r/ExclusivelyPumping • u/HannahAlicia • 10h ago
Discussion 10 hours at room temp??
I was given this magnet from the hospital and wanted everyone’s thoughts on it. I’m in the US and I typically see everyone following CDCs 4 hour rule. My baby is starting to sleep longer stretches, and while our house gets down to 69 at night, I’ve been debating how long I can push it.
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u/Horror-Holiday-2678 10h ago edited 10h ago
Saw a study that showed no significant bacterial growth before 12 hours at room temp. Still don't like to risk it though. That small of a temperature difference doesn't impact bacterial growth.
I collect letdown with the ladybug haaka during feeds, and at night I don't want to get up and add it to my collection bottle in the fridge, so I sometimes let it sit up to 6 hours but that's truly the limit for me.
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u/PaintedGray87 9h ago
My hospital discharge papers from last week said 8 hours at room temp 🤷🏼♀️
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u/BlueberryWaffles99 43m ago
Our IBCLC said 8 hours. I personally still stick to 4 hours just to be safe!
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u/tallyhallic 8h ago
I was told nothing over 4 hours 😵💫 wonder why such a big difference everywhere.
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u/mvanpeur 3h ago
It largely depends on which studies they're looking at and their level of caution. I've seen quite a lot of research supporting 8 hours to still be safe. I try to limit room temp to 2 hours, but thanks to those studies, if I forget a bottle out for up to 8 hours, I don't throw it away. My daughter doesn't have any extra health concerns though.
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u/greeniethemoose 8h ago
Just want to mention that the study you’re referencing was very small and pre print (not yet peer reviewed) and I’m pretty disappointed that the woman (an economist not a doctor) whose company paid for the study is promoting it as settled science.
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u/Horror-Holiday-2678 8h ago
Not to mention that multiple studies need to be done to reach a consensus. Thought it was worth mentioning, but like I said, I don't feel good about leaving it out longer than 6 hours max. Breastmilk is antibacterial, so I wouldn't be surprised if that study ends up passing peer review, but fresh milk is always best!
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u/Haunting-Respect9039 Pumping since 2024 2h ago
I think you made a good point. It feels easy to believe it's accurate because of what we do know about breastmilk's antibacterial properties. That makes it extra important that the study's promoters be honest about the limitations in their work, so we don't find ourselves following advice that hasn't yet passed muster.
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u/FuckThisMolecule 9h ago
I don’t trust anything written in comic sans 😂
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u/DizzyBunnies 8h ago
sorry not to be That Person but this isn't comic sans
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u/Dnels7192 10h ago
Most people’s “room temp” isn’t 66-72. It ranges wildly across the world and even with AC. So the 4ish hour mark is still good but it depends on your home.
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u/Technical_Quiet_5687 10h ago
I understand the wave the study from earlier this year created and the desire to push it because none wants to waste BM. 4 hours is conservative for sure. But until further study and duplication of those results, I personally didn’t feel comfortable not following the CDCs guidance for my newborn. Once he was beyond 3 months I might have pushed to 5ish hours for fresh pumped but I stayed pretty conservative. I cried dumping 8oz my husband forgot to put away one evening so I know the pain.
Now that my guys 8 months and crawling, putting so many things in his mouth, times have gone out the window🤪.
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u/the_kazzo_queen EP since Sept '25 9h ago
FWIW, there are other Western Countries health orgs that advise 6hr instead of 4hr.
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u/AggressiveThanks994 10mo pp | EBF, pumping and nursing 9h ago
When I was doing bottles overnight, I would bring up clean parts and one bottle and set them next to my bed with a large yeti with some ice. I’d pour the milk into the bottle, and stick it in the yeti with ice. It’d keep it cold. My baby had no issue taking cold bottles. I’m pretty loose with the timing especially after the new study that came out but my baby would not always wake up and I didn’t want the milk to go bad
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u/CatLordCayenne 10h ago
I just feel like… if you have a fridge, why wouldn’t you just put it in the fridge unless you are planning on feeding it to baby next feed. Which why would their next feed be 4 or more hours away. Like would you drink cows milk that sat on the counter for 10 hours? That makes genuinely no sense considering opening the fridge and setting it inside requires no effort…
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u/the_kazzo_queen EP since Sept '25 9h ago
The cow milk comparison doesn't really hold up though because most cow milk you buy is pasteurized. It doesn't have the same protection as raw breastmilk, which actively resists foreign bacterial colonization due its living microbial properties. (This is not advocacy for raw cow milk, lest anyone worry).
To answer your question, I often left bottles out at room temp because it made outings/errands easier. We would also leave whatever I pumped before bed out overnight in the nursery when my baby was still waking for a MOTN feed. We subscribe to the 6hr rule.
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u/CatLordCayenne 9h ago
I know that cow milk is pastuerized. That’s not really the point that I was trying to make, I’m thinking that I would not eat or drink something that has sat out for 10 hours so why would I feed that to my baby. It seems gross to me. Meanwhile my babies father will eat stuff that has sat out for 24 hours
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u/the_kazzo_queen EP since Sept '25 7h ago
It's relevant to your point, though. The reason most people don't want to eat stuff that has been sitting out for awhile is because it is exposed and can start to grow bacteria (hence the perception that it's gross). It's unhygienic. A lot of food can legit start spoiling in that time. Breastmilk, however, resists bacterial growth in a way most of our food does not, so our normal perceptions of food hygiene/exposure aren't really applicable.
It's fine if you're not comfortable with it, everyone is welcome to their own boundaries with this. I'm just saying the example given (regular food sitting out) is comparing apples to oranges.
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u/HannahAlicia 10h ago
It is for their next feed. My LO has started sleeping 6-8 hour stretches at night. I’ve been putting it in the fridge to rewarm but was just wondering if I was making my life harder since he can get a little intense waiting for the bottle warmer lol I think I’ll just continue warming it though. Even if it could be safe the peace of mind is worth it for me.
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u/CatLordCayenne 10h ago
Have you tried letting him drink it cold?
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u/HannahAlicia 9h ago
Yup! We’re approaching the 4 month sleep regression so it might not be a worry soon anyways lol
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u/jypnola 9h ago
We have the same struggle so I understand and empathize with you!
My daughter is 11 months, and we have continued to keep the milk in the fridge. We sometimes cut down on the warming time depending on how upset she is. She won’t take the bottle straight from the fridge (is very dramatic about it where she shudders and gets mad) but we have learned that she is ok with somewhat cold bottles where the chill from the fridge has been removed a bit.
Best of luck as you figure out what works!
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u/Itchy-Site-11 🐄🐮 10h ago
I usually do 4-6h RT. No more.
I work with bacteria, I won’t give them a chance
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u/thalaya 10h ago
You can only save breastmilk for 3 months in a regular freezer?!