Customer Reviews

Philips AVENT Via Breast Milk Storage

5 star:		(21)
4 star:		(14)
3 star:		(6)
2 star:		(14)
1 star:		(12)

 

 

I use the Avent bottles and a Medela pump. With my first child I purchased several 4 oz and 9oz Avent bottles and sealing discs once I realized just how much I was spending in milk storage bags. It was considerably cheaper to invest in the bottles.

With the second child, now 4 months old, I had more milk to freeze than bottles. So instead of buying more bottles, I tried these. I will use them for the 3 allowed times, then I am going back to buying regular bottles as needed.

Downfalls:
-Hard to know if they are sealed, but not had issues with spilled milk since I only transport the milk when frozen.
-Can only be used 3 times; if you have lots of bottles, it's hard to keep track of this.
-Lids are not sold separately - I have already cracked one.
-You still need a collar for the adapter to work as a bottle; the kit doesn't come with collars. You can't buy the collars separately.
-Measurements on the side are very faint and hard to read.
-If you fill them to the 6oz/8oz mark, there is not much room for expansion when the milk freezes. I only fill to 5oz or 7oz respectively for fear of explosion in my freezer.
-The regular 9oz bottles actually use less room for me in the freezer. I have found that a regular soda can rack works well in the freezer with the 9oz bottles. (freeze them upright first and then store them sideways in the rack - easy to keep track of which milk is the oldest)

The only plus I have found to this, is that with the Medela/Avent converter, I will be able to pump into a sterile disposable bottle while traveling with my infant. Then I can feed her the bottle while in her car seat, eliminating long stops to feed. I have done this with the regular bottles, but then had to deal with storing empty bottles while traveling.

I bought this set because I was going back to work and thought this system would work out well for both milk storage and feeding in daycare. I already use the Avent bottle system and have the adaptor for my Medela pump, so I could pump directly into it which was a plus. The fact that they stack was also nice, since I don't have a lot of room in my cabinets. Finally, I liked the idea that I could cut out all those pouring milk from bottle to bag to bottle again steps. It all sounded like it would work well, but the negatives ended outweighing the positives for me:

(1) It's too expensive for something that's supposed to be "tossable"
(2) If you use the containers for breast milk storage and write the name and date on the container, you can't reuse them again unless you cross out the date and name from the first use, it's a minor thing I know, but it just bugged me!
(3) Screw top containers don't screw on and seal very well
(4) You only get two adaptors to turn it into a bottle and they don't sell them separately, and then when you do convert it to a bottle they are too big and bulky.
(5) The ounce markings are really hard to see when there is milk in the container
(6) If you freeze them, it takes a lot longer to thaw than a milk storage bag and they take up more space in the freezer than milk storage bags.

I made the mistake of purchasing several of the Via containers. My intention was to use them for freezing breastmilk rather than dealing with the slippery bags. They stack nicely, but that's where the pros end. They leaked constantly in my diaper bag, no matter how many times I tried re-screwing the lids. Using the adapter to insert an Avent nipple also resulted in a leaking mess. But, most importantly, after more than a few weeks in the freezer, the fat in the breastmilk in the containers began to break down faster into the "soapy smelling" lipids. This is common occurence in frozen breastmilk, but the smell and taste (yes, I tasted it to make sure it wasn't soured) was much worse than breastmilk that had been frozen the same duration in a Gerber SealnGo bag. Bottom line: Bags are easier; they are pre-sterilized and result in less surface area for air to get trapped in to cause milk fat breakdown. I love all of the other Avent products though( bottles, nipples, training cups/spouts).

This is a love/hate relationship

Love
That they work so well with bottle accessories and cups stuff later on.
They tack nice and don't take up too much room.
Fit right onto the Avent pump.
Store nice and works well for freezing.
Great stackability.
Easy to write on in pencil and erase (to know which batch comes first).

Hate
They were hard to screw on (the flat tops to the bottoms and many times were on crooked).
Leaked too much milk (and as any BFing mother knows... losing milk is well like losing money).

