Ceres Chill Review 2022: Best Breast Milk Storage System

The problem with pumping breast milk on the go or at work is the lack of storage and the inconvenience it creates. The Ceres Chill breast milk Chiller solves all of these problems. 

This review will go over what the Ceres Chill is and what we liked and didn’t like about it.

What is the Ceres Chill 

The Ceres Chill is a container designed to hold breast milk and keep it cold while you are at work, traveling, or simply not at home.

Who Created Ceres Chill Breastmilk Chiller

Ceres Chill was created by Lisa Myers, a working mother who experienced and saw a need for a better solution for working mothers who wanted to pump breastmilk for their babies.

Top Benefits of the Ceres Chill

1. Lifetime Warranty
2. FSA, HSA, and HRA eligible 
3. TSA Friendly
4. Easy to use
5. Reduces risk of milk contamination
6. Holds up to 34 ounces of breastmilk

The Best Features of Ceres Chill Breastmilk Chiller

There are many great features of the Ceres Chill like the ease and ability for double pumping, easy pump, and nipple assembly, and that it works great with all major breast pumps. 

Although all of those features are fantastic, it gets even better for all of you mommas who pump breast milk because I will go over the BEST features of the Ceres Chill breastmilk chiller.

1. It Keeps Breast Milk Cold 

Keeping your pumped milk cold all day long is the top priority when storing your breast milk. Depending on how you use your chiller, breast milk can stay cold for 20+ hours.

2. You can Pump Directly into the Container

In all three configurations, you can pump directly into the Ceres Chill. This speeds up the whole process of pumping and reduces clean-up time after.

To pump directly into the container you may need to purchase a universal pump converter.

3. It Reduces the Amount of Bags you Carry

Without a Ceres Chill, you would have to bring to work an ice chest filled with bulky ice packs and plastic bottles to hold your pumped milk in. On top of this, you would also need to bring your pump bag to work too. 

One Ceres Chill eliminates the need for a heavy ice chest and allows you to bring one bag to work as it fits in your pump bag. It is one of the most essential items to have in your breast pump bag!

4. You Don’t Need A Refrigerator 

Because the Ceres Chill is the “ice chest” you don’t have to worry about finding a fridge and wondering if your milk has gone bad.

It is also convenient to not have to find space in your communal work fridge every day and wonder if anyone will accidentally drink it.

5. Good Customer Service

I purchased my Ceres Chill 6 months before I went back to work. On my first day back to work from maternity leave, I quickly realized I was missing the cap that keeps the milk from spilling into the lid.

I was worried that I wouldn’t be able to get a cap since it had been so long since the purchase date. However, they promptly sent me another one.

6. Easy to Clean

This product is very easy to clean as there aren’t many crevices milk can get stuck.

All components except the outer chamber can be put in the dishwasher.

7. Multipurpose Use

Not only can this chiller keep milk cold, it can also warm up breast milk.

It can also double as a traditional thermos for hot or cold drinks or food.

8. Inconspicuous 

Ceres Chill comes in a variety of colors and is stylish, but nowhere indicates that it holds breast milk. It looks like any other thermos and is incognito.

Ceres Chill Pricing

The basic breast milk chiller costs $68.98. This price includes:

• Inner chamber with cap
• Outer body with a lid
• versatile connecting collar with bottle
• pump threads

The Warmer/Chiller Duo costs $129.00. This price includes:

• two inner chambers with two caps
• two outer bodies with two lids
• two versatile connecting collars
• two pump threads-connects your breast pump to the chiller for double pumping
• glass baby bottle

Ceres Chill Pros and Cons

It is important to go over the pros and cons of any product. So let’s get into it!

Pros

1. Keeps milk cold all day long 
2. Warms up milk quickly
3. Easy to use and transport
4. Easy to clean: dishwasher-safe
5. Reduces the amount of bags you carry
6. Good customer service
7. Can be used for many different things 
8. Allows freedom- you aren’t tied to a fridge and can run all of the errands you need after work.
9. Sense of peace knowing your breastmilk is in a cold and clean environment.

Although there is an overwhelming amount of pros for the ceres chill there are a few cons I wanted to mention.

Cons

1. Universal pump converter not included: If you don’t have a Medela pump and want to pump directly into your container you have to purchase a universal pump converter separately.
2. Cost: This product is more expensive than the “alternatives”.
3. Potential leaks: if the product is not sealed and shut tightly or properly it will leak.

