We like to travel (as evidenced by my travel blog!). We didn’t want that to change when Jack came along, so we needed a few pieces of gear to help us out – especially on the breastfeeding front. I did a combination of nursing and pumping (that baby latch is ferocious, and sometimes ya just need a break, amirite??), so was in the market for the best breastmilk cooler bag to take on the road.
We had a Medela breastmilk cooler set that came as an accessory with our Medela pump, and the cooler fit perfectly inside the pump bag. I used it often for storage when I was pumping on the go. But, it didn’t fit so perfectly in my diaper bag, so wasn’t the best cooler for traveling with breastmilk.
So, I went on the hunt and found the best breast milk cooler bag for me. I needed something more versatile, and found a travel cooler bag that was sleeker, still had plenty of storage space, fit well in my diaper bag, and even had a buckle so I could clip it to the straps of the diaper bag for easier access. #Winner!
But, not everyone has the same needs. So, I scoured the stores – both online and brick-and-mortar – and checked out over 30 breast milk travel cooler bags before bringing you these reviews and comparisons. If you’re in the market for the best cooler bag that’s portable, with plenty of capacity, plus a few features for ease of use, read on to see my picks of the best options.
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Click here to see my pick for the best breastmilk cooler bag!
Best Breastmilk Cooler Bag: Quick Comparison Chart
| Cooler | Name | Capacity | Rating | Price |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Skip Hop Bottle Bag | 4 small bottles | >4 | Check here | |
| Medela Breastmilk Cooler Bag | 4 small bottles | >4.5 | Check here | |
| UBBCARE Bottle bag | 6 small bottles | ~5 | Check here | |
| MBJERRY Bottle Tote | 4 large bottles | >4.5 | Check here | |
| Lekebaby Breast Milk Cooler Bag | 6 large bottles | ~4.5 | Check here | |
| Momcozy Baby Bottle Bag | 6 small or 6 large | ~4.5 | Check here | |
| J.L. Childress Pack ‘n Protect | 4 small or 2 large | ~4 | Check here |
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What Do You Need in the Best Cooler Bag for Breast Milk Storage?
Size/Capacity
Consider the situations you’ll be in where you’ll need breastmilk storage. Will you just be pumping at work during the day, and need short-term storage until you get home in the evenings? Then the cooler set that comes with your breast pump set will probably work fine.
Will you be on the go a lot, and need to carry extra milk in a cooler that fits in a diaper bag? Then you may need to choose an ice cooler bag based on the size/capacity of your travel bag.
My Medela cooler set was a perfect cube that held 4 bottles side-by-side (the 5 oz. bottle size), with a contoured ice pack in between them. It was designed to fit perfectly in the pump bag. But the cube shape didn’t work with my diaper bag. So, I got another breast milk storage cooler that was taller and leaner.
I totally recommend the Skip Hop! Like the Medela cooler, the Skip Hop holds 4 bottles, but in a 2-on-top-of 2 configuration, with room at the top to lay a 5th bottle on its side (it’s a squeeze, but it works!).
For my needs, it was the best cooler for breastmilk. It slid into my diaper bag easily, with plenty of room left for all the other necessities. And when I overpacked errrrr, packed the diaper bag especially full for long trips, the milk bottle cooler had a buckle so I could clip it to the straps of my diaper bag and still only have one thing to carry.
Ease of Use
By ease of use, I primarily mean easy to clean. If you’re anything like me, clumsily cross-threading bottle tops on the regular, you’ll have some spills in the cooler from time to time. Do yourself a favor, and get a breastmilk storage cooler that’s easy to wipe down, both inside and out, or even submerge in water.
Also get one that stores easily when not in use. By that I mean one that folds up or squishes down to save space – that’ll also help it fit better into larger bags. I don’t recommend a milk bottle cooler bag with a hard exterior, especially if you like one that travels easily. I mean, I love my Yeti, but that’s a whole different beast!
