1

Food and Nutrition Service

Breastfed 

Babies

Welcome 

Here!

A Mother’s Guide
2

Dear Mom, 

We are glad you are thinking about 

breastfeeding your baby! Giving your baby 

breastmilk helps him or her grow to be happy 

and healthy. As your child care provider, we 

are here to help you continue to breastfeed 

when you go back to work or school. 

Please remember that some women struggle 

with breastfeeding for a variety of reasons. 

No matter your situation, it is a personal 

choice to breastfeed your baby. Should you 

choose to breastfeed, you can benefit from 

lots of support and reliable information. 

This guide will help you and your breastfed 

baby get ready for child care. We encourage 

you to continue breastfeeding, and we will 

support you every step of the way. 

Sincerely, 

Your Child Care Provider
3

Why Is Breastfeeding Beneficial?  4

How Breastfeeding Benefits Your Baby 4

How Breastfeeding Benefits You 4 

What Can I Do to Get Ready to Breastfeed My Baby? 4 

Find Tools to Pump Breastmilk 6 

How Can I Prepare for Breastfeeding?  7

While You Are in the Hospital 7

When You Are Back Home 8

Vitamin and Mineral Supplements 9 

How Does Breastmilk Look and Smell? 9 

How Does Breastmilk Look? 9

How Does Breastmilk Smell? 9 

How Do I Know If My Baby Is Hungry or Full? 10 

How Can I Tell If My Baby Is Eating Enough? 11 

How Do I Continue to Provide Breastmilk To My Baby When I Go Back to Work or School? 12 

Before Going Back to Work or School 12

Once You Go Back to Work or School 12 

How Can I Keep Making Enough Breastmilk While My Baby Is in Child Care? 13 

When You Are Away From Your Baby 13

Finding Time to Pump 14

Daily Breastfeeding and Bottle Feeding Schedule 15

How to Pump and Collect Your Breastmilk 16

Storing Your Breastmilk 17 

How Can I Take My Breastmilk to the Child Care Site? 18 

Thawing Frozen Breastmilk 18

Warming a Bottle 18

How to Transport Breastmilk Safely 19 

Feeding Breastmilk in a Bottle 20 

Paced Bottle Feeding  20

How to Feed Your Baby With a Bottle 21 

How Long Should I Breastfeed?  22 

How Can I Help My Child Care Provider Care for My Breastfed Baby? 22 

Dear Child Care Provider: Here Is Information About My Breastfed Baby! 23 

What About Taking Care of Me? 24

Who Can Help Me If I Have Questions or Problems? 24 

Resources  25

Table of Contents 
4

How Breastfeeding Benefits Your Baby: 

• Your breastmilk is made just for your baby. It 

has the right mix of nutrients he or she needs 

to grow and to stay healthy. 

• Your breastmilk protects your baby and keeps 

him or her healthy. Breastfed babies get sick 

less often. 

• Breastmilk is easy for your baby to digest. 

Your baby may have less diarrhea and 

may spit up less than if he or she was not 

breastfed. 

• Babies taste different flavors in breastmilk 

based on what the mother eats. This may help 

your baby accept new flavors from solid foods 

later on. 

Why Is Breastfeeding 

Beneficial? 

How Breastfeeding Benefits You: 

• Breastfeeding helps you recover from 

pregnancy and childbirth. It helps shrink the 

uterus after you give birth. 

• Breastfeeding may lower the risk of serious 

illnesses, such as breast and ovarian cancers 

and Type 2 diabetes. 

• Breastfeeding saves you money because you 

don’t have to buy infant formula. 

• Breastfeeding may help you miss less work or 

school because your baby is sick less often. 

Breastfeeding helps build a special bond 

between you and your baby. 

Once you decide to breastfeed, let everyone 

know so they can support you. Family, friends, 

your baby’s doctor, your child care provider, 

and others can help you start and continue 

breastfeeding. These supporters can connect you 

with help if you need it. 

What Can I Do to Get Ready 

to Breastfeed My Baby? 

Father helping the mother breastfeed her baby.
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Your doctor or health care provider. If you have any questions, 

ask for advice. Ask your doctor about talking to a breastfeeding 

specialist, such as a lactation consultant, to get your questions 

about breastfeeding answered. Check with your doctor about 

medications you are taking to make sure they are safe for you 

and your baby.

