POLICY CONTENT

As young children (particularly those under 12 months) are still developing their immune system, they are more susceptible to food borne illnesses and infection. This therefore makes it imperative that education and care services implement and maintain the highest level of hygiene practices. Our School will ensure that safe practices are consistently maintained for handling, storing, preparing and heating breast milk and formula.

NATIONAL QUALITY STANDARD (NQS)

QUALITY AREA 2: Children's Health and Safety

2.1	Health	Each child’s health and physical activity is supported and promoted
2.1.2	Health practices and procedures	Effective illness and injury management and hygiene practices are promoted and implemented.
2.1.3	Healthy lifestyles	Healthy eating and physical activity are promoted and appropriate for each child.
2.2	Safety	Each child is protected.
2.2.1	Supervision	At all times, reasonable precautions and adequate supervision ensure children are protected from harm and hazard.

PURPOSE 

To ensure our School maintains a safe and hygienic environment for all infants and toddlers requiring a bottle, educators will prepare bottles safely and hygienically in accordance with recognised guidelines and best practice. All educators preparing and/or handling bottles will have undergone training in safe food handling. 
 

SCOPE 

This policy applies to Educators, Families, Staff, management, Approved Provider, Nominated Supervisor, students, volunteers and visitors of the school. 
 

IMPLEMENTATION 

During their first year of life, babies are at their most vulnerable to viruses, bacteria, and parasitic infections, due to their immune system not yet being fully developed. Unsafe or careless food handling practices can therefore lead to anything from a mild attack of thrush to a more serious condition of gastroenteritis, all of which are similar to food poisoning and can cause vomiting and diarrhoea, and subsequent dehydration.  
To ensure that bottles are consistently prepared in a safe and hygienic manner educators will adhere to school procedures at all times.

Management will ensure: 

• that the Nominated Supervisor and educators are aware of the procedures for using bottles no more than once, preparing, heating and storing bottles of formula and breast milk 
• procedures for the usage of bottles strictly adhered to (each bottle is only used once)
• procedures for the safe storage and heating of food provided in bottles are strictly adhered to 
• infants over 6 months of age are given small amounts of cooled boiled water in addition to breastmilk or formula as required 
• infants are given only breast milk, formula, or cooled boiled water

A Nominated Supervisor / Responsible Person will: 

• that the Nominated Supervisor and educators are aware of the procedures for using bottles no more than once, preparing, heating and storing bottles of formula and breast milk 
• adhere to the procedure for the safe storage and heating of food provided in bottles 
• provide infants over 6 months of age with small amounts of cooled boiled water in addition to breast milk or formula as required 
• ensure infants are not given fruit juice in their bottle due to the increase risk of tooth decay 
• ensure families are familiar with their responsibilities in accordance with this policy

Educators will: 

• implement safe food handling practices 
• wash hands thoroughly when preparing bottles 
• store all bottles in an appropriate area for food preparation that complies with the food safety standards for kitchens and food preparation areas 
• adhere to the procedure for the safe storage and heating of bottles  
• provide infants over 6 months of age with small amounts of cooled boiled water in addition to breast milk or formula 
• adhere to each child’s feeding routine 
• ensure families are familiar with their responsibilities in accordance with this policy 
• document the amount of milk each infant consumed including the time of feeds 
• communicate regularly with families about infant and children’s feeding patterns and routines 

Families will:

• be informed during orientation that children’s bottles must be clearly labelled with the child’s name 
• label bottles containing breast milk or formula with the date of preparation or date of expression  
• each child must bring enough clean bottles each day to meet their child’s requirements 
• supply breast milk in multiple small quantities to prevent wastage  
• keep formula powder at the school so that the formula can be prepared as required
• provide clean, labelled bottle(s) for use at the school for children
• be encouraged to communicate regularly with educators about children’s bottle and feeding requirements

BOTTLES, TEATS, AND DUMMIES

After cleaning any item for infants, it is important to remember not to touch any part that will go into the baby’s mouth with your hands.

Prior to cleaning any bottles, teats and dummies, staff will wash their hands. Staff use warm, soapy (dish washing liquid) water to clean bottles, teats and dummies. This is the single most effective way of preventing the spread of infection. 