Ceres Chill Alternatives

Ceres Chill now has a competitor on the market called Mila’s Keeper. It appears to have come out in 2022 and works very similarly to Ceres Chill. Mila’s keeper has glass bottles where breast milk can be collected and instead of using ice and water to keep the storage system cold, it has a designated hard ice pack that connects to the lid. You can pump directly into the glass bottles which hold either 4 or 5 ounces of milk. It does not appear that you can pump directly into the insulated bottle which can hold up to 12 ounces of milk.

Mila’s keeper can keep breast milk cold for up to 20 hours and can hold up to 12 ounces of breast milk. The insulated cooler is eco-friendly and stylish. Once your pumping journey is over, it can be used as a traditional thermos or a water bottle.

They are similarly priced. The stater kit for Mila’s Keeper is about $65.00.

If you are curious as to which portable breastmilk cooler is best for you and your lifestyle don’t worry, we have tested each product. This article will help you decide if Ceres Chill or Mila’s Keeper is best for you.

My Experience with Ceres Chill

I hesitantly purchased my Warmer/Chiller Duo in early 2021 and used it for about one year. Before purchasing the Warmer/Chiller Duo, I would carry three bags to work every single day: my purse, my pump bag, and my ice chest. 

I had to rush home from work every single day because my ice would melt and I was worried all that hard work of pumping milk would go to waste. I had no flexibility in my schedule and I hated pumping.

The Warmer/Chiller Duo eliminated the amount of bags I carried into work, gave me freedom in my schedule, and the confidence that my milk would stay cold. The dread of pumping at work diminished and pumping became as enjoyable as it ever could be. 

My Ceres Chiller was always cold when I got home from work. I was never concerned that my milk had gone bad. As a matter of fact, I forgot to empty my breast milk from the Chiller when I got home one night and it was still cold in the morning.

Dana

Ceres Chill Tips and Tricks

1. Use crushed ice instead of cubes in the outer chamber for easy assembly in the 12-ounce configuration.
2. Freeze water in the inner chamber instead of using ice cubes in the 24-ounce configuration.
3. If using the 24-ounce configuration use the upturned lid as a holder for your inner chamber
4. If using the 24-ounce configuration and you pump less than 7 ounces of milk place your chiller upside down until your next pump (or until you get 7 ounces of milk) to keep your milk cold.
5. If you need your milk stored longer than anticipated, just remove the old ice/water and add more ice.
6. Non-Medela pumps need an adapter which isn’t included.
7. If you want to pump into your container and use it as a double pump you will need two containers to connect with at the same time or you can use 1 Ceres Chill bottle and the cap of that Ceres Chiller.
8. Your ceres chill fits in your car cup holder if you flip it upside down, cap side into the holder.

Can Ceres Chill be Used On A Plane?

Yes! Ceres Chill is TSA Friendly. It can be brought through security even if it has liquid gold and used throughout the airport and airplane.

I can attest that this is true! I have used it at airports and on planes with no problem at all.

Is Cold Breast Milk and Body Temperature Breast Milk Safe To Mix?

This is the most common concern with the breastmilk chiller. For many years it has been recommended that warm breast milk shouldn’t be mixed with cold breast milk because the cold breastmilk may “warm up”. The thought is if the cold milk is warmed up it may cause bacteria to grow in the milk. This is the only claim stated as to why you shouldn’t pool breast milk.

When I think about this logically, you are always putting in the fridge “warmed” breast milk. Why aren’t we worried about putting our “warmed” breast milk into the fridge? How can be keep “warm” or body temperature breastmilk on the counter for 4 hours without worrying about it going bad? For me, logically this recommendation does not make sense.

Many studies done on breastfeeding and breastmilk storage are outdated and haven’t been re-evaluated in many years. The CDC still recommends not mixing warm breast milk with previously cooled breastmilk. The Ceres Chill stores milk similarly to the pitcher method.

The American Academy of Pediatrics at one point in 2021 said it was safe to pool breastmilk together as long as it was from the same day. However, they removed this recommendation in September of 2021.

Ultimately, the choice of pooling warm and cold breast milk together needs to be one that you make yourself. If you feel comfortable doing this, go ahead and do it. If you don’t then this is not the product for you.

Conclusion: Should You buy the Ceres Chill Breastmilk Chiller?

If you are a working mother YES you should absolutely purchase a Ceres Chiller. It met and exceeded all of my expectations and is truly the best breastmilk storage system on the market. 

The Ceres Chiller made it into our list of the best products for parents. If you want a safe, easy-to-use, and convenient storage system this is the product for you.