📒Bottle Safety & Preparation Policy (QA2) (video needed, Screenshot missing)

National Quality Standard (NQS) - Quality Area 2: Children's Health and Safety

Implementation

To ensure that bottles are consistently prepared in a safe and hygienic manner and Educators will adhere to Service procedures at all times. 

Storing bottles 

• Formula or breast milk needs to be kept refrigerated or frozen. Keep a non-mercury thermometer in your fridge so that you can check that the temperature is below 5°C. All bottles need to be labelled with the child’s name and the date the bottle was prepared or brought in by the parent.
• It is best to make up the fresh formula for each feed and give it to the child as soon as it has cooled. If this is not possible, the freshly made formula should be cooled immediately and stored in the back of the refrigerator (where it is coldest) for no more than 24 hours. Throw away any formula that is left over. Do not freeze or reheat leftover made-up formula.

Breast milk:

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

1. Refrigerated for 3–5 days at 4°C or lower (4°C is the typical temperature of a standard fridge). - - Store breast milk at the back of the refrigerator, not in the door. 
   - Labelled breastmilk needs to be kept refrigerated or frozen.
   - If Breast milk has been previously frozen, the feed/milk needs to be used within 4hours or less.
   - If the breastmilk is freshly expressed 

2. Babies under 12 months of age should not be fed:

   • Regular, low-fat or skim cow’s milk
   • Evaporated or powdered milk, sweetened condensed milk
   • Cereal and legume-based beverages (such as rice, oat or soy)
   • Nut and seed-based beverages (such as almond or pumpkin seed)
   • Any do-it-yourself preparations using homemade recipes.
3. Storing bottles in the back of the fridge where it is coldest. Do not store bottles inside the refrigerator door.
4.  Frozen in a separate freezer section of a refrigerator for up to 3 months; if your freezer is a compartment inside the refrigerator, rather than a separate section with its own door, then only store the breast milk for 2 weeks. Frozen in a deep freeze (–18 °C or lower) for 6–12 months.
5. Labelled breastmilk needs to be kept refrigerated or frozen.

Preparing/Giving babies breast milk:

- If Breast milk has been previously frozen, the feed/milk needs to be used within 4hours or less. It can be kept on the coldest part of the fridge for no more than 24 hours. 
- If the breastmilk is freshly expressed and put into a sterile container, the baby is to be given the breastmilk within 6-8hours, store in refrigerator until baby needs it. Can only be stored in the fridge for no more than 72 hours. 

- When taking the breast milk out of the freezer and you defrost it in warm water (standing the bottle in a container of lukewarm water and used straight away) for the babies next feed, the breast milk is to be stored in the fridge for 4hours. 

IMPORTANT NOTE: If the baby has begun feeding and doesn't finish the bottle, you are not to keep it; discard the remainder milk. Ensure you recored what the baby has drank if they finish the bottle or not.

Preparing and Giving milk bottles:

• Always wash your hands with soap. It’s also important to make sure you use a clean area to prepare the formula.

• Before making up baby formula, make sure to check the expiry date on the formula tin. Throw away any opened tins of formula after one month.

• Boil fresh tap water in an electric kettle or on the stove top.
• Pour the right amount of cooled, boiled water into the sterilised bottle. Let the water cool down to a safe temperature – lukewarm or around room temperature.
• Using the scoop from the formula tin, measure the right number of scoops into the bottle. Level off each scoop. 
• Seal the bottle with a ring and cap. Tap the bottle gently on the bench so the powder falls into the water. Swirl the bottle gently, then vigorously shake the bottle. This thoroughly mixes the powder and water.
• Take the cap off and replace with a teat.
• Before feeding your baby, test the temperature of the formula by placing a few drops on the inside of your wrist. Make sure the formula isn’t too hot – it should feel just warm.
• Microwaves are not recommended for heating bottles as they warm bottles unevenly and create hot spots in the milk.
• When giving the child a bottle make yourself comfortable, hold the baby/child gently but firmly, tilt the bottle so that the formula fills the neck of the bottle, it’s better for the baby/child to be on a slight incline so any air bubbles rise to the top, making burping easier. 

 Reminders of what NOT to do:

• Bottle-feeding in bed also has several risks for your baby, there are Choking risks.
• Babies who fall asleep while bottle-feeding can draw liquid into their lungs.
• They might then choke on it or inhale it. This is like what happens when you have something ‘go down the wrong way’ 
• If your baby drinks while lying flat, milk can flow into her ear cavity, which can cause ear infections. We are NOT to feed babies laying flat on the floor (Red nose)
• Babies must never be left alone when feeding from a bottle as this carries a risk of choking. Babies and older children should never be given bottles to take to their cots or beds, as this can cause tooth decay from the milk sugars and damage teeth.
• Microwaves are not recommended for heating bottles as they warm bottles unevenly and create hot spots in the milk (DET)

Woodlands will have the responsibility to ensure: 

Management will ensure:

• That the Nominated Supervisor and Educators are aware of the procedures for preparing, heating and storing bottles of formula and breast milk, with having yearly training for 'Sleep safe training'. 
• That children have access to safe drinking water at all times and are regularly offered food and beverages appropriate to their individual needs, with having kettles and bottle warmers in all rooms that require it. 
• Infants over 6 months of age are given small amounts of cooled boiled tap water in addition to breastmilk or formula. 
• Procedures for the safe storage and heating of food provided in bottles is developed.
• Infants and children are not given fruit juice in their bottle due to the increased risk of tooth decay.

A Nominated Supervisor/ Responsible Person will:

• Ensure that Educators implement the procedures for 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 tap water in addition to breastmilk or formula. 
• Ensure Infants and children are not given fruit juice in their bottle due to the increased risk of tooth decay 

Educators will:

• Implement safe food handling practices.
• Seek to provide a supportive environment for breastfeeding. 
• Store all bottles in an appropriate area for food preparation and storage that complies with the food safety standards for kitchens and food preparation areas.
• 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 tap water in addition to breastmilk or formula. 
• Not give Infants and children fruit juice in their bottle due to risk of tooth decay 

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 expression. 
• Be encouraged to supply breast milk in well labelled, multiple small quantities to prevent wastage.  
• Be encouraged to keep formula powder at the service so that the formula can be prepared as required. Tins of formula must be clearly labelled with the child’s name.
• Be asked to provide a labelled bottle(s) for use at the service for children having regular cow’s milk in their bottles, 
• Be encouraged to communicate regularly with educators about children’s bottle and feeding requirements.
• Not put fruit juice in children’s bottles