Can Babies Drink Cold Breast Milk?

Milk is a crucial contributing factor to your baby’s weight gain and overall nourishment. Also, there is no evidence saying cold milk can reduce weight gain. However, increasing the amount per feed may help a premature infant become healthier as it nourishes the body and increases their fat intake (4).

While there’s no evidence of the side effects of babies drinking cold milk during a cold, you should avoid giving them anything cold if it irritates their throat.

While there is no specific evidence suggesting harm, babies may not be receptive to cold milk in the middle of the night. Cold milk may stimulate a baby to awaken more so than warm milk and it is possible that they may not fall back asleep as easily.

There is no clear evidence that babies cannot drink milk straight from the refrigerator. However, since babies are sensitive and still building their immune system, it is better to feed moderately cool or warm milk or refer to special health advice (3).

There is no evidence that cold milk causes constipation. Usually it is a component of the mother’s diet in the breastmilk that causes a change to bowel habits. Rice and dairy, such as cow milk for babies, can also be culprits when the baby is moving to solid foods. If your breastfed baby is constipated, review your diet and determine what may be causing the baby to react this way. Constipation in older or non-breastfed babies is usually due to a diet low in fiber, consumption of too much cow’s milk or dehydration. If constipation continues, contact your pediatrician. (5).

According to the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), there is no need to warm the breast milk before giving it to the baby. You may give it at room temperature or cold. No evidence shows that cold breast milk causes stomach upset in babies (6).

You may store expressed breast milk in the refrigerator for up to four days. It can be stored in the freezer for six months. Although it is acceptable to store for 12 months or even more, the quality can be affected (6).

Newly expressed breast milk can stay out for nearly four hours at room temperature 77°F or colder. You may store it in an insulated cooler with ice for upto 24 hours. Once the cold or frozen breast milk is warmed or brought to room temperature, you should use it within two hours (6). However, if you see a change in the appearance, smell, and taste of the breast milk, these are some signs of how to tell if breast milk is bad.

A baby may refuse cold breast milk if the milk is too cold or if they are habituated to drinking warm milk. In such cases, check the milk’s temperature and monitor their reaction. You can gradually introduce cold milk by mixing it with warmer milk to help them adjust. Make sure to mix the breast milk well to distribute the nutrients evenly. You should also consult your pediatrician for guidance on handling feeding preferences in your baby.