Criterion HS117
Applies only to services licensed for under 2-year-olds.
Infants under the age of 6 months and other children unable to drink independently are held semi-upright when being fed. Any infant milk food given to a child under the age of 12 months is of a type approved by the child's parent.
Guidance
How to show you are complying
You need to make sure that babies under 6 months and toddlers under 2 who can’t feed themselves are held in a semi-upright position during bottle feeds. This means that infants and children who can't drink on their own should not be ‘propped up' (such as the baby lying holding a bottle with a pillow underneath their head) to drink or be left unattended by adults.
Holding infants and children who are unable to feed themselves independently semi-upright, supports digestion, prevents the risk of choking and allows one-one engagement during this key care-giving routine.
It is important to make sure you maintain adequate staffing levels to meet bottle-feeding requirements, so that infants do not experience delays in being fed.
Provision and approval of infant milk
If your service supplies formula, get parental approval for the brand/type before using it. If the usual brand is not available, get approval for any substitute before use. Follow manufacturer instructions when preparing infant formula.
If parents supply expressed breastmilk or infant formula for their child, then this is what will need to be given. If parents provide pre-made formula, it should be refrigerated and used within 4 hours of being prepared.
When assessing whether you comply with HS117
Questions we are likely to ask
How do you make sure infants under 6 months and children under 2 who are unable to feed themselves are held when being feed?
If your service provides formula, what is your process for seeking parental approval for the brand and type supplied?
We are likely to look at, measure or count
If an infant is being fed during our visit, observe feeding in progress.
Tools to help you comply
The tools below are here to support you, but you do not have to use them. You can use other tools or methods that work better for your service.
Infant formula
The Ministry of Health has produced a publication on infant formula.
Feeding your baby infant formula HE1306 – HealthEd
Breastmilk storage
Eating for healthy babies and toddlers | Ngā kai tōtika mō te hunga kōhu – HealthEd
Holding infants under 6 months and children who cannot feed themselves in a semi-upright position during bottle feeding supports their safety, digestion and responsive care. Giving infant milk approved by parents respects their choices and meets individual dietary needs.
Doing more than the minimum can shape better outcomes for children. Here are some ideas or examples you might like to consider.
If a child runs out of infant milk, you can give their parent or caregiver a call to let them know. You might offer a suitable substitute if one is available and agreed upon. It’s a good idea to make a note of the conversation—just to keep a clear record of what was discussed and agreed.
Developing a procedure for hygienic preparation of bottles will help ensure safe food handling practices are consistently implemented including:
sterilisation of bottles
how bottles are stored and parent provided bottles are named and pieces kept together
handwashing
timing of preparation – as close as possible to feeding time
following instructions for mixing formula (as different brands use different size scoops and volumes of water).
Providing a comfortable, adult-sized chair supports caregiving interactions during bottle feeding.