Blackmans Bay Childrens Services

Bottle Warming Policy (Mountain View Childcare Centre)

Policy Number 3.5

Links to Education & Care Services National Regulations: 77

Rationale Health authorities warn that a microwave should never be used to heat up a child’s

bottle as they heat unevenly and cause ‘hotspots’ that could seriously burn the child’s mouth. Breast milk looses its antibodies if heated in the microwave.

Policy Blackmans Bay Children’s Services has a duty of care to ensure that all children attending the service are safe and their food and drinks are stored, handled, prepared and served in keeping with safety advice from recognised health and safety authorities.

Practices:

All staff shall be made aware of the risks involved in heating bottles in the microwave.

All bottles are to be stored in the fridge at all times until heating is to commence.

Frozen breast milk is to be de-frosted in the fridge until heating.

Formula Bottles are to be pre made at home and placed in fridge as soon as possible on arrival to centre.

For occupational health and safety reasons while bottles are heating in their containers they are to be placed in a sink where possible or as far from all bench edges and work spaces as possible.

Bottles are not to be re-heated at any time.

If bottles are not used after 30 minutes milk is to be discarded.

Literature is updated and distributed to staff as required to support ‘best practice’.

Bottle Warming in the Buchan room:

Ensure there are no children in the kitchen area.

Heat bottles in hot water containers provided

Get the required bottle/bottles out of the fridge and place them in the containers in the sink area.

After three minutes, shake the bottle to ensure even heat distribution. Check temperature by dropping a little of the milk onto your wrist. If not warm enough put the bottle back into the jug and check at one minute intervals until warm.

Bottle Warming in the Butler Rooms:

Collect the hot water containers from the main kitchen area.

Collect the children’s bottles from the fridge in the butler 2 room and place them in the container.

Place hot water in containers and leave to stand.

….2/-

Blackmans Bay Childrens Services

Bottle Warming Policy cont….. (Mountain View Childcare Centre)

After three minutes, shake the bottles to ensure even heat distribution. Check temperature by dropping a little of the milk onto your wrist. If not warm enough put the bottle back into the jug and check at one minute intervals.

Links to other Policies

Nutrition

Food Safety

Occupational Health and Safety

Developed in Consultation with Staff, Parents and Board of Directors

References Better Health channel www.betterhealth.vic.gov.au Putting Children First Newsletter of the National Childcare Accreditation Council Inc. Staying Healthy in childcare National Health and Medical Research Council “Protecting Tiny Tummies and Sensitive Systems” www. foodsafety.asn.au Reviewed August 2007 Next Review August 2010 Reviewed June 2009 – inclusion of general practices section including storage of breast milk and heating of breast milk in rationale section Next Review June 2012

Review: This policy will be updated when:

Changes are made to regulations or legislation

We become aware of information indicating the best practice requires us to make alterations to our existing policy.

As part of the services normal policy review cycle of three years.

Blackmans Bay Childrens Services

Bottle Warming Procedure (Ocean View Childcare Centre)

Policy Number 3.5 Links to Education & Care Services National Regulations: 77 Rationale Health authorities warn that a microwave should never be used to heat up a

child’s bottle as they heat unevenly and cause ‘hotspots’ that could seriously burn the child’s mouth. Breast Milk looses its antibodies if heated in the microwave.

Policy Blackmans Bay Children’s Services has a duty of care to ensure that all children attending the service are safe and their food and drinks are stored, handled, prepared and served in keeping with safety advice from recognised health and safety authorities.

Practices:

All staff shall be made aware of the risks involved in heating bottles in the microwave.

All bottles are to be stored in the fridge at all times until heating is to commence.

All staff are required to handle and heat bottles in hot water containers provided.

Frozen breast milk is to be de-frosted in the fridge until heating.

All formula bottles are to be pre-made at home and stored in fridge upon arrival to centre.

For occupational health and safety reasons while bottles are heating in their containers they are to be as far from all bench edges and workspaces as possible.

Bottles are not to be re-heated at any time.

If bottles are not used after 30 minutes milk is to be discarded.

Literature is updated and distributed to staff as required to support ‘best practice’. Bottle Warming in the Sunshine Room:

Bottles to be stored in fridge in the kitchen area

Bottles to be heated are to be placed in jug inside container on the kitchen bench beside the kettle.

Place hot water in container and leave to stand.

After 3 minutes, shake the bottles to ensure even heat distribution. Check temperature by dropping a little of the milk onto your wrist. If not warm enough place bottle back into jug and check at one minute intervals.

….2/-

Blackmans Bay Childrens Services

Bottle Warming Procedure cont… (Ocean View Childcare Centre)

Links to other Policies

Nutrition

Food Safety

Occupational Health and Safety

Developed in Consultation with Staff, Parents and Board of Directors

References Better Health channel www.betterhealth.vic.gov.au Putting Children First Newsletter of the National Childcare Accreditation Council Inc. Staying Healthy in childcare National Health and Medical Research Council “Protecting Tiny Tummies and Sensitive Systems” www.foodsafety.asn.au Reviewed June 2009 Next Review June 2012

Review: This policy will be updated when:

Changes are made to regulations or legislation

We become aware of information indicating the best practice requires us to make alterations to our existing policy.

As part of the services normal policy review cycle of three years.