This might sound like a ridiculous feature to consider, but think about the zipper – where it’s located and whether it’s a two-way. Both contribute to ease-of-use. My Medela bottle cooler (the one shaped like a cube) had a zipper that went around three sides of the bag before the top would open. My Skip Hop primarily zipped across the top. I didn’t even have to remove it from the diaper bag to access the bottles. (Hey, it’s all about those small conveniences!)
Durability
This goes a bit hand-in-hand with ease of use. You want a well-insulated cooler bag for breastmilk that has strong stitching along the sides, along the zipper, and especially along the seams of the inside insulation. You also want one that will stand up to continued cleaning without the material tearing or wearing down. At the very least, make sure it has some kind of warranty in case any of these things happen.
Some coolers feature a detachable strap, so it can be attached to a stroller, for example. If you go that route, I recommend one with a strong buckle-type snap. I’ve tried ones with those little metal button snaps, and don’t find them to be reliable enough to hold a bag that’s full of milk. It’s a total drag to have it suddenly un-snap and fall when you’re in the middle of crossing the street (yep, that’s happened to me)! So, you won’t see any of those recommended below.
Features
On the subject of detachable straps, I personally wouldn’t even consider a breastfeeding cooler bag unless it included a buckle-type snap on the handle. It’s just way more versatile and convenient when it can attach to a bag or stroller. In instances where you don’t have enough room to pack your baby milk cooler in a larger bag, you don’t want to have yet another thing to carry. So, I think that feature is a huge plus.
Most (but not all!) milk coolers these days come with their own ice packs. When you’re buying a cooler for breastmilk, it makes sense to get a cooler bag and ice pack combo. The included ice packs have been made specifically to fit in and around the bottles without taking up precious storage space in the cooler bag.
Last, there are some cute-ass cooler bags out there! For people besides me, that is… (if you know anything about me, you’ll know black is my favorite “color”)! But, even I have swooned at some of the pretty hues and patterns that are available. It’s not all gaudy, gender-specific colors anymore. If you’re a gal – or guy! – who likes to go in style, some of the funky options available might be right up your alley.
And, with that, here are my recommendations for the best cooler for breast milk, based on both buyer reviews and my own comparison shopping:
Best Breast Milk Cooler Bag: Reviews & Recommendations
Skip Hop Bottle Bag
Skip Hop Bottle Bag – Click here for details and price
This has all the features I want in an insulated cooler for breastmilk. Slim enough to fit into my diaper bag, but with enough capacity to hold FIVE 5-ounce bottles. It comes with its own ice packs, which slide down the sides into mesh pockets. Not only did it keep my bottles cold all day, but it kept them cool throughout our baby’s first time flying, which turned into a delay-filled 14-hour travel ordeal (read all about it here!).
The cooler handle also has a buckle, which made it easy to clip to my diaper bag straps, stroller, etc., so I didn’t have to carry it separately. I loved that the polyester exterior and aluminum liner meant I could literally douse it when it needed a good clean, as opposed to having to wash it more delicately (delicate ain’t my style!).
What I like:
- Good capacity (5x 5-ounce bottles with flat caps, or 4x 5-ounce bottles with nipples, or 2x 8-ounce bottles)
- Easy to clean polyester shell and aluminum liner
- Slim enough to fit inside a diaper bag
- Can also be strapped to stroller/bag/etc
- Available in several colors/patterns
What I don’t like:
- No extras like exterior pockets, etc.
Medela Cooler Bag
Medela Breastmilk Cooler Bag – Click here for details and price
Described as a “must have for pumping moms,” the Medela breastpump set features a breast pump bag with cooler included. Since the cooler is made specifically for the breastpump bag, it fits perfectly… with room to spare for extra pump parts, my pumping bra, nipple cream, and all the things. It holds FOUR 5-ounce bottles and the Medela cooler ice pack is contoured to fit around all 4 bottles.
