Policy Content

Breastfeeding provides important nutrition and health benefits for infants and children. The National Health and Medical Research Council (NHMRC) recommends exclusive breastfeeding until around 6 months of age, with appropriate complementary foods introduced from around 6 months while breastfeeding continues until 12 months of age and beyond, for as long as the mother and child desire. 

The Akidamy respects and supports families who choose to breastfeed and recognises the importance of providing a supportive and welcoming environment for breastfeeding to continue when a child commences care. This includes supporting parents to provide expressed breastmilk for their child while attending the service and, where requested, providing a suitable space for breastfeeding or expressing breastmilk.  

The Akidamy recognises that every child and family has individual feeding needs, routines and preferences. Educators will work in partnership with families to understand and respond to each child's individual feeding cues, patterns and needs, while following safe practices for the handling, storage and preparation of expressed breastmilk in accordance with the Service's Bottle Safety and Hygienic Preparation Policy.

Our Service is committed to providing a respectful, inclusive and non-judgemental environment for all families, regardless of their chosen method of infant feeding.  

 

QUALITY AREA 2: Children's Health and Safety

2.1.2  2.1.3

Health practices and procedures   Healthy lifestyle

Effective illness and injury management and hygiene practices are promoted and implemented.  Healthy eating and physical activity are promoted and appropriate for each child.

Purpose 

The Akidamy recognises the importance of breastfeeding and expressed breastmilk for infants and is committed to supporting families who choose to breastfeed while their child attends the service.

The purpose of this policy is to ensure that families are provided with a welcoming, respectful and supportive environment to continue breastfeeding and/or provide expressed breastmilk, and that educators understand their responsibilities in supporting each child's individual feeding needs, routines and cues.

The Akidamy will work in partnership with families to develop and maintain individual feeding arrangements that reflect the family's preferences and the child's needs, while ensuring that expressed breastmilk is handled safely in accordance with the Service's Bottle Safety and Hygienic Preparation Policy and current Australian health and food-safety guidance.

Our Service recognises that families may choose different methods of infant feeding and is committed to providing respectful, inclusive and non-judgemental support to all families. 

Scope 

This policy applies to all children and families attending The Akidamy and to all persons involved in providing and supporting education and care at the Service, including the Approved Provider, management, Nominated Supervisor, Responsible Person, educators, students and volunteers.

All persons within the scope of this policy are expected to support The Akidamy's commitment to providing a respectful, inclusive and supportive environment for breastfeeding and expressed breastmilk, and to follow the relevant procedures outlined in this policy and the Service's Bottle Safety and Hygienic Preparation Policy.

Legislation and Regulatory Framework

The Akidamy will ensure this policy is implemented in accordance with applicable Western Australian legislation, regulations, standards and current Australian health guidance, including:

• Education and Care Services National Law (WA)
• Education and Care Services National Law Regulations (WA)
• National Quality Standard (NQS), particularly Quality Area 2 – Children's Health and Safety, including Elements 2.1.2 and 2.1.3
• Sex Discrimination Act 1984 (Cth), including protections relating to breastfeeding and expressing breastmilk
• Food Act 2008 (WA)
• Food Regulations 2009 (WA)
• applicable requirements of the Australia New Zealand Food Standards Code
• current guidance from the National Health and Medical Research Council (NHMRC) and Australian Breastfeeding Association (ABA) relating to breastfeeding and the safe handling of expressed breastmilk.

The Akidamy will review this policy and associated procedures regularly and when relevant legislation, regulations, standards or health guidance are updated.

Implementation 

The Akidamy is committed to supporting families who choose to breastfeed and to providing a welcoming and inclusive environment where breastfeeding and the provision of expressed breastmilk can continue while children attend the Service.
Breastfeeding support will be provided in partnership with families and will take into consideration each child's individual feeding needs, routines, developmental stage, feeding cues and family preferences.

Nominated Supervisor / Responsible Person will ensure:

• families are provided with information about the Service's support for breastfeeding and expressed breastmilk during enrolment and orientation.
• families are informed about the arrangements for bringing expressed breastmilk to the Service, including labelling, transportation and the provision of clean, labelled bottles
• a clean, comfortable and suitable space is available for parents who wish to breastfeed or express breastmilk at the Service.
• families are encouraged to discuss their child's individual feeding patterns, routines, cues and preferences with educators.
• an Individual Feeding Plan is developed in consultation with the family where required and is reviewed and updated when the child's feeding needs or family preferences change.
• the individual feeding plan includes arrangements for situations where there is insufficient expressed breastmilk to meet the child's needs while the child is attending the Service.
• educators understand their responsibilities in supporting breastfeeding and responding appropriately to children's feeding cues.
• educators follow the Service's Bottle Safety and Hygienic Preparation Policy when receiving, storing, preparing, warming and handling expressed breastmilk.
• families are informed that expressed breastmilk must be provided and labelled in accordance with the Service's procedures.
• breastfeeding families are treated respectfully and without discrimination.
• educators are supported to communicate openly and respectfully with families about breastfeeding, expressed breastmilk and their child's feeding patterns
• current Australian guidance relating to breastfeeding and the safe handling of expressed breastmilk is made available to educators and incorporated into relevant training and professional development.
• the Service maintains a supportive breastfeeding culture and regularly reviews this policy and associated procedures to ensure they remain consistent with current Australian guidance and regulatory requirements. 
  
