10 Coolers For Pumping Parents That Keep Your Breast Milk Cold All Day

For under $10, this breast milk cooler bag is a steal. It’s perfect for parents who only need light storage space for up to three bottles while they’re out. The bottle cooler kit’s airtight, three-layer insulated wipeable lining keeps baby bottles and breast milk bags cold for hours. It’s designed to strap easily onto strollers or diaper bags, so you and your baby are ready for a trip to the park or to day care. Two-way zippers allow single or double bottle access, and spill-proof engineering keeps bottles in an upright position to prevent leakage. Not to mention, an ice pack is included for safety. And once you’re done with breastfeeding, it will serve as a cute lunchbox for either you or your growing little one.

Review

“Small but mighty! Used this cooler for a work trip where I had to pump at the airport and on the plane. ... The milk stayed plenty cold with the added ice pack.”

Packing your lunch and trying to keep breast milk cold? The PackIt Personal Cooler may look like your average lunch bag, but it can keep its contents cold for up to 10 hours. Gel is sewn into the lining of the bag, so all you have to do is freeze it the night before and it's ready to use. There's no need to keep ice packs nearby or keep it in the fridge — it can keep all of your breast milk (and ham sandwich) cold for a full work day. Plus, it comes in 30 different colors and patterns.

Review

“I love this concept that it has its "ice pack" built in. I use it as a breastmilk storage everyday at work and I've left it out room temp (when I have no access to fridge) and kept it in between breaks and lunches in the fridge and after 10 hours the sides are still frozen and the milk is still cold! Then I can rest assure my baby will stay safe. The zipper allows for seal and further keeping contents inside very cold.”

This large capacity breast milk cooler bag comes with an ice pack that can place up to four nine-ounce baby bottles. It has a great insulated lining that will maintain the temperature, keeping the milk cool for up to eight hours. It comes with a detachable buckle top handle so you can put it in the stroller easily, as well as a side pocket to put items in, such as a phone or keys. Functional and stylish, the bag is made with polyester dirt-proof fabric and waterproof lining for easy cleaning.

Review

“I love this stylish little cooler! I've been using it for over a month now, I work 8 hour days and coach VB after work. This little cooler and ice pack keep my milk cold all day at work (kept at my desk), and I leave my pump bag in my truck while at practice for 2 hours (It's summer and 90+ degrees out), and it's still gold and ice pack is partially frozen when I get home.”

Not all breastfeeding accessories are the same, so parents who use all Medela products will love the Medela Breast Milk Cooler and Transport Set. It fits the Medela bottles perfectly (it comes with four) and can also be dropped into any Medela breast pump bag. The cooler also comes with an ice pack to keep your milk cold and is perfect for transporting the milk from work to home or even to day care the next day. Not to mention, it’s BPA-free, phthalate-free, latex-free, and lead-free.

Review

“Stayed cold for me for at least 8 but probably closer to 10 hours; it’s about the same size as my Medela pump in-style pump. I bought two & gave one to a new mom for when she goes back to work! Works very well for a working mom that needs to pump throughout the day, but I imagine will be a great storage container for day trips too!”

If you need a cooler to hold just a couple of bags of breast milk and you want one that's easy to carry and small, the FlexiFreeze Pocketbook Cooler might be your best bet. It's filled with 16 cubes of water, so all you have to do is pop it in your freezer before you use it and make sure the water is all frozen. You can sandwich your bags of breast milk in between the layers of ice cubes and have a discreet way to keep your milk cold.

Review

“Perfect small size for storing milk when pumping on the go. I used it for a day trip and decided to start using it for transporting my milk home from work each day. Today I fit 3 full and one partially full Lansinoh storage bags.”

Parents can use this breast milk cooler as a handheld bag, backpack, or shoulder bag, freeing up their hands to do plenty of activities. For its generally small size, this bag actually boasts quite a large storage space — it can fit up to six nine-ounce milk bottles or other things such as lunch boxes or snacks. Plus, its two-layer design is perfect for carrying multiple items — for example, bottles and a breast pump — in one functional space. It also features a convenient ice pack that will keep breast milk fresh for up to 12 hours, so you won’t have to worry about spoilage when you’re out and about.

Review

“Spent a couple weeks going back and fourth from the hospital with our son every morning for testing (nice to not be admitted, but very inconvenient while exclusively pumping). We had to spend a couple hours there and had a total of an hour drive-time to and from EVERYDAY. So it was terrible at first with breastmilk being that I had to exclusively pump and you don’t want to waste any by letting it go bad of course. This fits my medela pump in style perfect with everything needed (cords, bottles, tubing, pump, etc).”

Traveling for work is difficult for any parent, but being a pumping parent makes it even more challenging. You need a cooler that you can carry on and off of a plane, as well as one that does its job at keeping your breast milk cold. The BALORAY Large Insulated Bag Waterproof Cooler Carrier Bag comes with multiple pockets, foam insulation, and insulated oxford material plus solid YKK zippers to be leak-proof and durable. Because it's a soft cooler bag, you don't have to worry about it being a hassle to travel with, and certain sizes can even fit snugly on your luggage handles, making maneuvering through the airport a breeze.

Its use definitely isn’t limited to storing breast milk. Plenty of reviewers note how great it is for food storage.

Review

“Being a flight attendant, I can be gone from home for up to 4 days at a time that I have to meal prep for. This lunch box easily fits my 4 days worth of meals and snacks, including my ice bags!”

There are several different careers out there that require working parents to drive around in their car. If that’s the case, they need a cooler that can remain cold, especially during the summer when ice doesn't seem to stick around for long. This portable fridge has a seven-liter capacity, great reviews, and can cool down to 32°F. It plugs not only into wall outlets, but also right into your car's adapter or cigarette lighter and is designed to fit comfortably in the passenger seat of your car. Plus, it comes with a convenient carry handle that allows for easy transportation from your home to the car and wherever else you go.

Review

“Love this little fridge!! It gets COLD! I use it solely to store my breastmilk in my bedroom. It gets sooo cold that it gets icy and I have to pick it off.”

It's hard enough making sure you have the baby's bags packed for day care, along with your purse, your lunch, your work bag, and your breast pump bag. Now you have to carry a cooler, too? Not if you have a Sarah Wells "Lizzy" Breast Pump bag. The stylish bag not only fits any portable pump, but it also has thermally-lined pockets on both sides to store pumped milk in, as long as you keep an ice pack. The milk can stay cold for up to six hours in the pockets, and you don't have to carry another bag.

Review

“1 year after using this bag, it is still in great shape. I am done with breastfeeding but I still use it as my work bag. I just tug in two compartments to the side and use it like a regular bag. The fact it made of nylon so that I don’t have to worry it gets stained or dirty is great. All the zippers and pockets are still working perfectly.”

If you have long days where you can't meet the six- to eight-hour rule for getting breast milk in the freezer, you'll want to invest in an iceless cooler. The Igloo Iceless Thermoelectric Cooler is pricey, but it can be plugged into both your car and an outlet right there at your desk. You'll be able to keep all of your pumped breast milk cold and know that it's going to stay cold on the way home, even if you have a long commute. It even features a swing-up handle with comfort grip for easy carrying and molded-in side handles for two-handed carrying or lifting.

Review

“I specifically bought this cooler to store breastmilk while I traveled. It met my expectations. I also had the 110v cord to plug into a wall. I found that keeping it plugged in to stay cool likely made a difference. I did put some yogurt in it from my hotel and it kept it chilled until I ate it a few hours later.”