The Medela ice pack and cooler was great for when I was pumping on-the-go. Since it came with the pump and already had a designated spot in the pump bag, I only had to carry one thing around. The cube shape meant it didn’t fit so well in other bags, though, and I hated that it didn’t have a buckle built into the strap, so I couldn’t attach it to anything.
What I like:
- Good capacity (4x 5-ounce bottles with flat caps)
- Breast pump/cooler bag combo!
- Easy to clean microfiber shell and aluminum liner
- Ice pack included
What I don’t like:
- Too bulky for the diaper bag (too bulky for mine, at least)
- Can’t be strapped to stroller/bag/etc
- Can’t fit bottles with nipples, only flat caps
- Only available in black (great for me, I love black! But if you’re looking for a stylish bag… this ain’t it.)
UBBCARE Breastmilk Cooler Bag
UBBCARE Breastmilk Cooler Bag – Click here for details and price
Even bigger than the Medela, this portable breastmilk cooler holds more bottles and has some great features for those looking for ease-of-use. The UBBCARE holds SIX 5-ounce bottles, with nipples attached, and comes with its own contoured ice pack that fits between each bottle. It has 2 options for opening, with top and side zippered access, and an exterior pocket for phones. It comes with a liner insert that can be removed for easier clean-up.
It has two options for carrying – you can use the hand-straps or the shoulder strap. This baby milk cooler bag is a bit bulky to go inside the average diaper bag, but the shoulder strap is detachable so the cooler can be fastened to a larger bag or stroller. As for the fabric exterior, the company says it’s water-resistant, but I find fabric bags always harder to clean than their polyester counterparts.
What I like:
- Large capacity (6x 5-ounce bottles with nipples)
- Easy to clean aluminum liner and plastic insert
- Ice pack included
- Can be strapped to stroller/bag/etc (only with the shoulder strap)
- Shoulder strap
- Removable liner
- Exterior pocket for cell phone
What I don’t like:
- Too bulky to fit inside diaper bag
- Ice pack requires water
- Fabric exterior (I find it harder to clean)
MBJERRY Bottle Cooler
MBJERRY bottle cooler – Click here for details and price
If you’ve got a big drinker on your hands, or just prefer to use larger bottles, this may be what you need. The recently redesigned (aka. larger capacity) MBJERRY holds FOUR 8-ounce bottles with attached nipples. It’s too big to fit inside a diaper bag, but it’s got the strap-with-buckle that I covet, so it can be attached to a stroller, a bigger bag, etc. It’s also got a small exterior pocket for cell storage.
It’s lightweight, easy to clean and comes in several patterns if you’re after something more stylish. Unfortunately, it doesn’t come with its own ice packs (why, MBJerry, why??). If you choose this bag, I’d recommend purchasing flat ice packs for it or they won’t fit with all four bottles. The ice packs here would be a good option (just be sure to lay them flat when you freeze them).
What I like:
- Large capacity (4x 8-ounce bottles with nipples)
- Easy to clean polyester shell and silver foil liner
- Can be strapped to stroller/bag/etc
- Exterior pocket for cell phone
- Several patterns to choose from
What I don’t like:
- Too bulky to fit inside diaper bag
- Ice pack not included
Lekebaby Breast Milk Cooler Bag
Lekebaby Breast Milk Cooler Bag- Click here for details and price
The Lekebaby consistently gets great reviews. Its features are pretty similar to the UBBCARE – comes with a contoured ice pack, has both a carry handle and shoulder strap, and a removeable liner insert for easy cleaning – but it’s got a larger capacity. This cooler bag set will hold SIX 8-ounce bottles with nipples attached. It’s got both front and back exterior pockets for phone/keys/whatever, and the back pocket has a waterproof liner perfect for storing used burp cloths or other wet stuff.
