have options when you’re ready to move on in your breastfeeding journey. Have fun, use your creativity, and find what works for you!