How do you give breast milk to daycare?

Preparing Breast Milk for Daycare
As a breastfeeding mother returning to work, ensuring your baby receives breast milk while at daycare can be a smooth process with the right preparation. Here’s a comprehensive guide on how to effectively provide breast milk to your daycare provider.
1. Understanding Your Baby’s Needs
Before you start preparing breast milk for daycare, it’s essential to know how much milk your baby typically consumes. On average, infants consume about 25 ounces of breast milk per day, but this can vary based on age and individual needs. It’s advisable to consult with your pediatrician or lactation consultant to determine the appropriate amount for your child.
2. Pumping and Storing Breast Milk
When pumping breast milk, ensure that you use clean and sterilized equipment. After pumping, store the milk in BPA-free bottles or breast milk storage bags. Label each container with the date and time of pumping to keep track of freshness. Breast milk can be stored in the refrigerator for up to four days, in the freezer for about six months, and in a deep freezer for up to a year.
3. Packing for Daycare
When sending breast milk to daycare, it’s crucial to pack it properly to maintain its quality. Here are some tips:
– Use Insulated Bags: Place the milk containers in an insulated cooler bag with ice packs to keep them cold during transport. This is especially important if the daycare does not have immediate refrigeration.
– Portion Control: Divide the milk into smaller portions (2-4 ounces) to avoid waste. This allows caregivers to thaw only what is needed for each feeding.
– Instructions for Caregivers: Include clear instructions for daycare staff on how to thaw and warm the milk. Breast milk should be thawed in the refrigerator or under warm running water, and never in a microwave, as this can destroy nutrients.
4. Communicating with Your Daycare Provider
Establishing a good line of communication with your daycare provider is vital. Discuss your breastfeeding goals and how you plan to provide milk. Ensure they are familiar with handling breast milk, including storage, thawing, and feeding techniques. Providing a written guide can be helpful for caregivers.
5. Maintaining a Steady Supply
To ensure you have enough milk for daycare, consider these strategies:
– Pump Regularly: Try to pump at the same times you would typically feed your baby. This helps maintain your milk supply.
– Build a Stash: Start pumping and storing milk a few weeks before returning to work to build a reserve.
– Stay Hydrated and Nourished: Your diet and hydration levels can impact milk production, so be sure to take care of yourself.
Conclusion
Providing breast milk to daycare is entirely feasible with proper planning and communication. By understanding your baby’s needs, preparing and storing milk correctly, and maintaining an open dialogue with your daycare provider, you can ensure that your little one continues to receive the benefits of breast milk even while you are apart. This approach not only supports your baby’s health but also helps ease the transition for both you and your child during this significant change.

How much breast milk should I take to daycare?

Breastfed babies need 1-1.5 ounces of milk for every hour you are away from them. If you are sending 12 oz for an 8 hour day, that should be plenty. If you are away from your baby 9-10 hours maybe you could pump occasionally on your days off to send 15 oz max for a 10 hour day.

How to thaw breast milk for daycare?

Thaw milk under lukewarm running water, in a container of lukewarm water, or overnight in the refrigerator. Never thaw or heat milk in a microwave. Microwaving destroys nutrients and creates hot spots, which can burn a baby’s mouth.

How much breastmilk should I leave for babysitter?

Don’t leave more than 3-4 ounces of milk in bottles or storage bags. Babies are unlikely to eat more than that per feeding, according to O’Brien. Feed the baby every two to three hours. Parents should nurse right before leaving, says O’Brien.

How to prepare breastmilk in childcare?

Preparing expressed breastmilk

1. When thawing breastmilk, always use the oldest milk first, and just heat the amount you need. You can always heat up more, but once it has been heated up, any milk left must be thrown out.
2. Never refreeze thawed breastmilk.

How should I send breast milk to daycare?

Logistics of sending pumped milk with LO to daycare

• Send chilled breastmilk bottles portioned out per feed (I will most likely send milk pumped from day before so no need to freeze I guess?)
• Pack bottles in cooler bag with ice packs
• Ask daycare if I can store frozen milk in their freezer as a back up

How do you not waste breast milk at daycare?

Keep a few extra 1oz bags of breastmilk in the freezer or fridge. That way, if your baby’s caregiver really needs to offer your baby a little bit more, it is a small amount and won’t go to waste. Use the milk calculator to figure out how much your baby will need per bottle.

How to pack bottles for daycare?

Packing the Bottles
Clean and dry the bottles before putting breast milk in them for daycare. Fill the bottles with breast milk the previous evening or, if you want, the same morning. Write the baby’s name on the bottles. If you prepped the bottle the night before, place the filled bottles in a cooler in the fridge.

How long is breast milk good for after thawing?

Using thawed breastmilk
Milk thawed in the refrigerator must be used within 24 hours. Milk thawed to room temperature or warmer should ideally be used in 1 to 2 hours. If your baby didn’t finish the bottle, the leftover breastmilk can still be used within 2 hours after the baby is done feeding.

What is the fastest and safest way to thaw breast milk?

To thaw more quickly or to heat refrigerated milk, hold the container of milk under warm running water. Or place it in a cup, pot, bowl, or basin of warm water. Don’t thaw milk in very hot water or in the microwave. This decreases some of the healthy properties of the milk.

How do daycares handle breastmilk?

Most daycares will want you bring in prepped bottles that are ready to feed. Some may ask you to bring in clean bottles and bags of frozen milk. Other daycares may want you to bring in one clean bottle for feeding and Thermos-type container of milk that they will pour into the bottle.