  Breastfeeding at the Service
  The Akidamywelcomes and supports parents who wish to breastfeed their child while the child is attending the Service.
  • Parents are welcome to attend The Akidamy at any time during the day to breastfeed their child.
  • Parents do not need to make an appointment or arrange a specific feeding time with the Service.
  • Educators will support the parent and child to breastfeed in a comfortable, clean and suitable space.
  • Parents will be supported to breastfeed in the area of their choice within the Service, subject to reasonable considerations for the privacy, safety and comfort of the parent, child and other children.
  • Educators will respect the privacy and choices of breastfeeding parents and will not discourage, delay or unnecessarily interrupt breastfeeding except where intervention is required for health, safety or emergency reasons. 
  • Educators will communicate with families about the child's feeding patterns and cues and will support the child's usual breastfeeding routine as communicated by the family. 
  • Where a parent is unable to attend to breastfeed, the Service will support the family to provide expressed breastmilk in accordance with the Bottle Safety and Hygienic Preparation Policy.

Educators will:

• welcome and support parents who choose to breastfeed their child at The Akidamy and provide a clean, comfortable and suitable environment for breastfeeding or expressing breastmilk.
• respect the privacy, choices and preferences of breastfeeding parents and support parents who attend the Service to breastfeed their child at any time during the day.
• work in partnership with families to understand each child's individual feeding routine, preferences, feeding cues and needs.
• follow each child's individual feeding plan and respond appropriately to the child's hunger, fullness and other feeding cues.
• support responsive feeding practices and recognise that children may feed at different rates and may take breaks during a feeding session.
• follow the Service's Bottle Safety and Hygienic Preparation Policy when receiving, storing, transferring, warming and handling expressed breastmilk.
• wash and dry hands thoroughly before handling breastmilk, bottles, teats or feeding equipment; gloves are not required for routine breastmilk preparation or feeding unless there is a specific risk of contact with blood or other body fluids.
• ensure that breastmilk and feeding equipment are handled in a way that prevents contamination.
• provide families with daily information about their child's milk intake, including the amount consumed where this can be reasonably determined, and any relevant feeding observations.
• communicate regularly and respectfully with families about their child's feeding patterns, routines, cues and any changes observed during the day.
• promptly communicate with families if a child is consistently taking significantly more or less milk than usual, is refusing feeds, or there are other concerns regarding the child's feeding.
• maintain confidentiality and respect family preferences when discussing a child's feeding arrangements.
• provide families with information about appropriate breastfeeding support services when requested or when a concern is outside the educator's knowledge or role.
• refer families to appropriate health professionals or breastfeeding support services, such as the Australian Breastfeeding Association or an appropriately qualified lactation consultant, when required.
• maintain current knowledge and understanding of the Service's breastfeeding and expressed breastmilk procedures through induction, training and professional development.

Families will:

• be informed during enrolment and orientation of the Service's requirements for the safe transportation, labelling and storage of expressed breastmilk.
• ensure expressed breastmilk is brought to The Akidamy in a sealed breastmilk storage bag.
• ensure each breastmilk bag or container is clearly labelled with the child's full name, date the breastmilk was expressed, and the date the breastmilk is brought to the Service
• transport expressed breastmilk to the Service in an insulated/cool bag and hand it directly to an educator on arrival.
• provide clean bottles suitable for their child's use at the Service, with each bottle clearly labelled with the child's name.
• provide sufficient bottles and expressed breastmilk to meet their child's anticipated feeding needs for the day.
• inform educators of their child's individual feeding routine, preferences, feeding cues and any specific instructions relating to breastfeeding or expressed breastmilk.
• communicate with educators about changes to their child's feeding patterns, routines or needs.
• be informed that they are welcome to attend The Akidamy at any time during the day to breastfeed their child.
• collect unused bottles and feeding equipment at the end of the child's attendance, with the Service rinsing bottles after use in accordance with the Bottle Safety and Hygienic Preparation Policy.

