Product Description

The Avent Via Breast Milk Storage Kit lets you safely store your milk in the refrigerator or freezer. Bases are compatable with your Avent ISIS Breast Pump. Pump directly into the 6 oz. bases and put the lid on. Bases are great for storage whether your at home or on the go. Use the Via bottle adaptor to turn the base into a handy bottle.

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #656 in Baby Product
• Brand: Philips Avent
• Model: SCF612/10
• Released on: 2006-12-01
• Number of items: 1
• Dimensions: 2.00" h x 4.00" w x 4.50" l, 2.00 pounds

Features

• Compatable with the Avent ISIS Breast Pump
• Via bases and lids
• 2 nipples and lids
• 2 bottle adaptors
• For health and hygiene reasons, we cannot accept returns on this item

Customer Reviews

Not all it's chalked up to be
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.

Not quite as nice as expected
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.

bad outweighs the good!
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).