I use the Avent storage containers and I used to have problems with leaking. Two tips and you won't have that problem.
1) DO NOT OVERFILL THE CONTAINER. The tick marks go up to 7 ounces, but don't put any more than 6 in there (which is what they are advertised to hold). Any more than that and the milk gets into the seal.
2) Don't squeeze the container as you screw on the lid. The best way to attach the lid is to put the container on your counter and then screw the lid. Don't hold the container or squeeze it at all - if you do, it misaligns the top.
My only complaint is that they are expensive and I'm storing a lot, so I need them in bulk.

I have 2 children and I am a HUGE fan of Avent products. After struggling with the storage bags with my first pregnancy, I was thrilled to read about these containers while I was pregnant with my second child. I immediately purchased them. They have been awful. When I shake them after warming, or when I am feeding my baby, the milk leaks through the seal. I am afraid to use them even just to freeze milk because I am concerned that if the milk leaks when you use them for warming or feeding, then how can it keep my stored milk fresh? I was so disappointed. I went back to using the storage bags and the regular bottles to store milk.

I have read customer complaints about the Avent bottles leaking too. When I originally began using them, I had the same problem. I called Avent and they informed me that you can make the bottle too tight. So after making the adjustment they described, I never had a leaking problem again. This was NOT TRUE for these disposable containers. No matter what I did I could not get them to work. Keep buying Avent products just not this one.

If you have used breast milk storage bags in the past, you will immediately fall in love with the Via containers. They are sturdy and withstand freezing and thawing. With bags, there is the problem of how to store them in the freezer to protect from abrasions,rips, cracks or holes which render your precious milk useless. Pumping takes time and energy. The Via system is not perfect, but you can pump directly into the storage containers, they stack well, and they provide a durable plastic shield. It is true that the the screw on lid design has its flaws, although I haven't had any leaking problems. I say start with a smaller package and then make you storage decision.

I originally had an Avent Isis pump and had tons of the regular 4 oz containers/bottles. My Avent pump broke after one month and I switched to Medela Pump in Style, however my daughter preferred the Avent bottles. Now with baby #2, I am collecting in Medela and freezing in these Avent. These are much cheaper than what I paid for the bottles (they are designed to be reuseable or disposable as you wish) and have an attachment so it can screw on the Isis pump or you can use to feed with nipple. Best of all these are made to stack, so more room in the freezer. Now if I could only screw Avent container on Medela pump.......

I was a little skeptical when I first bought these Advent storage containers. That lasted a day. I found that not only did it freeze milk and other items, store liquids and solids, and had a handy adapter to become a bottle, but it didnt leak! My husband even found that he really liked the storage containers. Especially when it came to putting it with a nipple/adapter. If it makes his life easier, it makes mine. Now that my child is older it makes great storage containers for snack items that I toss and go. We also use them for the baby food we make, whether we freeze it or just put it in the fridge. We have worn out our old containers after a year of heavy use and are looking forward to purchasing more as our new child arrives soon.

I purchased these containers before my son was born. At first, I was storing my milk in the Avent bottles, but after I started to build a milk bank for my return to work, I found that they were expensive and would topple over in the fridge if stacked. I also tried the bags and they were TERRIBLE--messy, leaked, and froze into weird shapes that were hard to store in my freezer. Thank goodness for these containers! They are lightweight, they fit inside each other when empty and don't take up my precious pantry space, they stack in the freezer without falling over and they are durable enough to be transported back and forth between home and the sitter's.

I have never had a problem with leaks, although I do make sure the lids are screwed on tightly. My sitter loves the ease of using the adaptor and not having to deal with drop-ins. Many people have complained that they take longer to defrost, but I purchased the Avent bottle warmer and can defrost them in minutes with no problem. As for those who do not like to cross out the date and mess up the containers after each use, I use a wipe-off marker on the lid after pumping, which easily washes off, then I make a small mark on the container in permanent marker so I know how many times I have used it.

I am only giving these containers four stars because the lids can get lost and then you have to buy a new set with the adaptors, but it's not really that big of a deal, especially for the convenience!