Your partner, family, and friends. Share why you plan to 

breastfeed and the benefits to you and your baby. This information 

may help them to understand and better support your decision.

The hospital staff. Some hospitals have been recognized by 

Baby-Friendly USA, Inc. as a “Baby-Friendly” hospital. These 

facilities provide extra support to breastfeeding mothers. Talk to 

hospital staff about your plan to breastfeed. To learn more about 

“Baby-Friendly” hospitals, visit: https://www.babyfriendlyusa.org.

Your child care provider. He or she can support you by 

providing a space to breastfeed your baby at the child care site. 

While you are away, your child care provider can feed your baby 

the breastmilk you have pumped.

Your local WIC clinic. Find out if you are eligible and enroll in the 

Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and 

Children, also known as WIC. WIC provides breastfeeding 

education during pregnancy and breastfeeding support after your 

baby is born. It also has a peer counseling program that allows 

you to connect with other breastfeeding moms. For more 

information about WIC, visit: https://www.fns.usda.gov/wic.

Be Sure to Tell:

 
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• Find the right breast pump for you. A breast 

pump removes milk from your breast and 

collects it into bottles or bags. When stored 

safely, this milk may be given to your baby at 

a later time. The attachments to breast pumps 

do not fit every woman the same. You might 

have to try different sizes to find the one that 

fits you the best. 

• Call your insurance company to learn 

about the type of breast pumps they 

offer and how to get one. 

• Depending on the State you live in, 

Medicaid may also cover the cost of 

breastfeeding counseling and a pump. 

• Learn how to pump breastmilk by hand, a 

technique called hand expression. This gives 

you the choice to remove milk from your 

breast anytime you need to without using a 

breast pump. 

• Take a breastfeeding class. Your local WIC 

clinic or hospital may offer classes. Encourage 

your partner, family, or friends to come too! 

Having support can play a big part in your 

success with breastfeeding.

Find Tools to Pump Breastmilk 

A breast pump can be used to remove milk from your breast and collect it into bottles. 
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How Can I Prepare for Breastfeeding? 

While You Are in the Hospital 

Tell Hospital Staff 

Tell the hospital staff that you are breastfeeding 

your baby. Explain that you do not want your baby 

to have any infant formula or water, unless the 

doctor orders it for a medical reason. As nursing 

shifts change, you may need to tell staff again — 

that is okay. 

• Tell the doctor and hospital staff that you 

want to start breastfeeding within 1 hour of 

having the baby. If you deliver by cesarean 

section (C-section), ask the staff to help you 

breastfeed as soon as you are ready and able 

to hold your baby. 

• Ask the staff to place your baby on your 

stomach or chest right after birth. This is 

called “skin-to-skin” contact. It may help you 

bond with your baby and start breastfeeding. 

Have Your Baby “Room-In” With You 

• “Rooming-in” means your baby stays with 

you in a bassinet in your room all day and 

night. This makes it easier to breastfeed often. 

Breastfeeding often tells your body to make 

more milk. 

• If your baby is not staying with you in your 

hospital room, ask the nurses to bring your 

baby to you when he or she is hungry so that 

you can breastfeed. 

Ask for Help 

• Ask for help when you need it. Even if you 

have breastfed before, it is still good to ask for 

help. Every baby is different. 

• Breastfeeding specialists or nurses can help if 

you are having problems with breastfeeding. 

They can suggest small changes in the way 

you hold your baby to help him or her “latch” 

onto your breast. 

• Sometimes, WIC breastfeeding peer 

counselors will visit moms in the hospital to 

help them get a good start with breastfeeding. 

Ask your local WIC clinic about this. 

Most moms need some help with breastfeeding. 

Don’t be embarrassed to ask for help.

Having your baby “room-in” with you makes it 

easier to breastfeed often. 
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When You Are Back Home 

Your newborn baby may nurse 8 to 12 times or 

more in a 24-hour period. Breastfeed your baby 

as often as he or she shows signs of hunger. 

Newborns usually eat every 11⁄2 to 3 hours during 

the day and no longer than 4 hours at night 

between feedings. Remember to: 

• Breastfeed often. This tells your body to make 

more milk. 

