Food and Health Guidelines - Torfaen Family Information Service

2. Babies 0-12 months
Using expressed breast milk in the Early Years setting:
Fridge temperature should be monitored
regularly
Breastmilk should be stored in an
insulated bag with frozen ice packs.
This should keep the temperature below
4°C regardless of how often the door
is opened.
• Ensure bottles are clearly labelled with
the baby’s name and date and used
only for the named baby.
• Shake the container of breast milk
before using, as the cream will rise to
the top if left to stand.
• If milk storage bags are used, it may be
easier to cut off the bottom corner with
sanitised scissors to form a spout rather
than untie the top of the bag.
• Discuss with mother how to feed the
baby i.e. using a cup rather than a
bottle and teat.
• When baby starts on solid foods,
expressed breast milk can be used
to mix into cereal or other foods.
• Defrosting and warming breast milk:
- The safest way to defrost expressed
breast milk is to remove it from the
freezer several hours before it is
needed and to thaw it in the fridge.
If needed quickly, it can be defrosted
by standing in cool or warm water.
- If defrosted in the fridge, milk should
be given to the baby within 12 hours
and kept in the fridge until used.
Milk defrosted outside the fridge
should be used immediately and
should never be refrozen.
- Defrosting or warming milk in the
microwave oven is not recommended
due to the possibility of hot spots.
• Frozen milk should be dated and the
oldest milk used first.
• Discard any breast milk kept for longer
than the indicated times.
• Monitor how much milk is being taken
and let mother know when stocks are
running low.
• Return any unused breast milk to the
parent at the end of the day.
Have posters and leaflets on
display (see section 10)
Provide a welcoming atmosphere for
breastfeeding mothers.
• Provide a room / space that is quiet,
warm, well lit and has a comfortable
chair for the mother who wishes to
breastfeed. Some mothers may wish to
feed on arrival, just before leaving or at
lunchtime, particularly when the baby is
very young.
• If the mother wishes to feed her baby
before going home, discuss with mother
how this can best be accommodated.
• Have storage available for expressed
breast milk.
• Have contacts available for the national
breastfeeding support organisations and
local breastfeeding peer supporters.
(See www.wales.gov.uk/breastfeeding and
see section 10).
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