Troubleshooting problems with breastmilk storage bottle

That's totally normal!

The ice has actually transferred its cooling capacity to your milk as you have added milk to the chiller. Just because the ice is melted, that does not mean your milk is unsafe - according to the Academy of Breastfeeding Medicine, your milk can be safely stored at up to 59 degrees Fahrenheit for up 24 hours! Check out our science page to learn more about the chilling capacity of our breastmilk chiller - even when the ice is fully melted!

Another possible cause of your ice melting is too much water. All you need is a tiny splash to help the ice settle in and sneak in a few extra cubes!

There's a few reasons why you might feel this way!

1. There's not enough ice in your Chiller. To get the maximum chilling capacity out of your Chiller, you want to make sure that you're filling the chamber with as much ice as you can fit. For the Inner Chamber, that means filling it all the way to the top. For the Outer Chamber, you just need to make sure that your ice is touching the bottom of the inner chamber - it doesn't need to surround the inner chamber for your Ceres Chill to work beautifully!

2. You need to give the Chiller more time to work its magic. The Chiller can take a few hours (around 4) to bring warm milk down to chilled temperatures (below 59* F) with the rest of your milk!

3. 59* F might feel "warmer" than fridge temps. The longer the milk is in the Chiller, the colder it will get - but please know that anything below 59* is safe for up to 24 hours! If you feel your milk in the first few hours of use and it doesn't feel like super cold fridge temps, it's perfectly fine. Your milk is still at safely chilled temps, and will continue to drop in temperature!

When you buy our Chiller, you're making an investment - because it truly is designed to last forever. With its copper lining, bismuth seal and stainless steel composition, it'll even make a great water bottle for you after you're done breastfeeding with our straw top or coffee lid!

At $68.98 for an OG, here's how the uses break down...

1 month of using it for work M-F ~ $3.14 per one full day of use

6 months of using it for work M-F ~ $0.52 per one full day of use

1 year of using it for work M-F ~$0.26 per one full day of use

I totally get that at first glance, the Ceres might seem like it has a few more pieces than a standard bottle...but when you compare it to everything it replaces, it’s actually a major simplification.

Think about the usual process: you need a cooler bag, ice packs, multiple storage bottles or bags, and then a fridge or transfer containers later. That’s a lot of stuff to juggle, clean, and remember - especially when you’re out and about or pumping at work.

The Ceres combines all of that into one compact system. It keeps milk cold for over 20 hours without ice packs, stores up to 27 oz, and works as both a bottle and a milk storage container. And while there are a few parts, each one is designed to be multi-use, easy to clean, and super durable.

So while it may seem like “more” at first, it’s actually a way to carry less, with more convenience and fewer things to lose or clean separately.

Nope! With proper hygiene, there is no risk of contamination due to the Inner Chamber touching milk in the Outer Chamber!

First things first - when removing your Inner Chamber to pump or pour milk in, it is important to not place the bottom of the chamber on an icky surface or shared table space. Because that chamber is going back into your milk, we recommend using the upper cup as a cupholder, or simply placing it down upside-down (upper cup first).

Some more facts on this...

1. The inner chamber that touches the milk is made from food-grade stainless steel. It's tested and intended to store human milk and is manufactured to hygiene standards similar to baby bottles or storage containers. The idea that touching it is inherently contaminating it just isn't true!

2. Air isn't contaminating it. When you pour milk into bottles, bags, or storage containers, those containers also touch both milk and surfaces during normal use - placing on counters, opening, closing, etc. The Inner Chamber is actually BETTER protected during transport due to its nested design.

The Chiller is leak-proof, so this should never happen!

First things first (and you may have already done this), be sure to check the gaskets and seals to make sure they are still in place and not damaged. They should sit snuggly down in their little slots and can be gently removed, cleaned and pressed back in place with tweezers or a narrow chopstick. There should be three soft silicone seals. One large one around the center connector, one inside the neck of the center connector and one in the small cap.

Second - make sure that everything is assembled correctly Improper assembly can and will cause leakage.

Standard crescent cubes should fit perfectly! If you're struggling to find a good size, check out our Milkstache tray - it's great for creating the most perfect ice cubes for the Inner Chamber AND freezing milk in perfectly-portion 1/2 ounce cubes.

I totally get it! Some moms love the ability to freeze something the night before. BUT...ice offers a reliable, low-maintenance solution that makes our Chiller both simple and highly effective.

Unlike electric coolers or battery-powered devices, ice requires no charging, no cords, and no special equipment - just fill the chamber with a few cubes and you're good to go. It's widely accessible, easy to replenish, and keeps your milk or formula cold for hours!

You don't need to do anything you're not comfortable with! You're the mom and the expert on your baby and your family, and you know what's best for them.

While many Ceres moms do mix warm milk with chilled milk based on more recent research, we DO have options for those who prefer not to. You can either:

1. If you have two Chillers - use one to chill each batch of milk, and the other to pool it all together when it's already chilled!

2. If you only have one Ceres Chiller - Pump into a standard bottle and let your milk get to room temperature before pouring it over the cold inner ice chamber. That gives it an instant chilling on the way down!

If you notice condensation only after adding your milk to the Chiller, that is completely normal! Those water droplets are actually coming from your milk as it comes in contact with the cold inner ice chamber. Breastmilk is over 80% water, so it's essentially just mixing back into where it came from.

If you ever notice condensation before adding milk, that means that there's humid air in your outer chamber. It helps to make sure that all of your parts are fully dried and stored in a cool place before use. You can place the parts in the fridge in between uses if you live in an especially humid area!