• Ask for help if breastfeeding hurts. Call your 

breastfeeding specialist or health care provider 

if your breasts feel too hard, your nipples look 

cracked, or you just don’t feel well. 

• Wait a few weeks after birth before giving your 

baby a pacifier unless your doctor has told 

you otherwise. It is important for you and your 

baby to feel comfortable with breastfeeding 

before giving him or her a pacifier. 

How WIC Helped Zoe 

Zoe is having her first baby! She is excited 

to meet her little boy, but is also nervous 

and has lots of questions. Zoe learned 

about the local Women, Infants, and 

Children (WIC) program from a friend, and 

discovered that she is eligible to sign up. 

Zoe is getting food from WIC, but also 

talked with a WIC counselor about her 

interest in breastfeeding. Zoe learned that 

WIC provides extra foods to breastfeeding 

moms and they also connect new moms 

with WIC peer counselors, who are other 

moms that have breastfed. Zoe felt very 

comfortable talking to another mom like 

herself. It really helped being able to reach 

out to her peer counselor, WIC staff, 

and her doctor when she needed help 

with breastfeeding.

Mother getting help from her WIC peer counselor. 
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Vitamin and Mineral Supplements 

Ask your doctor about vitamin D drops for your 

baby. Even healthy babies that are breastfed 

need a vitamin D supplement. Your breastfed 

baby may also need an iron supplement when 

he or she gets a little older. Always ask your 

doctor before giving your baby vitamin and 

mineral supplements. 

How Does Breastmilk Look? 

Breastmilk may look different from day to day, and 

that’s okay. The color of breastmilk changes 

based on what you eat and what your baby 

needs. It is normal for breastmilk to look slightly 

blue, yellow, or even green in color. 

Breastmilk may look thinner than infant formula, 

especially if the fat, or creamy part, has separated 

from the breastmilk and risen to the top of the 

bottle. This does not mean the breastmilk is 

spoiled. Gently swirl the milk (do not shake) to mix 

the layers. Breastmilk provides the best nutrition 

for your baby. 

How Does Breastmilk Smell? 

Breastmilk does not smell like infant formula or 

cow’s milk. Your breastmilk may also smell 

different from day to day, and that’s okay too. 

Follow the storage times and temperatures on 

page 17 to make sure your breastmilk does not 

go bad. 

How Does Breastmilk Look and Smell? 

It’s normal for the fat in breastmilk to rise to 

the top of the milk. Simply swirl the milk to mix it 

back together.

Doctor examining a baby. 
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Look for one or more of these hunger signs. Just remember, every baby is different! 

You might find your baby shows a combination of these or only one. During the 

first few months, you will learn your baby’s habits and be the best judge.

• Rooting or turning his or 

her head and opening 

his or her mouth wide in 

search of your breast

• Bobbing his or her 

head or mouth against 

your upper body

• Sucking on his or her 

hands and other objects • Smacking his or her lips

• Crying is a late sign 

of hunger

How Do I Know If My Baby 

Is Hungry or Full?

How Do I Know When My Baby Is Hungry?

Tip: Don’t wait until your baby is crying before feeding him or her. It may be harder 

to get the baby to breastfeed once he or she is upset. Look for one of the earlier 

signs of hunger above. 
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• Slows or decreases 

sucking

• Falls asleep

 How Do I Know When My Baby Is Full?

Look for these signs:

• Your baby is gaining weight.

• Your baby’s urine is clear or pale yellow.

• Your baby seems happy and is not fussy 

after a feeding.

• Your breasts may feel less full and softer 

after you feed your baby.

• Your baby has many wet or dirty diapers.

Talk to a breastfeeding specialist, doctor, or 

health care provider if you are not sure if your 

baby is getting enough breastmilk.

Look for one or more of these signs that your baby is full. It’s important to stop the 

feeding when your baby shows that he or she is full.

• Pushes or arches away 

from you

• Turns head away from 

your breast

There may be days or nights when you feel 

like your baby wants to nurse all the time or 

can’t get enough breastmilk. This is called 

“cluster feeding.” The reason may be that 

he or she is having a growth spurt. Keep 

breastfeeding when your baby wants to 

eat. Most women’s bodies will know to 

make more breastmilk.

• Presses lips together

How Can I Tell If My Baby Is Eating Enough? 

