Frequently Asked Questions
Breastmilk also confers immunological advantages which may reduce the incidence of illness and which may extend into later childhood. These include not only antibodies and other immune-protective proteins, but also living cells.
Breastmilk is hygienic, convenient and free.
Maternal diet is important and can have an effect on breast milk. More information about healthy eating for breastfeeding mothers can be found at the following website: Healthy Eating Guidelines for Breastfeeding Women
Infant formula means “an infant formula product represented as a breast milk substitute for infants and which satisfies the nutritional requirements of infants aged up to around six months although infant formula is suitable for feeding infants up to 12 months of age.”
When a baby is not being breastfed the only suitable and safe alternative is a commercially available infant formula. Infant formula has been specifically developed to contain all the necessary ingredients needed to meet an infant’s nutritional requirements.
The National Health and Medical Research Council does not recommend giving cow’s milk to babies under 12 months. For babies under a year old, cow’s milk is too high in proteins, salt and can affect immature kidneys – it’s also too low in iron and other vitamins and minerals and difficult for young tummies to digest.
It is also not recommended to give babies fruit juice or soft drinks. Both fruit juice and soft drinks can cause tooth decay and are nutritionally deficient for babies.
Follow-on formulas are for the non breast-fed infant from 6 months of age as a liquid part of the weaning diet and which constitutes the principal source of nourishment in a progressively diversified diet for infants aged from six months.
When a baby is not being exclusively breastfed commercial infant formula is the only alternative for the first 12 months of life. Follow on formula is also suitable from 6 to 12 months. Diluted milk mixtures or formulas based on evaporated, powdered or condensed milk are not suitable for infant feeding.
All infant formula available in New Zealand and Australia is made to the stringent standards required by the regulatory code for food supply in Australia and New Zealand, which is governed by Food Standards Australia and New Zealand.
The raw materials used in the manufacture of infant formula and of the final product itself must meet very strict specifications. The highest standards throughout the manufacturing process involve thorough heat treatment which ensures the microbiological safety of the product. Quality control procedures are very strict and stringent standards of hygiene are in force throughout. The risk of potential contaminants is kept to an absolute minimum complying with national and/or international recommendations.
It must be realized however that infant formula powder is not, and cannot be, sterile. To make it so would probably damage some essential components used for making up infant formula.
Yes. Infant formulas are very safe provided they are prepared, stored and used correctly. Attention to instructions provided by the manufacturer however must be followed to ensure safety.
All infant formulas available in Australia and New Zealand comply with the essential compositional requirements of Food Standards Australia and New Zealand Standard 2.9.1 and as such, are adequate in providing nutrition to infants. Gold Infant formulas contain additional ingredients such as long chain Omega 3 & 6 fatty acids (AA & DHA) which may be important for infant growth and development compared to standard infant formulas.
By producing two standards of infant formula parents and carers are able to choose a formula for a certain ingredient, or indeed the formula design to meet the specific nutritional needs of their child.
It is sometimes claimed that “infant formulas are full of sugar”. This statement is incorrect. Sugar in the form of lactose is present in human milk at rather higher levels [around 7%] than cow’s milk, and it is considered a very important source of readily available calories for the baby. Infant formulas have been formulated to contain lactose in those amounts found in Breast milk. Soy formulas do not contain lactose although the carbohydrate level is the same.
There is no conclusive science to support a relationship between obesity and formula feeding. Obesity is a multi factorial disease that is affected by many factors. For more information on infant feeding and obesity click here.
Soy infant formulas should only be used on the advice of a GP or other health professional. Other than soy infant formula other soy or rice beverages should not be used.
Exclusive breast feeding is recommended for the first six months. However there are circumstances when exclusive breast feeding is not possible. In these circumstances, under the advice of a medical practitioner, it is possible to both breastfeed and formula feed an infant. However the introduction of partial bottle feeding could negatively affect breast feeding.
Such partial replacement of breast milk must only be with infant formula: cow’s milk (diluted or not) or other fluids are completely unsuitable and could be dangerous. The formula must be made according to instructions and no other food added to the bottle.
Always follow manufacturers’ instructions on the label to make up infant feeds. Most commonly available infant formulas are powders which must be mixed with cooled boiled water in the correct proportions. Using too much or too little powder without medical advice can make your baby very ill.
