Supporting a mother’s breastfeeding journey when she returns to work is one of the best things we can do for bub. Every drop of breast milk helps the baby have the best start by providing optimal growth and development. This liquid gold is jam-packed with nutrients that are perfectly tailored to each baby’s need. For this reason, we need to be extra careful when handling and preparing breast milk within a childcare setting. Our Food Safety experts discuss the importance of food safety with breast milk and ensure we keep our vulnerable little ones safe and give them the best quality milk.
Food Safety tips when handling expressed breast milk
Babies are particularly vulnerable as their immune systems are not fully developed. Breast milk brought into a childcare centre must be handled correctly to remain safe for babies to consume. Always check with your Food Safety Program to ensure you are meeting your centre’s requirements. However, these are some general food safety tips for accepting, storing, warming and cleaning breast milk within a childcare centre.
Tips for Childcare Centres and educators
Parents to provide the thawed breast milk
Thawed expressed breast milk that is ready to go for the baby’s next feed is the best way to supply milk to a centre.
Supply breast milk in clean and sterilized bottles.
Breast milk must be transported in a cooler bag or esky with an ice brick.
Each bottle must be labelled with their child’s name and the date expressed.
Breast milk can be stored frozen at home for months (depending on the temperature of the freezer, see storage guidelines below) which is great for busy mums. But in a childcare setting, thawed is better.
Place bottles in the fridge immediately on arrival at the centre
Parents must sign record “Register of Milk Brought to the Centre” upon arrival with the milk handed to staff for immediate labelling and cold storage procedures to take place. Breast milk can be stored in the fridge for 48 hours and at room temperature for 4 hours. It’s always best to store bottles in the back of the main part of the fridge until feeding time. Never store breast milk in the door of the fridge as the opening and closing of the door will fluctuate the temperature.
How to warm expressed breast milk
Before preparing the breast milk, don’t forget to wash hands thoroughly with soap and warm water and dry hands thoroughly. Do not heat the breast milk directly on the stove or in the microwave, as this can destroy the nutrients and create hot spots where some parts of the milk are hotter than other parts – the heat is not evenly distributed.
Warm bottles of expressed breast milk by standing bottles upright in warm water (not hot) for no longer than 15 minutes.
Swirl bottles occasionally to help the milk heat evenly and to mix the fat, which may have separated.
Test the temperature of milk before feeding (it should be no hotter than body temperature)
If the thawed breast milk is still slightly frozen, place the container under cold running water and gradually increase the water temperature until the milk becomes liquid and then warm as per the instructions above.
Breast milk doesn’t have to be warmed, and it can be served at room temperature or cold. It will depend on the child and their preference, so it’s best to check with the parents.
Once breast milk is brought to room temperature or warmed, it must be used within 2 hours or thrown out. Throw away any leftover milk at the end of each feed and at the end of each day and return bottles and teats to parents for cleaning and sterilizing.
Tips for parents
First thing first, always wash your hands with soap and water thoroughly before expressing or handling breast milk.
Storage tips for parents
Use breast milk storage bags or clean, food-grade containers to store expressed breast milk.
Clearly label the breast milk with the date it was expressed and your child’s name.
If you don’t think you will use freshly expressed breast milk within 4 days, freeze it right away. This will help to protect the quality of the breast milk.
Breast milk storage guidelines
Breast milk | Room temperature | Refrigerator | Freezer |
|---|---|---|---|
Freshly expressed into container | 6 to 8 hours (26°C or lower) If refrigeration is available, store milk there | No more than 72 hours Store at the back of the fridge, where it is coldest | 2 weeks in freezer compartment inside refrigerator (-15°C) 3 months in freezer section of refrigerator with separate door (-18°C) 6 to 12 months in deep freeze (-20°C) |
Previously frozen - thawed in refrigerator but not yet warmed | 4 hours or less (i.e. the next feeding) | Store in refrigerator 24 hours | Do not refreeze |
Thawed outside refrigerator in warm water | For completion of feeding | Hold for 4 hours or until next feeding | Do not refreeze |
Baby has begun feeding | Only for completion of feeding, then discard | Discard | Discard |
Safe Thawing of Breast milk for parents
The quality of breast milk can decrease over time, so always thaw the oldest breast milk first. Remember first in, first out. Breast milk can be thawed in the refrigerator overnight, or under lukewarm running water.
Never thaw or heat breast milk in a microwave. Microwaving can destroy nutrients and create hot spots, which can burn your baby’s mouth.
If you thaw breast milk in the refrigerator, use it within 24 hours. Start counting the 24 hours when the breast milk is completely thawed, not from the time when you took it out of the freezer.
Once breast milk is brought to room temperature or warmed, use it within 2 hours.
And remember, never refreeze breast milk after it has thawed.
We’re here to help you
Women need plenty of support to breastfed. Workplace challenges remain the most common reason why mothers never breastfeed or stop breastfeeding earlier than planned. It can be scary for mother’s returning to work and for educators handling breast milk, but we’re here to support you both.
If you don’t have a “Register of Milk Brought in” record form, or you need a new Food Safety Program or need more food Safety training, our Food Safety experts are here to help you. We specialise in all Food Safety matters for Class 1 food premises who serve and prepare food for our vulnerable Australians (i.e. the elderly and very young).
Our Dietitians have put together a list of nutrition tips for breastfeeding mothers, as you can imagine it’s no easy task creating this gold standard for infant nutrition. Share these tips with your breastfeeding or expecting mums, and they’re always welcome to reach out to our Dietitians for a personalised support too.