Learn how to make the easiest breastmilk popsicles for your baby or toddler. Breastmilk popsicles are super helpful for relieving teething pain, sore throats, or just for a healthy ‘treat’!

Graphic for post - breast milk popsicles, 2-ingredients, great for teething, great for babies and toddlers. Image is of a teal baby plate with purple napkin and 4 different flavors of breast milk popsicles with colorful popsicle sticks.

Medically reviewed and cowritten by Jamie Johnson, Registered Dietitian Nutritionist (RDN), and Lauren Braaten, Pediatric Occupational Therapist (OT).

Homemade Breast Milk Popsicles

Imagine taking all the wonderful benefits of breast milk and putting it into a refreshing popsicle treat for your teething baby. Now that’s a smart snack!

Homemade breast milk popsicles are a great alternative to other types of popsicles, snacks, or less healthy ‘treats’ for babies and younger toddlers. And depending on the age of your baby, you can even add in fruits and veggies to introduce your little one to new flavors and textures.

New to making homemade baby food? If you answered yes, then I suggest you start this journey by reading my in-depth Guide on How to Make Homemade Baby Food. The detailed article goes over all the essential information such as the best cooking tools to have on hand, safe storage, knowing when your baby is ready for solids, introducing purees, making the best first foods for baby, and more! You can also check out my best-selling cookbook for even more information and recipes.

Reasons to Love Breast Milk Popsicles

  • Easy to make
  • Helpful for relieving teething pain
  • Perfect way to use up extra breast milk
  • Provides another form of hydration for babies and toddlers during warm weather
  • Helpful for soothing sore throats
  • Offers a fun sensory experience for baby
  • Healthier ‘treat’ option for growing babies and toddlers
Spread of ingredients on a pink plate with graphics and text for each item.

Ingredients

  • Breast Milk: you can use breast milk, formula, or a blend of both.
  • Fruit (optional): once your baby is closer to 6 months of age and you’ve started introducing solid foods, you can start by blending in a fruit or veggie with your breast milk popsicles.

Health Benefits of Breast Milk Popsicles

These breast milk popsicles are one of the most nutritious things for your baby. Because breast milk…

  • is full of nutrients designs specifically for your baby
  • has antibodies to help fight infection and build a strong immune system for your baby
  • is easily digestible
  • reduces the chances of developing certain health conditions like ear infections, asthma, RSV, SIDS, eczema, and type 2 diabetes later on.
  • And depending on if you choose to add a fruit or veggie blend, they will be getting added vitamins and minerals from those.

Step-by-Step Instructions

Clear blender on a white counter with blueberries inside.
Add breast milk and fruit or cooked veggies to a blender.
Clear blender full of blueberry breast milk popsicles.
Puree for 1-2 minutes or until smooth.
Baby popsicle mold on a white countertop with colorful popsicle sticks full of three different types of flavored breast milk popsicles.
Pour into small baby-sized popsicle molds.
Hand holding a colorful popsicle stick with a breast milk popsicle over a tray.
Freeze for at least 5 hours.
  1. Pour fresh breast milk or formula into your popsicle molds. If your baby has been introduced to solids, you can blend breast milk or formula with a pureed fruit or veggie before pouring into molds.
  2. Freeze for at least 5 hours, but preferably overnight.
  3. Serve to baby!

Fruits & Veggies Add-Ins

Once your baby starts solid foods, you can try adding a fruit or veggie to these breast milk popsicles for an extra flavorful treat. We recommend adding just one food at a time, so you can be aware of any foods that may cause allergic reactions in your baby.

  • blueberries
  • bananas
  • strawberries
  • spinach
  • sweet potato (cooked)
  • mango
  • carrots (cooked)
Hand holding a pink breastmilk popsicle over a plate of different flavors of popsicles.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can you use formula for these popsicles?

Yes! Feel free to use what works for your family. You can use formula only, breast milk only, or a combination of formula and breast milk for these popsicles.  

When can baby enjoy these popsicles?

Your baby will likely be able to enjoy these popsicles when they are at least 6 months of age. Although babies typically start bringing objects like toys to their mouth sooner than this (around 4 months of age), it’s usually pretty difficult for a baby younger than 6 months to hold onto AND bring these popsicles to their mouths efficiently.

Storage

Store popsicles in an airtight container in the freezer for up to 6 months.

Best Popsicle Molds for Baby

These popsicle molds are all very budget-friendly ($10-20) and are definitely worth the cost, as you can use them for years to make so many different kinds of popsicles.

Teal baby plate with different flavors of breast milk popsicles on colorful popsicle sticks sitting on a purple napkin on a white counter.

Expert Tips

  • Be sure to use fresh breast milk when making popsicles. It is NOT recommended to use thawed, previously frozen breast milk and then refreeze it into popsicle molds, as this may cause unwanted bacterial growth.
  • The mixed consistency of popsicles – both liquid and semi-solid at the same time – may cause some initial coughing for your baby, which is normal. Even with that said, it’s always a good idea to use supervision when feeding your baby.
  • Smaller popsicle molds like the ones recommended above will be the best serving size and grasping size for little hands.
  • If your popsicles seem to be sticking in the mold, running the base under warm water for about 30 seconds will help release a popsicle easily.
Teal baby plate with different flavors of breast milk popsicles on colorful popsicle sticks.

Get the recipe: Homemade Breast Milk Popsicles

5 stars (1 rating)
Learn how to make the easiest breastmilk popsicles for your baby or toddler. Breastmilk popsicles are super helpful for relieving teething pain, sore throats, or just for a healthy 'treat'!
Yield: 4 small popsicles
Prep: 5 minutes
Freeze Time: 5 hours
Total: 5 hours 5 minutes
Author: Michele Olivier
Course: baby food
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Ingredients 

  • 1 cup fresh breast milk or formula
  • 3 tbsp fruit or veggie add-ins (optional)

Instructions 

  • To a small blender, add the breast milk or formula along with any fruit or cooked veggies. I added blueberries and strawberries into the ones pictured.
    Clear blender on a white counter with blueberries inside.
  • Blend for 1-2 minutes or until completely smooth.
    Clear blender full of blueberry breast milk popsicles.
  • Pour the breast milk mixture into small popsicle molds. Place the popsicle mold into the freezer and let freeze for at least 5 hours, perferably overnight.
    Baby popsicle mold on a white countertop with colorful popsicle sticks full of three different types of flavored breast milk popsicles.
  • When frozen, take out and serve to baby.
    Hand holding a colorful popsicle stick with a breast milk popsicle over a tray.

Notes

Age: 4+ months
Yield: 1 cup of popsicle mixture, which was 4 small popsicles
Just Breast Milk Popsicles: if you prefer not to add any fruits or veggies to your popsicles, you can simply pour the breast milk into the popsicle molds and freeze for at least 5 hours. 
Fruit or Veggie Add-Ins
  • blueberries
  • bananas
  • strawberries
  • spinach
  • sweet potato (cooked)
  • mango
  • carrots (cooked)

Equipment

Blender
Silicone Baby Bibs
Tripp Trapp High Chair
Small Popsicle Mold

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