Staff and Educator Training

The Akidamy will:

• familiarise all new educators and staff with this Breastfeeding Policy and the Service's Bottle Safety and Hygienic Preparation Policy as part of their induction
• provide appropriate training and information to educators responsible for infants and young children about breastfeeding support, responsive feeding and recognising children's individual feeding cues.
• ensure educators understand their responsibilities when receiving, storing, transferring, warming and handling expressed breastmilk.
• ensure educators understand and follow the Service's procedures for the safe handling of breastmilk, bottles, teats and feeding equipment.
• ensure educators understand that gloves are not required for routine breastmilk preparation or feeding and that thorough hand hygiene is required before handling breastmilk, bottles, teats and feeding equipment.
• support educators to follow each child's Individual Feeding Plan and family preferences, including where a child does not accept a bottle or has different feeding patterns or needs
• ensure educators understand that any alternative feeding arrangements must be discussed and agreed with the child's family and documented where appropriate.
• ensure educators understand the importance of responsive feeding and supporting children to feed according to their individual hunger and satiety cues.
• ensure educators work in partnership with families to document and regularly review each child's Individual Feeding Plan, including feeding routines, preferences, cues and relevant family instructions
• ensure educators do not provide clinical or professional breastfeeding advice outside their qualifications and responsibilities
• provide ongoing training and professional development where required to maintain current knowledge and safe practices relating to breastfeeding, responsive feeding and the safe handling of expressed breastmilk.

Support for Educators and Staff Who Are Breastfeeding

The Akidamy is committed to supporting employees who choose to breastfeed or express breastmilk for their child.
The Akidamy will:

• make reasonable efforts to support an employee's decision to continue breastfeeding or expressing breastmilk when returning to or working at the Service.
• discuss breastfeeding and expressing arrangements with the employee and, where reasonably practicable, provide flexibility to accommodate breastfeeding or expressing during working hours.
• work with the employee to consider appropriate arrangements that support their breastfeeding needs while maintaining the safe and effective operation of the Service and appropriate supervision of children.
• provide access to a clean, comfortable and suitable space for an employee to breastfeed or express breastmilk.
• support employees to store expressed breastmilk safely in accordance with the Service's procedures.
• respect the privacy, dignity and confidentiality of employees who breastfeed or express breastmilk.
• ensure employees are not treated less favourably because they are breastfeeding or expressing breastmilk.
• review arrangements with the employee as required to accommodate changes in their breastfeeding or expressing needs.

Resources

The following current Australian resources are used to support the implementation and review of this policy:

• Australian Breastfeeding Association (ABA) – information and resources for breastfeeding families and early childhood education and care services, including guidance on supporting breastfeeding and the safe handling of expressed breastmilk.
• Australian Breastfeeding Association – Breastfeeding Friendly ECEC Service Recognition – information about recognition for ECEC services, including resources, posters, educator learning materials and guidance for developing breastfeeding-friendly practices.
• National Health and Medical Research Council (NHMRC) – Staying Healthy: Preventing infectious diseases in early childhood education and care services, 6th Edition (2024) – guidance for ECEC services on infection prevention and the safe handling, storage and preparation of expressed breastmilk.
• Australian Government Department of Health, Disability and Ageing – Breastfeeding and Infant Nutrition – current Australian government information and guidance relating to breastfeeding and infant nutrition.
• Australian Breastfeeding Association – Using expressed breastmilk in early childhood education and care settings – guidance for ECEC services on receiving, storing, preparing and providing expressed breastmilk.
• Australian Breastfeeding Association – How your early childhood education and care centre can support you – information about supporting breastfeeding families in ECEC settings and breastfeeding rights.

Sources and References

Australian Breastfeeding Association (ABA). Using expressed breastmilk in early childhood education and care settings. Current guidance for supporting breastfeeding families and the safe storage, preparation and feeding of expressed breastmilk in ECEC services.
Australian Breastfeeding Association (ABA). Storing expressed breastmilk. Current guidance on the safe storage, transport, thawing and handling of expressed breastmilk.
Australian Breastfeeding Association (ABA). Preparing expressed breastmilk. Current guidance on hand hygiene, preparation, warming and feeding expressed breastmilk.
Australian Breastfeeding Association (ABA). Breastfeeding Friendly Early Childhood Education and Care Service Recognition. Resources and guidance for ECEC services supporting breastfeeding families.
Australian Children's Education & Care Quality Authority (ACECQA). National Quality Standard – Quality Area 2: Children's Health and Safety, Element 2.1.3: Healthy lifestyle. Guidance relating to infant feeding, breastfeeding and the safe storage and heating of breastmilk.
National Health and Medical Research Council (NHMRC). (2012, current with amendments). Infant Feeding Guidelines: Information for health workers. Australian Government.
National Health and Medical Research Council (NHMRC). (2024). Staying Healthy: Preventing infectious diseases in early childhood education and care services (6th ed.). Australian Government.
Australian Government Department of Health and Aged Care. Infant feeding and nutrition resources and current Australian guidance.
The Akidamy. Bottle Safety and Hygienic Preparation Policy. Current Service policy and procedures relating to the safe handling, storage, preparation and feeding of breastmilk and infant formula.
All sources will be reviewed as part of the policy review process and updated when relevant Australian guidance, legislation, regulations or quality standards change.