Breastmilk Preservation Powder FAQ’s or Frequently Asked Questions, please let us know if there’s anything you need to know. There’s no such thing as a stupid question! You can ask on the Facebook Group here or message our Facebook page or just pop us an email using the form at the end. Here are the instructions (click). Also see our regular FAQ’s.
Q: What do I do if my child or pet eats some of the powder?
A: In case of emergency all of the ingredients are found in food products apart from one, which is borax (NOT boric acid). Borax is found in food in many countries but is banned in others, it’s found in cosmetics and children’s slime. If accidentally ingested please contact emergency services or a healthcare provider immediately and inform them of the above. This is sold as a pigment, we are not required to give out ingredients. For your own peace of mind, to protect yourself, family members and pets, please follow our usage and safety instructions carefully when using this Keepsaker Supplies breastmilk preservation powder. Use common sense and PPE (full details of PPE sourcing can be found in our Worldwide Sourcing Guides here – including the UK, USA, Australia and Canada (more countries coming soon). Keep the powder, breastmilk, tools and equipment and preserved milk away from children and pets for safety and also for professionalism. Be careful around naked flames. The ingredients of our Breastmilk Preservation Powder is strictly confidential and secret. It absolutely must neither be ingested nor breathed in (wear PPE including gloves and respirator at all times and keep away from children and pets).
The product is not intended for consumption or any other use other than for preserving breastmilk and breastmilk substitutes such as constituted formula, plant drinks (such as soy milk). The resulting preserved breastmilk is only intended for use in making jewellery and ornaments and again is not fit for human consumption. Please do not taste or smell the powder as the ingredients may irritate the nose and mouth. As a breastfeeding parent themself, Nikki mixes, packages and uses the powder daily using a dust mask and vinyl gloves, which are included in all of our DIY kits and more can be purchased from our Worldwide Sourcing Guides here. For information on our health and safety datasheets click here.
Q: Hi I was just wondering is there an expiration date to the breastmilk preserving powder?
A: I don’t think there is one as the ingredients are designed to stay dry. To be on the safe side if you want to store them a long time, I’d recommend keeping them in a sealed tub (airtight) with some of the silica gel bead bags we recommend that you keep with the drying milk/the preserved milk. At the moment we’re selling them as fast as we can make up the bags so it’s safe to say the powder was made the same month as you ordered it, but as this changes in the future we’ll consider adding a batch date. If you ever get some cake up, which I don’t think is possible, just grind it up a little in the pestle and mortar but we’re happy to exchange free of charge. I try to always stand behind my products!
You can keep preserved and dried milk for years in a sealed bag with some silica drying beads like in my videos.
Q: I read in the fb group that this powder has been tested since the beginning of this year. Does that mean that I still have to test and trial and wait then 18months with this powder? Or is it already trailed and certain it won’t get moldy?
A: It has basically the same ingredients as the other powders I’ve tried (one from Australia and two from Etsy) and acts pretty much the same way as all the others. Mine is just much less expensive! My pieces have been ok since about Feb. Any problems with it is likely to be resin issues, so make a spare for each client, but also retain their milk and the preserved powder so you can remake it if the resin fails. That’s my advice for most pieces but with breastmilk they’re unlikely to retain their own milk if they stop breastfeeding so just do it for them.
Q: How long does this powder take to dry? How long between using it in the milk and being able to add the preserved milk to epoxy or resin?
A: When you preserve the milk in the bain marie and scoop it onto the label backing paper, there will be some left in the bowl. The powder left in the bowl I find is already dry once I’ve finished the process, you can actually use a tiny bit of that if it’s a really small piece and you’re in a hurry. the rest of it dries anywhere between a few hours and a few days. Depends on the weather/temperature/humidity. Make sure you dry the milk on top of some silica gel beads like I recommend in the blog, and it’ll be quicker. I’m just buying something to try speeding it up, if it works out I’ll let everyone know!
Q: It’s been a week and the powder isn’t drying, did I do something wrong?
A: Make sure the paste is very thick when you spread it on the label backing paper already. Make sure it’s kept somewhere warm to dry with good ventilation to remove the moisture. If you’re using silica gel beads, make sure they’re refreshed now and again so they can absorb the moisture. If you’re really struggling, try placing the drying tray in a warmer place; perhaps even on a reptile warming mat/plant propogator, an airing cupboard or near a radiator (don’t forget to keep it away from kids and pets please). If you live in a damp climate you might need a dehumidifier running to remove the moisture, although we have not found this to be necessary yet.
Q: Is there room for some error with this method, meaning if the milk is too hot, because the water is too hot will this impact the preservative in such a way that it can’t do its job?
A: I haven’t managed to burn one yet but I guess it’s possible… Just make sure the sachet is open and ready to go when you add the milk. 
Q: How old can the milk be?
A: There is no limit! It can have been frozen for 30 years. So long as it’s not smelly when posted. There is no need to freeze prior to posting unless the customer is not planning to post until the following week. Freezing the milk will not keep it colder for the journey. As long as the milk does not arrive mould it can be used.
Q: I’ve just watched your Breastmilk YouTube video! I saw you used silica gel bags… would is be suitable to use silica gel that I use to dry flowers with that are loose providing the Breastmilk doesn’t touch the gel?
A: yes that’s perfectly fine! You might want to wrap some in a bit of fabric.
Q: I already followed the ideas but still not working [the preserved breastmilk paste isn’t drying]?
A: We had a client asking the same a in February and a few days later they replied saying it had dried. Try to make sure it’s somewhere warm and dry, that the paste is as dry as possible in the bain marie before you transfer it. Are you using label backing paper or parchment paper? The customer who had sent the message had been using baking paper and when it did eventually dry they said it was all stuck to the paper. We recommended next time they try label backing paper which you can request free of charge here (it’s the backing paper for stickers).
Also, make sure the lids on the food savers aren’t secured, the moisture needs to be able to escape. Are you using a dehumidifier or heater? Do you know the moisture level in the room? Maybe try a dryer or warmer area. Be patient and give the powder longer to dry. If it’s warm, and in a dry room with flowing air it’s impossible for it to stay moist. Try leaving the lids off and place the containers on the reptile mat or near a fan heater.
Q: How should the Preservation Powder be stored?
A: The preservation powder will be sent in sachets in a zip lock bag with a silica gel sachet to help prevent any moisture entering the powder and causing deterioration. Sachets need to be kept sealed in the bag and silica gel sachets changed when necessary.
You should post in the Facebook group, perhaps the others have better tips!
Q18. Did you change the recipe for the Breastmilk Preservation Powder?
Please note a small change to the recipe meaning the unused powder keeps better but this does not affect use. You may find it does not bubble as much as our previous recipe when cooking.
Making Breastmilk Jewellery eCourse
Making Breastmilk Jewellery Intro (Part 1 of 5)
Making Breastmilk Jewellery: Methods To Avoid (Part 2 of 5)
Making Breastmilk Jewellery: Methods That Work (Part 3 of 5)
Getting Started Making Breastmilk Jewellery (Part 4 of 5)
What You Need To Make Breastmilk Jewellery (Part 5 of 5)
Breastmilk Preservation Powder Instructions
Breastmilk Preservation Powder FAQ’s
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