Bottles and teats must be cleaned and sterilised very carefully.
It is very important that mothers receive adequate information in order to ensure the safe use of infant formulas. Manufacturers provide this information on labels and in product literature. Additional information may be sought from your health care provider.
The Infant Nutrition Council has developed guidelines for the safe preparation and handling of infant formula.
If you have a bore, check with your local public health authority that your water is low in nitrate and its suitability for using to prepare infant formula. Bore water and tank water should be boiled until baby is 18 months old (NZ Ministry of Health guidelines).
Questions have been asked as to whether bottled water can be used to prepare infant formula. Food Standards Australia New Zealand has stated that plain bottled water (but not natural or sparkling mineral water or soda water) may be used to prepare infant formulas. But you should boil and cool the water you use to prepare infant formulas according to the instructions on the formula package label.
For hygiene reasons, the water used to make up feeds needs to be sterile. Manufacturers recommend that water is boiled and allowed to cool before making up feeds. Bottles and teats must also be sterilised.
There is some variation in guidelines about the storage of made up infant formula. Australia New Zealand Food Standards states that “if a bottle of made up infant formula is to be stored prior to use, it must be refrigerated and used with 24 hours”.
The Infant Nutrition Council recommends where possible that each infant feed be made up individually just prior to use. Always follow manufacturers’ instructions about how to make up and store infant feeds. Any formula that has been made up in advance with boiled water must be refrigerated if not to be used immediately, and in any case must be used within 24 hours, or discarded.
Unfinished feeds must always be discarded and never kept for use in a later feed.
The Infant Nutrition Council has developed guidelines for the safe preparation and handling of infant formula.
The Infant Nutrition Council recommends where possible that each infant feed be prepared individually, just prior to use. Always follow manufacturers’ instructions about how to prepare and store infant feeds.
‘Ready to Drink’ infant formula products are available in aseptically packed glass bottles for hospital use only or in aseptically packed tetra packs for domestic use. However once opened, prior to use either “Ready to Drink’ formats (glass bottle or tetra pack) may be prepared into numerous sterilized bottles provided that these bottles are refrigerated below 4 °C continuously and used within 24 hours.
Any unfinished formula left in the bottle after a feed must be discarded and never kept for use in a later feed.
No. This is definitely not recommended. Boiled water may be stored in a vacuum flask and the feed mixed when required; but never keep milk warm for any period of time as warm milk is an ideal breeding ground for bacteria.
Freezing made-up formula is not recommended.
It’s much safer to prepare bottles of infant formula at your destination, rather than carrying around bottles of prepared formula you’ve made up at home hours earlier.
Harmful bacteria thrive in warm, moist conditions. Ready-made bottles of prepared formula can be a breeding ground for bacteria if they’ve been sitting in a car or baby bag for many hours, especially on a warm day. Bacteria can be harmful to babies as it has the potential to cause diarrhoea, vomiting and dehydration. When preparing formula always follow the instructions on the package.
Infant formula that has been prepared in advance and stored in the refrigerator (for no longer than 24 hours) can be heated up by standing in a pot of warm water.
Never, ever put your baby’s bottle into the microwave. Microwaves can create uneven ‘hotspots’ in the water and can potentially burn your baby’s mouth.
Before feeding, test the temperature of the formula by putting a drop on the inside of your wrist. If it’s body temperature then it’s at the right feeding temperature for your baby to drink.
There a number of special containers available that are designed to carry single serves of infant formula which are ideal if you are taking your baby out during feed times. Ensure to check the manufacturer’s instructions. We also suggest taking a separate sterilised bottle (or numerous sterilised bottles) of cooled boiled water at the correct volume, so you can make up the formula when you need it and feed immediately. But remember, wherever you are, follow the manufacturer’s instructions provided on the tin or pack of infant formula.
Absolutely it’s best to be over prepared than have an unhappy and hungry baby. It’s also a good idea to take extra sterilised bottles as it eliminates the problem of washing bottles and re-using – which is not advised.
