Instruction on the use of infant formula in Baby-Friendly™ Hospitals
 

Rationale for health care professionals:

The Baby-Friendly™ Initiative's Global Criteria for assessing Step 3 of the Ten Steps to Successful Breastfeeding require that interviews be carried out with a random selection of pregnant women of 32 weeks or more gestation using the hospital antenatal service. In order for a hospital to meet the required standard, 80% of these women must state that they did not receive instruction on how to make up bottles of formula as part of their routine antenatal group sessions.

Studies suggest that many mothers prepare bottles of formula incorrectly. By ensuring that mothers have the opportunity to discuss feeding individually with a health professional, including the option of instruction on how to make up bottles, babies will not be put at risk from improperly prepared formula.

The aim of this requirement, in line with the aims of the Baby-Friendly™ Initiative, is to ensure that all mothers are provided with clear accurate and impartial information and are thereby enabled and supported to make a fully informed choice as to how to feed their babies.

The Baby-Friendly™ Initiative restricts provision of information on bottle-feeding to be given in a class or group situation; all teaching of bottle-feeding and formula preparation should be provided on an individual basis only for those mothers who wish it and or need it. All prenatal handout materials must include the benefits of breastfeeding and the risks and actual costs of formula feeding. No mother is denied her right to an informed choice.