POLICY CONTENT

Breastfeeding is important for infants’ nutrition. Australian and international health authorities recommend exclusive breastfeeding until around 6 months. At around 6 months, solid food can then be offered while breastfeeding is continued until 12 months or longer if the mother and baby wish (NSW Ministry of Health, 2014, p. 10).  

The Akidamy respects and supports mothers’ wishes to continue to breastfeed, as we understand that returning to work is a common reason for discontinuing breastfeeding. We provide a welcoming environment for mothers to continue to breastfeed or express breastmilk. 

All educators know what their role is and what they need to do to make sure breastmilk is stored and handled safely and that feeding practices set by families are followed. 

 

QUALITY AREA 2: Children's Health and Safety

2.1.3

Healthy lifestyles

Healthy eating and physical activity are promoted and appropriate for each child.

PURPOSE 

The Akidamy understands the importance of breast milk for the developing infant and will make sure that all families and staff are aware of our commitment to assisting mothers in continuing to provide breast milk to their child while they are at The Akidamy. 
 

SCOPE 

This policy applies to families, educators, staff, management, approved provider, nominated supervisor, students, volunteers and visitors of The Akidamy. 

IMPLEMENTATION 

An important function of breast milk is to provide the mother’s antibodies to the infant, assisting in the prevention of illness whilst the immune system is developing. Mothers of infants up to 12 months old will be supported to continue to breastfeed, whether by providing expressed breast milk or visiting The Akidamy to feed their child.

Nominated Supervisor/s will ensure: 

• families are provided with breastfeeding information during enrolment and orientation 
• The Akidamy is identified as ‘Breastfeeding Friendly’ (see Resources section below) 
• a quiet, clean, and comfortable place is provided for mothers to comfortably breastfeed or express breast milk 
• staff are aware that it is a mother’s legal right to breastfeed 
• individual breastfeeding support plan is developed in consultation with families during orientation and will be recorded on the Care Needs Forms, including plans for if The Akidamy does not have enough expressed breast milk to meet the child’s needs 
• literature on the benefits of breastfeeding is updated and distributed to staff as required to support understanding and ‘best practice’.

Educators will: 

• provide mothers with a private, clean and quiet place to breastfeed their children or express milk 
• store and handle expressed breast milk in accordance with the Bottle Safety and Preparation Policy 
• provide daily information to families regarding infant’s feeding intake 
• communicate regularly with families about infant and children’s feeding patterns and routines 
• establish and maintain connections with local breastfeeding support networks, including Australian Breastfeeding Association 
• refer mothers with breastfeeding concerns to appropriate resources, including support services offered by Australian Breastfeeding Association groups or private lactation consultants.

Families will: 

• be informed during orientation of requirements relating to the safe transportation of breast milk between home and The Akidamy, and labelling bottles of breast milk 
• be informed of where they are able to breastfeed or express milk 
• be encouraged to communicate regularly with educators about children’s bottle and feeding requirements.

STAFF AND EDUCATOR TRAINING

The Akidamy will: 

• familiarise new educators and staff with the Breastfeeding Policy and offer appropriate training as required, including alternate strategies for feeding if an infant will not accept a bottle 
• ensure all educators that have responsibility for the care of infants and children are able to provide basic breastfeeding information and are able to refer mothers with breastfeeding concerns to appropriate resources 
• ensure staff encourage parents to develop babies’ individual breastfeeding support plans and regularly update their plans, with support from Australian Breastfeeding Association groups or private lactation consultants where appropriate.  

SUPPORT FOR EDUCATORS AND STAFF WHO ARE BREASTFEEDING

The Akidamy will: 

• make all reasonable efforts to support a staff member’s request to continue breastfeeding their child 
• provide breastfeeding employees with a flexible schedule to allow for breastfeeding or expressing breast milk for their infant 
• provide breastfeeding employees with a private, clean and quiet place to breastfeed their infant or express milk.

RESOURCES

To request a free Breastfeeding-friendly zone sticker for Service entry doors or windows go to: health.gov.au/internet/main/publishing.nsf/...    (sheet 2) 
Register for Breastfeeding welcome here Service for stickers, posters, and more: breastfeeding.asn.au/services/welcome  

SOURCE

Australian Breastfeeding Association: breastfeeding.asn.au  
Australian Children’s Education & Care Quality Authority. (2014).  
Australian Government National Health and Medical Research Council. (2013). Eat for health: Infant feeding guidelines: Information for health workers. eatforhealth.gov.au/sites/default/files/files/the... 
Department of Education and Early Childhood Development  
Education and Care National Regulations. (2011). 
Guide to the National Quality Standard. (2020) 
NSW Ministry of Health. (2014). Caring for children birth to 5 years: Food, nutrition and learning experiences. health.nsw.gov.au/heal/Publications/caring-for-...  
Safe Food and Health Service Executive. (2013). How to prepare your baby’s bottle. 
State Government Victoria Department of Education and Early Childhood Development (2014). Promoting Breastfeeding Victorian Breastfeeding Guidelines