Navigating Nursery Policies for breastfed babies

Before I became a Lactation Consultant working in private practice, I worked first in nurseries and then as a nanny in London, supporting busy working mothers in demanding roles for companies such as Goldman Sachs at Merrill Lynch. I saw firsthand how the long and irregular hours and travel made parenting difficult.

Running breastfeeding café, I have the pleasure of follow families from a range of backgrounds ongoing – gives me a great insight into their challenges and needs as their babies grow. I support them with navigating their return to work and help them to advocate for their needs with their employers and childcare providers.

Returning to work as a breastfeeding parent

Many of the families I work with tell me that the end of parental leave is a worrying transition with lots to consider, and for families who breastfeed the return to work brings extra concerns and logistics. 

When looking round nurseries or doing settling in days at the childminder several families have been told:

“You’ll need to cut back on breastfeeding before your child starts here”

“You should breastfeed less because they are not eating their meals here”

 “We only give formula and don’t accept breastmilk”

Or 

“We only give formula and don’t accept breastmilk after a year”

 “We only give milk in bottles”

 “…but your baby will not be breastfeeding by the time they are 14 months of course?”

I genuinely believe that these comments come from a place of well-meaning ignorance. Breastfeeding rates in the UK are comparatively low globally, with it being uncommon for babies beyond six months to still be breastfeeding. This reality means that many childcare environments lack familiarity and training with the unique needs of breastfed babies.

Many of the staff have never breastfed and may well be unaware that some of the babies & toddlers in their care breastfeed at home.

How to communicate with your childcare provider

Let’s delve into what parents should consider when communicating with childcare settings for their breastfed baby:

I’m based in London where I appreciate that lots of families have chosen their childcare long before breastfeeding was even established, and I know that’s true in lots of other areas too. So in this article I’ll aim to share some prompts to discuss with your childcarer or childcare setting. For many of these there is no wrong or right answer, just an opportunity to broker a plan which best suits your individual family, and to anticipate any practicalities which might come up.

What’s the current landscape of breastfeeding policies in UK Nurseries?

Breastfeeding baby policies, although more commonly associated with formal childcare settings like daycares and nurseries, are pertinent for childminders and nannies as well. While more prevalent in countries like the US, where shorter maternity leave and higher breastfeeding rates necessitate such policies, every childcare setting should ideally have one. 

Breastfeeding baby policies, although more commonly associated with formal childcare settings like daycares and nurseries, are pertinent for childminders and nannies as well.

Key questions to ask your Nursery

When evaluating nursery options or planning settling-in sessions for your breastfed baby, it’s wise to open a  discussion with your provider. Here are some questions worth considering (and potentially embedding into a formal contract):

1. Milk Handling Procedures: Inquire about how the nursery plans to store and label pumped milk. Will they accept supplies daily or for several days? What happens to leftover milk? Understanding their procedures ensures your child’s milk is handled appropriately.
2. Staff Training: Are nursery staff trained in handling breast milk and understanding the needs of breastfed babies? 
3. Wrong Milk Procedures: What protocols are in place if your baby is given formula or another baby’s pumped milk? Human error is natural, so it’s essential for nurseries to have clear procedures for such scenarios.
4. Feeding Practices: Do you prefer the nursery to offer feeds on cue rather than on a schedule? Do the staff understand the importance of responsive bottle feeding?
5. Portion Sizes: Ensure staff understand that breastfed babies often consume smaller portions compared to formula-fed infants.
6. Paced Feeding Method: Discuss the importance of paced feeding, ensuring gentle bottle feeding to mimic breastfeeding.
7. Solid Foods vs. Breast Milk: Share your preferences regarding prioritising solids versus breastmilk.
8. Handling Delays: What measures will the nursery take if you’re late or unreachable, and your expressed breast milk runs out? Would you be comfortable with them offering formula as a last resort? Will they keep an “emergency stash” of your milk in their freezer? If your baby is signalling for a feed but you are due to arrive soon, do you prefer the staff distract them, give them a small portion, or a full feed?
9. Breastfeeding facilities: Is there a comfortable space within the nursery for breastfeeding sessions? Breastfeeding at pick up & drop off can support the child to transition, and reduce the need for you to pump at work. And did you know that because of the BALT & GALT immunity system, when you breastfeed in the child care setting your breast milk makes bespoke protection against the pathogens in that environment?

Nurturing breastfeeding support in nurseries:

Navigating breastfeeding support in nursery settings requires proactive communication between parents and childcare providers. By asking the right questions and clarifying expectations, parents can ensure that their breastfed babies receive the care they need while in childcare.

I’d love to know what worked for your family? What are your biggest concerns about the end of parental leave?

Disclosure: This article is for informational purposes only and does not constitute medical advice. Please consult with a healthcare professional for personalized guidance on breastfeeding and childcare.