While the carry handle doesn’t have a buckle, the shoulder strap is detachable, so the cooler can be attached to a stroller or larger bag. And while the inside is easy-to-clean aluminum, the exterior is fabric. Water-resistant, yes, but fabric is more of a hassle to clean in my opinion.
What I like:
- Extra-large capacity (6x 8-ounce bottles with nipples)
- Easy to clean aluminum liner and plastic insert
- Ice pack included
- Can be strapped to stroller/bag/etc (only with the shoulder strap)
- Shoulder strap
- Removable liner
- Exterior pocket for cell phone
- 30-day money back guarantee and 6 month warranty (at time of publication)
What I don’t like:
- Too bulky to fit inside diaper bag
- Ice pack requires water
- Fabric exterior (harder to clean, IMO)
Momcozy Baby Bottle Bag
Momcozy Baby Bottle Bag- Click here for details and price
This breastmilk cooler bag is super versatile! The bottom compartment can hold SIX 5-ounce bottles with nipples, leaving the top available for more milk, baby food, snacks, whatever. It’s like a bottle-friendly lunchbox. But what’s really cool is that you can remove the separator between the top and bottom compartments, so it can convert to also fit 8-ounce, or even 11-ounce, bottles (with nipples!).
It’s got a hand-held strap with a detachable buckle, as well as a shoulder strap, so it can easily attach to a stroller or larger bag. This cooler has your standard waterproof interior, but a fabric exterior. While it claims to be easy to clean (one reviewer said she soaked the whole bag after a spill, then hung it to dry and it was good to go), I find fabric harder to clean than bags with polyester exteriors.
It doesn’t come with ice packs (wah waaaahhhh), but the versatility it offers made it too cool for me to leave it off the list. If you choose this bag, be sure to purchase flat ice packs for it or they won’t fit with all six bottles. The ones here are a good option (just lay them flat when you freeze them).
What I like:
- Extra-large capacity (6x 5-ounce or 8-ounce bottles with nipples)
- Easy to clean waterproof liner
- Can be strapped to stroller/bag/etc
- Shoulder strap
- Exterior pocket for cell phone
What I don’t like:
- Too bulky to fit inside diaper bag
- Hard to clean fabric exterior
- Ice pack not included
J.L. Childress Pack ‘n Protect
J.L. Childress Pack ‘n Protect – Click here for details and price
If you’re a glass bottle family, this may be what you’re looking for. It includes insulated dividers that keep bottles (or baby food jars) from knocking into each other. The dividers are moveable, allowing a lot of versatility depending on your needs. It’ll hold FOUR 5-ounce bottles, TWO 8-ounce bottles, or an 8-ounce bottle with two 5-ounce bottles… you get the picture.
It’s made of water-resistant material, so it’s easy to clean inside and out. Unfortunately, this model doesn’t include an ice pack (ugh!), but you can find slim ones here that would fit into the interior mesh pocket (once again, make sure you lay them flat when you freeze them).
Despite that, I really like that this cooler is compact enough to fit in a diaper bag! It’s tall and slim as opposed to square, and doesn’t have a lot of extra flaps or pockets that make it too bulky. The handle also includes a buckle so it can be strapped to the stroller.
What I like:
- Good capacity (4x 5-ounce bottles with flat caps, 2x 8-ounce bottles with nipples, lor a combination)
- Easy to clean interior and exterior
- Fits in diaper bag!!!
- Can be strapped to stroller/bag/etc
What I don’t like:
- Too bulky to fit inside diaper bag
- Ice pack not included
And that’s what I recommend for best coolers for breast milk! I hope this helps you find the right one for you. If you’re a freak for research and want to see even more choices, compare other breast milk bottle cooler options ” target=”_blank” rel=”noopener noreferrer”>right here.
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a Reluctant Mom is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to amazon.com. Amazon and the Amazon logo are trademarks of Amazon.com, Inc. or its affiliates. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. This post does contain affiliate links. I’m ONLY recommending products I would feel comfortable purchasing.
