It's important to keep breast milk in the right temperature range, leave it in your diaper bag on a hot summer day and you risk the milk going bad if it's not drank in time. If you're going for more than 2 hours or so you have to keep the bottle cool, but then if you're bottle is kept cool - how do you warm it up while you are out?
- Pump in the Car. I had a car adapter for my pump and was always pumping on the go. It also came in handy when we went to family outings in the park or long day trips. I pumped in the car right before arriving or excused myself to go pump on those day-long outings. When I finished pumping I made a quick bottle and was ready for the next feeding because fresh milk can last up to 8 hours (if you keep it out of the sun).
- Bottle Coolers. If you're going to be gone for several hours and need to keep your milk cool, you'll find LOTS of different coolers made especially for bottles. I liked the Munchkin Cool Wrap Bottle Bag because it kept the bottles cool for our longer outings. It claims 13 hours, however I'd say it kept cool for more like 8 hours while riding in a stroller on a 80 degree day. The Munchkin Bottle Bag operates with ice packs that you slip in; I stored my ice packs in the freezer so I was always ready to go. Other coolers require you to put the entire cooler in the freezer - this may or may not convenient for you. Also, the Munchkin bag claims to hold 3 standard bottles, I used Avent and could fit two of their bottles in the bag.
- Ask for Warm Water. If you are quick running out the door and toss a bottle in a cooler, chances are the bottle will still be cold when you go to serve it. There are lots of ways to warm a bottle up... warm it in your hands or between your legs, take it out 15-20 minutes before you think you need it, even try serving it chilled (some babies don't mind). My baby always wanted a warm bottle, so I often would find a nearby Starbucks (why not treat myself too) and request a 1/2 glass of warm/hot water (just about every fast food place will do it too). I'd drop the bottle in for a minute or less and we would be warmed up and ready to eat. Be sure to ask for 1/2 a glass so you do not overflow the cup when you put the bottle in!
- Bottle Warmers. For the on-the-go mom, you can also purchase travel bottle warmers. They make ones with car adapters and ones with warming packs that you can activate, boil, etc. before putting the bottle in to warm. Personally I haven't tried many travel warmers, but do know some moms that rave about them. If you want to save some money, you can warm the bottle in advance and put it in a coolie sleeve (they make tall ones for beer bottles) and it will keep the breast milk fairly warm. If you do warm the milk be sure to use the bottle within 2 hours.
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