Storage Bag Reviews

[mtnhighmama]

What storage bags have you all used? Good and bad reviews?

Right now I'm using the Lansinoh brand bags, and haven't noticed any leaks when I pour milk into them, but my surroson's parents have mentioned that one or two have had leaks when they go to defrost.

Their baby nurse recommended switching to the First Years bags, but some of the reviews said the bags smelled heavily of plastic.

I need to use bags for shipping purposes. They get packed tightly together and shipped from Oregon to NY overnight, so I need the packing space to be as ecomonical as possible...hence bags.

I appreciate you all sharing your experience.

[CathMac]

Lansinoh more user friendly but ...

Lansinoh bags are more flexible and easier to squeeze all the air out. First Years (FY) claims to be free of certain chemicals (Phthalates and Polyvinyls) which is probably why the plastic is more stiff. Also, the FY srorage area is rounded, so it doesn't freeze flat quite as well (it bulges up which takes up slightly more storage space) it probably also allows for more air flow and slightly faster thawing in transit.

I used to have trouble with the occasional Lansinoh leak. That stopped once I started freezing flat and "filing" them. I suspect some of the leaks were caused by manhndling the lumpy bags while looking for the right date and size.

The Medela plastic seems similar to FY's but I think it's only a single zipper.
~Cath

[_betsy_]

I've been using the Gerber brand bags for about 8 months with no problems whatsoever.

[Swirly]

I had months worth of milk in lansinoh bags, frozen flat and filed, and about 80% of them leaked like mad when defrosted. I would never use them again.

[mtnhighmama]

Agh! I'm scared of the leaks.

I've been laying them flat to freeze, and I check for leaks before I freeze them. The one that leaked I may have scraped on the freezer shelf. I'm hoping it was an isolated incident, but Swirly's post worries me.

This is precious milk that I'm shipping hundreds of miles away for my surroson . I want it to get to him, not all over the counter, ya know?

[RootSnort]

I've never had problems with the Lansinoh bags, except when I get a little over-zealous opening them and rip the zip-lock top open. But I often do not put a full 6 ounces in these bags either, so manybe that helps? You could try double-bagging, which is what I do in the freezer - all the milk bags and put in Ziplock gallon freezer bags by month.

[Khourtniey]

Ive only used the Gerber bags ... They were not tooo bag but I often ripped the ziploc top off of the part... I guess that happens with all bags tho? I also had to double bag like the pp said

Right now the only thing I use is Medela breastmilk storage bottles.

[mclisa]

I'm using the medela. I like being able to pump right into the bag. So far no leaks.

[RoadWorkAhead]

I've used Gerber and :ansinoh with no issue. Will be trying out Medela soon as I have a few I was given by my milk donor. NO issues as of yet and I've been pumping on and off for, umh, well at least 16 months. I also rarely do 6 oz. I do a variety from 2-6 oz. with most being 4ish =)

[christifav]

I haven't had any problems with the Lansinoh. I like the double zipper feature.

I would use the Medela more, but they are so expensive that I only buy them occasionally.

[BakerALM]

I like double seal bags not sure which ones are best, I used first year for a while and had a leak or two if I bent the the portion of the bag near the seal to much while moving it around the freezer. .

Just wanted to add a tip for getting the air out of any bag before sealing. Once you pour the milk in the bag find a table or counter top with a sharp long edge (verses rounded) and hang the bag below that edge at the level of the milk. Then fold the bag over the edge at that level and smooth the air out against the table and seal. This works amazing for any bag to get ALL the air out.

[melbb]

I've always used Lansinoh. I have had quite a few leaks, but this may have been because my stash traveled across the country with dry ice poking at it. Seems that bags I have frozen at our new location don't leak as much. I always set the bag in a deep bowl in the refrigerator so if it leaks while thawing, I can recover the milk.

[CathMac]

"Recovering" thawed milk from leaking bag

Originally Posted by melbb

I've always used Lansinoh. I have had quite a few leaks, but this may have been because my stash traveled across the country with dry ice poking at it. Seems that bags I have frozen at our new location don't leak as much. I always set the bag in a deep bowl in the refrigerator so if it leaks while thawing, I can recover the milk.

I am starting to second guess my memory of the Lansinoh bags. Initially the holes I remember seemed to be small frayed ones probably caused by being manhandled against the vinyl covered wire of my freezer drawer. But I vaguely remember either a couple of pinholes or perhaps a split seam. At the time I suspected a bad batch. I wonder if they had some quality control issues.

The fact that Swirly had a problem suggests it may be an on again, off again problem.

Regarding the recovery of thawed milk from a leaky bag, I'm guessing this isn't something the experts would recommend but it sounds like a good BTDT tip. It's probably a good idea to give recovered milk the old sniff/taste test and simply throw it away if it smells unusually off or if baby balks at it. However, I wouldn't recommend this if there's any chance the bag has been in contact with meat juice.
~Cath