Storing Breast Milk In MN Regulations?

[Blackcat31]

We keep a small crock pot with water in it on low all day. Frozen breastmilk bags can be warmed up enough until it can be broken apart and poured into the bottle. I wouldn't ever heat up the milk fully in the bags as the bags can leak or the milk can be contaminated by the water you are heating it in as the seams can fail more easily once heated. Anyway the bottles are then heated to the right temp in the crock pot. Our moms right now who breastfeed all bring it in daily and we keep it in our fridge.

Oh cool....I never would have thought to use a crock pot. Good idea!

I use the bags though as liners in the Playtex bottles so unless the parent brings the bottler liner inserts, I have to use the bag. So far, though I have been fairly lucky and not had any if the bags leak or break open.

[Patches]

I warm the bottles but wowza what a PITA to do so....

Anyone have any quick easy methods of doing so?

I normally put the bottle in a bowl/pan of hot water until I think it is warm enough but sometimes it takes a while and baby doesn't always want to wait.

* I don't and have never used the microwave as I already know that isn't acceptable or safe.

I have a crockpot of water in my kitchen that I use to warm the bottles. I just fill it in the morning, turn it on, and good to go. It usually takes about 2-5 minutes to warm a bottle depending on the size of the bottles. Except the drop-in kind. They warm alot faster

***Just read all the way through and saw someone else mentioned crockpot....

[kathiemarie]

health reason, no, but the baby probably won't take it. They are used to the milk being slightly-warmer-than-body temperature. Why wouldn't you warm it?

I don't warm Formula bottles. I used to but a past mom said she read somewhere to give it to her child cold and that is what she did so that is what I did and let me tell you it is soooo much easier. None of the fussiness if the bottle wasn't warm enough or we were out and about having to find away to warm it. (we are gone for the house a lot) I was hoping to be able to do this with BM too. I'm going to try but if it doesn't work I will warm it.

[kathiemarie]

We keep a small crock pot with water in it on low all day. Frozen breastmilk bags can be warmed up enough until it can be broken apart and poured into the bottle. I wouldn't ever heat up the milk fully in the bags as the bags can leak or the milk can be contaminated by the water you are heating it in as the seams can fail more easily once heated. Anyway the bottles are then heated to the right temp in the crock pot. Our moms right now who breastfeed all bring it in daily and we keep it in our fridge.

I'll have to try this.

[itlw8]

If you keep water in a crock pot make sure it gets no warmer than your hot tap water. many children have been burned that way. It is not allowed in some state for that reason.

[Play Care]

We keep a small crock pot with water in it on low all day. Frozen breastmilk bags can be warmed up enough until it can be broken apart and poured into the bottle. I wouldn't ever heat up the milk fully in the bags as the bags can leak or the milk can be contaminated by the water you are heating it in as the seams can fail more easily once heated. Anyway the bottles are then heated to the right temp in the crock pot. Our moms right now who breastfeed all bring it in daily and we keep it in our fridge.

I always "double bag" breast milk bags for that reason. I've had quite a few spring leaks. I take a fresh sandwich baggie and stick the frozen milk bag in it. If the milk bag leaks, it's contained in the clean baggie.

[Unregistered]

Breast milk handling

My provider is just opening up her daycare and told me her licensor told her she cannot handle the breast milk. Each days feedings need to be brought premeasured in 5-6 individual bottles because she cannot thaw and pour the milk from the bag into the bottle with risk of spilling and she or a child coming in contact with the bodily fluid... She also stated she cannot wash the bottles but she will rinse them... Anyone else hear this?

[Snowmom]

My provider is just opening up her daycare and told me her licensor told her she cannot handle the breast milk. Each days feedings need to be brought premeasured in 5-6 individual bottles because she cannot thaw and pour the milk from the bag into the bottle with risk of spilling and she or a child coming in contact with the bodily fluid... She also stated she cannot wash the bottles but she will rinse them... Anyone else hear this?

I am in MN. I don't know of any regulations that state we can't handle breast milk (I assume you mean handle frozen). There is a regulation that says bottles must be "washed" daily- washed simply means at least rinsed out. Proper breastmilk handling also states it must be refrigerated upon arrival and labeled.

https://www.hennepin.us/-/media/hennepinus/residents/health-medical/infectious-diseases/breast-milk.pdf?la=en&hash=913B5EFEFC333778AACE6FE427421B7BEFAEB71E

I do have a personal policy that all bottles come ready to serve (not frozen). I do not handle bagged milk, it must be bottled and ready to pop in the fridge when they arrive. I warm as needed and send home unused leftovers.

Since she is new, I am assuming she is referring to what she wants to do with breastmilk in her business and passing it off as regulations. It's not regulation but it is entirely ok for her to come up with her own policy on how she will handle breastmilk as long as the minimum standards are met.

[Blackcat31]

My provider is just opening up her daycare and told me her licensor told her she cannot handle the breast milk. Each days feedings need to be brought premeasured in 5-6 individual bottles because she cannot thaw and pour the milk from the bag into the bottle with risk of spilling and she or a child coming in contact with the bodily fluid... She also stated she cannot wash the bottles but she will rinse them... Anyone else hear this?

Are you in MN or rather is your provider in MN?

Any time a child care provider tells you that something is a licensing regulation, you can look at the rule and see what it actually says yourself. MN providers are required to provide parents with a copy of the licensing rules and/or a link to access them.

I am thinking like Snowmom says, it's probably her PERSONAL program policy not a state regulation.

Then again, MN has been having issues with licensors telling providers things are regulations or rules when they aren't or are just something the licensor interpreted but either way, providers have access to all state regulations and are required to provide access to parents as well.

Here is the link to MN regulations/rules https://www.daycare.com/minnesota/

[hwichlaz]

See, that is why I find the breast milk bottles harder or more of a PITA to deal with as I don't allow parents to bring in pre-made bottles of formula.

I require them to keep the bottles here and I make them using warm water so I can easily regulate the temperature with formula prep vs breast milk bottles.

I'll have to try the microwave the water (NOT bottles) method.

As of right now, I am placing the bags of frozen milk in hot water and just changing out the water when it gets cool. Fill, dump, re-fill, dump....

Don't know why I never thought to heat the water in the microwave.....

I guess because I RARELY use the microwave myself for anything so it just never occurred to me. I bet my microwave gets used maybe 2 times a month....

It was just one of those inventions that I just never caught onto.... ::

I use an electric kettle to heat water. Breastmilk bags are labeled and each child has their own little plastic bin that they go in, in the freezer. The bins fit on my freezer door. Most parents bring enough for the next week after work on Friday.

[springv]

@blackcat31: we have to have parents bring in premade bottles here in Alabama because we are not allowed to mix them ourselves, it's a dhr requirement because a daycare provider made an infant's bottle and added to much water to the formula and it made an infant very sick

[Blackcat31]

I use an electric kettle to heat water. Breastmilk bags are labeled and each child has their own little plastic bin that they go in, in the freezer. The bins fit on my freezer door. Most parents bring enough for the next week after work on Friday.

@blackcat31: we have to have parents bring in premade bottles here in Alabama because we are not allowed to mix them ourselves, it's a dhr requirement because a daycare provider made an infant's bottle and added to much water to the formula and it made an infant very sick

Thanks ladies... I don't have anyone under age 2 right now.
My previous post/question was from 2013....this thread was revived by an unregistered but I still appreciate the suggestions.