Yes, you can buy single-serve sachets of infant formula powder that can be made up or packs of liquid infant formula that are available in UHT style packaging that is ready to drink without need for mixing. The liquid formula needs to be poured into a sterilised bottle and can be warmed in the bottle if desired, just before feeding. These are safe, hygienic and convenient to use. Again, it’s important to follow the manufacturer’s instructions provided on the pack.
Infant formula manufacturers are committed to providing safe products and they do so by applying stringent hygiene measures to ensure their safety and compliance with regulatory standards in the manufacture of such products. In terms of microbiological safety, preparation and handling must adhere to strict hygiene rules and immediate consumption after preparation represents the safest option.
You should not be concerned about it, provided you follow the manufacturer’s instructions exactly on safe preparation and storage of infant formula, in order to ensure there is little risk of contamination and microbiological growth.
Further information on E. sakazakii can be found here.
In rare incidences, cases of dental caries have arisen from prolonged ad lib breastfeeding and inappropriate bottle feeding.
This is because both breastmilk and infant formulas contain sugars, either in the form of lactose, or in the case of soy infant formulas, glucose syrups. Any sugar-containing fluid has the potential to cause dental health problems but some protection against dental caries is provided by the calcium and phosphorus content of infant formulas as well as from the fluoride in the water used to make up the feed.
“Feeding caries” can result from misuse of diluted fruit juices and high sugar liquids when used inappropriately.
Duration and frequency of feeding are important factors in preventing dental caries and babies should never be left alone with a bottle and should be encouraged to drink from a beaker or cup as soon as they are ready to make the change. Bottles should never be used as comforters.
Infant formula labels include reminders about safe bottle feeding, but if concerned parents should also seek health professional or dental advice.
Further information about baby dental health can be found on the Australian Dental Association’s “Let’s talk baby teeth” site: www.babyteeth.com.au
Very important. The infant formula industry plays a major role in improving infant and young child health through its substantial investment in research and development. Much of the present knowledge of the benefits of breastmilk is a direct result of research supported by the industry. The results of this research are used to further our knowledge of infant nutrition and, in turn, to develop new products and improve existing products.
Yes. The infant formula manufacturers who are members of the Infant Nutrition Council are committed to restricting their marketing practices of infant formula to support the public health goals to protect and promote breastfeeding.
Infant Nutrition Council members are signatories to the Marketing in Australia of Infant Formulas: Manufacturers and Importers Agreement 1992 (MAIF Agreement) in Australia and apply the Infant Nutrition Council Code of Practice for the Marketing of Infant Formula in New Zealand.
These interpretations in Australia and New Zealand of the World Health Organization International Code of Marketing of Breast Milk Substitutes (WHO 1981) (WHO Code) prescribe how information about infant formula can be distributed.
The Australian and New Zealand governments monitor strict compliance with industry’s ethical practices via the Advisory Panel on the Marketing in Australia of Infant Formula (APMAIF) in Australia and the Compliance Panel in New Zealand. These panels are independent of the formula providers and are two of only a very few code of practice monitoring systems in the world.
Since it began to operate 17 years ago the number of breaches of the MAIF Agreement has been steadily decreasing, with only one breach in the last 5 years. Since the current Compliance Panel was established in 2008 no breaches have been recorded.
Infant Nutrition Council members voluntarily self regulate their marketing practices through their adherence to the local interpretations of the WHO Code and also through the Infant Nutrition Council’s own Competitive Complaints Procedure.
The Infant Nutrition Council is committed to working in partnership with government, regulatory authorities, health care professionals and breastfeeding advocates, to support the public health goals for the protection and promotion of breastfeeding and to improve the health and wellbeing of infants in Australia and New Zealand.
It is not permitted to advertise infant formulas to the public. For example, there is no consumer advertising of infant formulas, and this includes TV, radio, newspapers, parent craft and baby magazines.
Advertising to health professionals in professional journals is permitted to keep health professionals informed about new product developments so that they can advise mothers accordingly.
Trade advertising is permitted to inform pharmacists and retailers of latest product developments and prices.
Health care professionals have a responsibility to be fully familiar with each of the formulas and the differences between them to ensure that mothers who are using infant formula receive adequate and appropriate information.
Indeed it is a requirement under both the WHO Code and the NZ Code of Practice for Health Workers that health care professionals provide information about infant formula when necessary.
