Bottle Feeding Policy

Rationale

Bottle feeding is an important part of any child’s routine and should be a warm and nurturing experience. After considerable research, Kindercare has developed a policy to ensure the child’s needs are met and best practice is supported throughout our centres.

Policy

Heating Bottles

• We prefer not to heat babies’ bottles in centre microwaves for the health and safety of our young babies. However, bottles may be heated in centre microwaves if parents have given permission in the child’s My Journal. If permission has not been given for microwave heating, a list of the names of those tamariki must be placed on the fridge close to the microwave or be placed on the microwave door.
• Fluids continue to heat after being removed from the microwave, therefore increasing the risk of scalding a baby’s mouth. For this reason, after a bottle is heated in a microwave, the bottle must be shaken, and then left to stand for 3 minutes. Before feeding the baby, the bottle must be shaken again, and the temperature tested on the employee’s inner wrist.
• Breast milk must never be heated in a microwave. Microwaves destroy the nutritional value of the breast milk and therefore breast milk must always be heated by immersing the bottle in warm water.

• If bottles are heated by immersing into hot water, the hot water container must only be placed in the sink. Never anywhere else — not even on the sink bench. The container must not be removed from the sink. If a crock pot or bottle warmer is used for heating, it must be in a safe position at the back of the bench. 
• Extreme care must be taken if hot water is carried into the room for heating bottles.
• Remember: no containers / jugs containing hot water are to be left on the kitchen bench.
• NO BOTTLES ARE TO BE REHEATED. 

Bottle Feeding

• Babies up to 12 months old, and other tamariki who are unable to drink independently, must be held semi-upright while being fed.
• Any infant milk food/formula given to a child under the age of 12 months must be supplied by the child’s parent.
• Tamariki over the age of 12 months old may sit at a table with their bottle or sipper cup if the reason for this decision is to support the child’s best interests and development e.g. intentionally transitioning the child from a bottle to a sipper cup. This decision will only be made after discussion with the parents and whānau about the reasons for this and getting their permission to do so.
• Babies and young tamariki will not be seated at the table for reasons of convenience, or to make it easier to complete bottle feeding times more quickly.
• Tamariki sitting at the table must continue to be under the constant and close supervision of a team member who will interact warmly with the child, ensuring this is a positive experience.
• Because we are committed to offering respectful care and ensuring bottle feeds are an engaging and nurturing experience for the child, no child is to be propped up with their bottle or cup — including when they are in their cots or on their beds drifting off to sleep.
• In the case of infants and/or other tamariki with special needs who may not be able to drink independently, they are not be propped up and left unattended, as they can move around or slide over, which may result in choking.
• A feeder/bib must always be placed on a child before bottle feeding, and be removed after feeding.
• No feeder/bib is to be left on a baby or child whilst sleeping.
• Kaiako will ensure there is a space that allows for bottle-feeds to be a calm time of connection, with eye contact, and a one-to-one opportunity to interact with, smile, and show warmth and affection towards the baby.
• Team members will ensure that the feeding charts are completed after each feed. This information must be transferred on a daily basis to each child’s My Journal.

Please Note: Babies and toddlers who are not bottle-feeding should be offered water not only at mealtimes, but regularly throughout the day e.g. at morning tea, mid-morning (10:30am), lunch, after sleep, afternoon tea and late afternoon (4pm).

Bottle Storage and Care

• Bottles must be placed in the fridge upon arrival at Kindercare.
• Bottles must be clearly named in English. Centres must have a clear system in place to ensure that no parts of bottles are misplaced, and each child is given the correct bottle.
• Milk that is not consumed from a bottle i.e. ‘leftovers' and prepared formula that has been at room temperature for 2 hours or longer, must be thrown away. Rinse bottles and return to the child’s basket with all caps, lids, and teats.  
• If parents and whānau wish to supply dry formula in a separator container, this must be clearly marked in English with the child’s name, and the correctly measured quantity of formula.
• With the exception of a medical certificate, the formula measured must correspond with the dosage on the container. In the child’s best interests for their growth and development, Kindercare will not dilute formula for bottle feeds.
• Parents must provide clean, sterilised bottles daily with the correct amount of pre-measured water.

• If parents and whānau request that the centre store their child’s tin of formula at the centre, this arrangement may be agreed to as an exception, based on personal circumstances, and will be discussed with the parents and whānau, mindful of the centre’s capacity for storage.
• If formula is stored at the centre, the container must be labelled with the following information in English:

1. 1. The child’s name
   2. Expiry date
   3. Date when opened
   4. Measured quantity required per feed

Last Review Date: 7 August 2023