STORING CLEAN BOTTLES 

If not using clean bottles immediately, care needs to be taken to store them correctly to avoid them coming into contact with bacteria. It important to: 

• Ensure your hands and the work bench are clean
• Store bottles in a clean, secure place away from dust
• If not used within 24 hours bottles should be cleaned again before use

Before preparing formula:

• Ensure your hands and the work bench are clean
• Boil water in the kitchen or get boiling water from the tap in the Staff Room, and leave to cool for approximately 30 minutes. This will ensure that the water is not too hot

When preparing infant formula always closely follow the instructions on the tin. 
In general:

• always wash hands thoroughly prior to preparing formula 
• do not compact the formula powder in the scoop, and always ensure the correct ratio of formula to water as specified on the tin: too little formula powder may leave the infant hungry, whilst too much can cause constipation 
• put the lid on the bottle so you don't touch the teat, and shake the bottle well to mix the contents 

Heating bottles: 

• Heat bottles once only 
• Do not allow a heated bottle to cool and then reheat as this can allow germs to grow
• Before feeding the infant, check the temperature of the milk by letting a small drop fall on the inside of your wrist 
• Do not microwave breast milk or bottles 
• Do not refreeze thawed breast milk 
• Discard any milk that has not been used

FORMULA BOTTLE PREPARATION PROCEDURE

As young children (particularly those under 12 months) are still developing their immune system, they are more susceptible to food borne illnesses and infections. This therefore makes it imperative that schools implement and maintain the highest level of hygiene practices. Our school will ensure that safe practices are consistently maintained for handling, storing, preparing and heating breast milk and formula, and cleaning bottles and teats.
This procedure provides detailed steps for educators to follow when preparing formula bottles for children at the school.

No.	Steps and Descriptions
1	Management will review and update the school’s Bottle Safety & Preparation Policy each year to ensure awareness of appropriate practices relating to bottle feeding.
2	Educators will thoroughly wash hands when preparing bottles.
3	Educators are to ensure all bottle preparation will be completed in the designated bottle and food preparation area of the studio.
4	Educators will ensure the bottle and food preparation area will always be clean and hygienic and will only ever be used for the purpose intended.
5	Educators are to ensure all food and bottles will be kept totally separate from the nappy change and toileting areas.
6	Educators will prepare formula as per the instructions on the formula tin and use the provided scoop for measurement, using cooled boiled water for infants under 12 months of age.
7	Educators will ensure once formula is made it must be used or kept in the refrigerator. Educators will discard any leftover formula.
8	Educators will ensure formula bottles will not be re-heated as this can allow germs to grow.
9	Educators will not warm bottles in the microwave as microwave ovens distribute heat unevenly. (Water in the milk can turn to steam that collects at the top of the bottle, and there is a danger that the infant could be scalded.)
10	Educators will use bottle warmers that have a thermostat control to heat Infant formula / cow’s milk / breast milk.
11	Educators will use the bottle warmer as per the manufacturer’s instructions.
12	Educators will ensure that bottle warmers are inaccessible to children at all times.
13	Educators will test the temperature of bottle contents by placing a few drops on the inside of their wrist before feeding the child.
14	Educators will supervise children with bottles at all times. Children will not be placed on beds or in cots for feeding, unless requested by the family where they will be supervised at all times. The bottle is removed from the cot once they fall asleep.
15	Educators will rinse all children’s bottles thoroughly after use and leave to air dry before placing in child’s bag.
16	Educators will communicate regularly with families about children’s bottle and feeding requirements.
17	Educators will communicate with families about the amount of milk taken by the child and any changes in feeding patterns or routines.

 

STORING BREASTMILK AND FORMULA  

For safe storage of formula and breast milk, refrigerators must be kept at 5°C or below and should have a non-mercury thermometer to monitor the temperature. 

• Formula or breast milk must be kept refrigerated if not being immediately consumed
• Whenever possible, make up formula as it is needed. Formula should not be refrigerated for more than 24 hours
• Any remaining formula should be thrown out if an infant does not finish a bottle: It should not be frozen or reheated
• Prior to placing bottle in the fridge staff will check that it/they are labelled with the child’s name and the date the bottle was prepared

Breast milk can be stored in several ways, which include:

1. refrigerated for no more than the day of attendance at 4°C or lower (4°C is the typical temperature of a standard fridge) we will not keep this overnight. 
2. store breast milk on a shelf of the refrigerator, not in the door 

Staying healthy: Preventing infectious diseases in early childhood education and care services- 6th Edition  

