Information For Caregivers
It takes a village!
Providing human milk is a recommended choice of nutrition for newborns. The chances of providing human milk to baby for an extended period of time is increased if a family has a strong network that supports this feeding decision.
This page contains helpful information that can be shared with partners, family members, nannies, or other caretakers.
Develop a Plan
The best place to begin is a conversation between parents and caregivers about feeding! Here are a few things related to feeding that are also important to discuss with parents:
What will be used to feed if milk runs out
Health information
Important phone numbers, such as the best contact for parents, pediatrician, poison control, local police station, etc.. In an emergency, call 911.
Feeding goals
Where milk and feeding supplies (such as bottles, cleaning tools, bottle warmers) are stored
Wash Your Hands
Always wash your hands with warm, soapy water before preparing bottles or feeding baby.
How much should I feed baby?
Parents and caregivers should have a discussion about how much baby should be eating each feed, especially when separated. This amount is determined by baby’s age and weight, and pediatrician’s recommendations. Store pumped milk in small amounts so that caregivers can feed as baby shows cues, such as sucking on hands, licking lips or turning head.
When Parents Feed Only at Breast or Chest
Some parents may not want to use any bottles when feeding their baby, even when returning to work. Discuss with parents if they would like the caregiver to bring baby to work at certain times to feed or if they will be returning home during breaks to feed.
Storage Guidelines
Below are recommendations for storage times when storing pumped milk. Developed from The Academy of Breastfeeding Medicine’s Clinical Protocol #8, “Human Milk Storage Information for Home Use for Full-Term Infants, Revised 2017”
Freshly Expressed: 4-6 hours
Thawed in Fridge: 24 hours
Thawed on the Counter: 2 hours
Stored in Refrigerator: 3-6 days
Stored in Freezer: 3-6 months
Stored in Deep Freezer: 6-12 months
Stored in a Cooler Pack: 24 hours
Left Over from a Feed: 1 hour, if milk has touched baby’s lips
Thawing Milk
Never thaw milk in a microwave. If milk is frozen, sit the bottle in a bowl of warm water or use a warmer. You can also move the milk from the freezer to the fridge to thaw and use later. See above for thawing in the fridge.
How to Feed a Bottle
If parents are separated from baby during feeding times, the baby will have to drink milk by bottle. Some babies already drink pumped milk by bottle, while others feed directly at the chest or breast more often with occasional bottles. In both situations, baby should eat in a way that allows him or her to pace, or control, the feed. Below is a great video from The Milk Mob on how to let baby pace a bottle feed.
Do not
thaw milk in the microwave
mix anything into milk, unless discussed with parent and pediatrician
prop bottle when feeding