10 Amazing Alternatives for Breast Milk (Besides Feeding Your Baby!)

Breast milk is often called liquid gold for a reason—it’s packed with immune-boosting properties, essential fatty acids, and powerful healing components . While most of us think of breast milk solely for feeding, there are so many other ways to use it beyond consumption. Whether you have extra milk, expired milk, or milk your baby won’t drink, here’s a comprehensive list of incredible uses for breast milk (plus easy DIY recipes!) so not a single drop goes to waste .

Before using breast milk for non-feeding purposes, it’s important to understand storage guidelines ⁽¹⁾ :

• Fresh breast milk: Up to 4 hours at room temperature (77°F or lower)

• Refrigerated breast milk: 4 days in the fridge (at 40°F or below)

• Frozen breast milk: 6-12 months in the freezer (best used within 6 months for quality)

• Thawed breast milk: 24 hours in the fridge , but should not be refrozen

If your milk has passed the safe consumption period but is not rancid or spoiled , it can still be used for many of the ideas below!

One of the most popular alternative uses for breast milk! Adding 4-6 ounces of breast milk to a baby’s bath can help with eczema, rashes, baby acne, and dry skin . Simply mix it into warm bath water and let your little one soak in its soothing properties.

Breast milk is full of moisturizing and anti-inflammatory properties, making it perfect for homemade lotion!

Ingredients:

• 1/2 cup breast milk 🍼

• 1 tbsp beeswax pellets 🐝

• 1 tbsp coconut oil 🥥

• 1 tsp vitamin E oil ✨

• 3-5 drops lavender essential oil (optional) 🌿

Instructions:

1. Melt the beeswax and coconut oil in a double boiler.

2. Slowly mix in the breast milk while stirring.

3. Remove from heat, add vitamin E and essential oils, and blend well.

4. Let cool and store in a small jar. Keep in the fridge for up to 3 months !

✅ Perfect for: Baby eczema, dry skin, diaper rash, and soothing sore nipples.

Breast milk has natural antibacterial and anti-inflammatory properties , making it great for treating diaper rashes.

Simply pat breast milk onto the affected area, let it air dry, and follow up with a layer of coconut oil or a natural diaper cream.

Turn your breast milk into gentle, nourishing soap for baby or family use!

Ingredients:

• 6 ounces breast milk

• 1 lb melt-and-pour soap base

• 1 tbsp coconut or olive oil

• Optional: Essential oils for fragrance

Instructions:

1. Melt the soap base in a microwave-safe bowl.

2. Stir in breast milk and oil.

3. Pour into molds and let harden for 24 hours.

✅ Perfect for: Sensitive skin, eczema, and cradle cap.

Breast milk can help with pink eye (conjunctivitis), ear infections, and minor eye irritations.⁽²⁾

• For eyes: Place 1-2 drops in the affected eye 3-4 times a day.

• For ears: Place a few drops into the ear canal to help soothe infections. ⁽³⁾

Cradle cap is a common newborn condition where the scalp becomes dry and flaky. Massage a few drops of breast milk onto the scalp , let it sit for 15 minutes , then gently brush the flakes away.

Freeze breast milk into small cubes or popsicles to help soothe teething pain. Offer a breast milk ice pop in a mesh feeder for relief without the mess! ⁽⁴⁾ 

Breast milk’s antimicrobial properties make it a natural first-aid remedy . Apply a few drops to minor cuts, burns, or scrapes to promote healing and prevent infection .

Struggling with postpartum hair shedding? Breast milk is full of growth-promoting properties that nourish the scalp!

DIY Hair Mask:

• Mix breast milk with honey & coconut oil

• Massage into scalp

Leave for 20 minutes before rinsing

If you have more milk than you need, consider donating to a milk bank or sharing with another mom . Donor milk is life-saving for premature babies and moms with low supply!

• Formal Donation: Milk banks such as Human Milk Banking Association of North America (HMBANA) screen donors for safety.

• Informal Sharing: Check out local mom groups or peer-to-peer sharing networks .

• Even if not suitable for consumption , breast milk still contains beneficial skin-healing properties.

• When used for external applications (lotions, baths, soaps), it retains its antimicrobial and moisturizing benefits.

• Reduces waste —especially if you have a large freezer stash!

• If breast milk smells sour or rancid , it should not be used for any purpose, as bacterial growth can cause irritation.

• Milk stored improperly (e.g., repeatedly thawed and refrozen) may lose its beneficial properties . ⁽⁵⁾ 

• Babies with sensitive skin or allergies may react to breast milk lotions or creams—always do a patch test first!

• Can I use expired milk for baths? Yes, if it smells normal and was stored properly.

• Can I make lotion with expired milk? Yes, as long as it’s not sour or spoiled.

• Can I donate expired milk? Milk banks will not accept expired milk. Informal milk sharing groups have their own rules. 

Whether your baby refuses a bottle, your freezer stash is overflowing, or you have expired milk, there’s no reason to waste that liquid gold . Breast milk is a powerhouse of healing, nourishment, and skincare benefits , making it useful in ways far beyond feeding.

Next time you think about tossing it—try one of these creative, skin-loving, and baby-safe alternatives instead!

💬 Have you ever used breast milk in a non-feeding way? Comment below and let us know! Follow @legendairymilk for answers to all your breastfeeding questions. 

1. https://www.cdc.gov/breastfeeding/breast-milk-preparation-and-storage/handling-breastmilk.html

2. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/33098117/

3. https://www.medicaldaily.com/6-surprising-natural-uses-breast-milk-247460

4. https://babyfoode.com/blog/breast-milk-popsicles/

5. https://boobyfood.com/blogs/for-moms/does-breastmilk-expire