FORMULA BOTTLE PREPARATION PROCEDURE

1. Thoroughly wash hands when preparing bottles 
2. All bottle preparation will be completed in the designated bottle and food preparation area 
3. The bottle and food preparation area will always be clean and hygienic and will only ever be used for the purpose intended 
4. All food and bottles will be kept totally separate from the nappy change and toileting areas 
5. Prepare formula as per the instructions on the formula container and use the provided scoop for measurement, using cooled boiled water for infants under 12 months of age.
6. Once formula is made it must be used or discard any leftover formula 
7. Formula bottles will not be re-heated as this can allow germs to grow 
8. Do not warm bottles in the microwave as microwave ovens distribute heat unevenly. Water in the milk can turn to steam that collects at the top of the bottle, and there is a danger that the infant could be scalded
9. Our school will use bottle warmers that have a thermostat control to heat Infant Formula/Cow’s Milk/Breast Milk 
   1. the school will use the bottle warmer as per the manufacturer’s instructions 
   2. educators will ensure that bottle warmers are inaccessible to children at all times 
   3. bottles will be warmed for less than 10 minutes 
10. Test the temperature of bottle contents by placing a few drops on the inside of the wrist before feeding the child 
11. Supervise children with bottles at all times. Children will not be placed on beds or in cots for feeding as this can be a choking hazard. 
12. Give bottles to children before going to bed 
13. Rinse all children’s bottles thoroughly after use and leave to air dry before placing in child’s bag 
14. Communicate regularly with families about children’s bottle and feeding requirements
15. Communicate with families about the amount of milk taken by the child and any changes in feeding patterns or routines at the school

BREAST MILK PREPARATION PROCEDURE 

1. Breast milk that has been expressed should be brought to the school in a clean container labelled with the date of expression and the child’s name
2. We encourage families to transport milk to the school in cooler bags; this should be immediately given to the educators, who will put it in the refrigerator
3. We will refrigerate the milk at 4°C until it is required 
4. Thoroughly wash hands when preparing bottles  
5. All bottle preparation will be done in the designated bottle and food preparation area 
6. The bottle and food preparation area will always be clean and hygienic and will only ever be used for the purpose intended 
7. All food and bottles will be kept totally separate from the nappy change and toileting areas 
8. Breast milk will be warmed and/or thawed by standing the container/bottle in a container of warm water or bottle warmer 
9. Shake the bottle before feeding the infant and check the temperature of the milk on the inside of the educator’s wrist to ensure it is not too hot 
10. If the school does not have enough breast milk from the family to meet the child’s needs that day, individual families will be consulted on what the school should do in these circumstances 
11. A quiet, private space with a comfortable chair will be provided for mothers/women to breastfeed or express milk

BREAST MILK PREPARATION PROCEDURE

 Breastfeeding is important for infants’ nutrition. Australian and international health authorities recommend exclusive breastfeeding until around 6 months. Our school 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.
This procedure provides steps for educators to follow when preparing breast milk bottles for children at the school.
 

No.	Breast Milk Preparation Steps and Procedures
1	Management will review and update the school’s Breastfeeding Policy and Bottle Safety Preparation Policy every 12 months or when necessary to support families and children within the school.
2	Breast milk that has been expressed should be brought to the school in a clean sterile container labelled with the date of expression and the child’s name.
3	We encourage families to transport milk to the school in cooler bags; this should be immediately given to the educator, who will put it in the refrigerator.
4	Milk will be kept refrigerated below 4°C until required.
5	Educators will thoroughly wash hands when preparing bottles.
6	Educators are to ensure all bottle preparation will be done in a designated bottle and food preparation area.
7	Educators are to ensure the bottle and food preparation area is always clean, hygienic and will only ever be used for the purpose intended.
8	All food and bottles will be kept totally separate from the nappy change and toileting areas.
9	Educators will warm and/ or thaw breast milk by standing the container/ bottle in a bottle warmer.
10	Educators will shake the bottle before feeding the infant and check the temperature of the milk on the inside of their wrist to ensure it is not too hot.
11	If there is not enough breast milk from the family to meet the child’s needs that day, individual families will be consulted on what the educator should do in these circumstances.
12	To avoid any possible confusion, educators will not store unused milk at the school.
13	Unused milk will be returned to the family at the end of the day when they come to collect their child.
14	A quiet, private space with a comfortable chair will be provided for Mothers/ women to breastfeed or express milk at the school.
15	The school will adhere to breastmilk storage guidelines as advised by the National Health and Medical Research Council guidelines as indicated.

 

BREAST MILK STATUS	STORAGE AT ROOM TEMPERATURE (26°C OR LOWER)	STORAGE IN REFRIGERATOR (5°C OR LOWER)	STORAGE IN FREEZER
Freshly expressed into sterile container	6–8 hours If refrigeration is available store milk there	No more than 24 hours Store at back, where it is coldest	N/A
Thawed outside refrigerator in warm water / bottle warmer	For completion of feeding	4 hours or until next feeding	N/A
Infant has begun feeding	Only for completion of feeding	Discard	N/A

Source: nhmrc.gov.au/about-us/publications/infant-...


Australian Breastfeeding Association breastfeeding.asn.au 
Australian Children’s Education & Care Quality Authority. (2014).  
Australian Government Department of Health. Get Up & Grow: Healthy Eating and Physical Activity for Early Childhood.  
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Education and Care National Regulations. (2011). 
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National Health and Medical Research Council. (2013). Staying healthy: Preventing infectious diseases in early childhood education and care services. 
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