When assessing whether you comply with HS214

Questions we are likely to ask

• How do you make sure infants under six months and for children 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, the feeding process may be observed.

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.

Feeding your baby infant formula – Ministry of Health

Breast milk storage – Eating for healthy babies and toddlers – Health Ed

Holding infants under six 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).