Tip:
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Before Going Back to Work or School 

Begin pumping your breastmilk at least 2 weeks 

before you go back to work or school. Starting to 

pump a few weeks early will allow you to practice 

pumping and give your baby time to get used to 

taking a bottle. Make sure you and your baby are 

comfortable with breastfeeding before introducing 

a bottle. 

Pumping takes practice. Don’t worry if you only 

get a little bit of breastmilk the first few times. See 

pages 16-19 for more tips on pumping, storing, 

and transporting breastmilk to your child care site. 

Talk with your Human Resources department 

or your supervisor before returning to work. 

Explain that you need a private place to pump 

your breastmilk. Many employers will provide 

reasonable break time and space to pump.

How Do I Continue to Provide Breastmilk to 

My Baby When I Go Back to Work or School? 

 Tip 

Once You Go Back to Work or School 

1. If you are able, use your breaks to go to the 

child care site to breastfeed your baby. 

2. Pump breastmilk at work or school. Chill the 

breastmilk right away in a refrigerator, freezer, 

or cooler with ice packs. 

3. Bring bottles of your breastmilk to your 

child care provider with your baby’s full 

name and the date the breastmilk was 

pumped. See page 17 for information on 

storing breastmilk. 

Mother using a double electric breast 

pump at work.

Mother giving breastmilk to child care provider.

Begin pumping your breastmilk at least 2 

weeks before you go back to work or school. 
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Learn how to express (remove) your breastmilk 

by hand or by using a breast pump. You can 

pump and freeze small amounts to build up a 

supply of breastmilk that you can use later. Having 

this supply will also make going back to work or 

school easier. 

Tip 

Try to breastfeed before and after child 

care and on your days off. Pump when 

possible. This will help to keep up your 

breastmilk supply. 

How Can I Keep Making 

Enough Breastmilk While My Baby 

Is in Child Care? 

When You Are Away From Your Baby 

• Pump breastmilk at the same time you 

would normally breastfeed your baby. This 

may be 2 to 3 times or more during an 

8-hour work or school day. This helps you 

maintain your milk supply. 

• You can express by hand, use a manual 

pump, or use an electric breast pump. Electric 

pumps can have a single collection kit or a 

double collection kit. A double collection kit 

lets you pump both breasts at the same time. 

This lets you pump breastmilk in half the time! 

• If you are not breastfeeding or pumping and 

feed your baby infant formula instead, your 

supply of breastmilk can decrease, and you 

may not be able to breastfeed for as long as 

you and your baby wish. 

Pump and freeze small amounts of breastmilk to 

build up a supply that you can use later. 

Tip 

Pumping your breastmilk helps: 

• provide your breastmilk to your baby 

while in child care. 

• maintain your breastmilk supply so you 

can keep breastfeeding. 

• relieve pressure in your breasts so that 

you can feel more comfortable. 

• prevent infections in your breasts. 

• reduce breastmilk leaking from 

your breasts.
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Some mothers have more breastmilk in the morning, and find that it is easiest to pump breastmilk then.

Baby José is 3 months old and is breastfeeding. 

At home, his mom breastfeeds him whenever 

he is hungry. The week before mom returns to 

work, she writes down when José breastfeeds 

and finds he eats about every 3 hours. When 

she returns to work, mom feeds José at the 

child care center when she drops him off at 

8:00 a.m.

In order to stay on the same schedule, she pumps 

at work at 11:00 a.m. and 2:30 p.m., which are 

the times when she would feed José at home. 

This may change as José gets older and his needs 

and eating habits change. On some days, José 

eats less often at child care or doesn’t finish his 

entire bottle — that’s okay. Sometimes baby José 

just misses his mommy and breastfeeding directly 

so he decides to wait until he can see her again to 

have a full meal.

José’s Story

Finding Time to Pump

Some mothers have more breastmilk in the 

morning and find that it is easiest to pump 

breastmilk then. One way that works well 

for some mothers is: 

• Breastfeed your baby after waking up in

the morning.

• Pump breastmilk while nursing or

afterward. Store the breastmilk in the

refrigerator or freezer.
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Daily Breastfeeding and Bottle Feeding Schedule 

Keep track of how often your baby eats during the day for a few days before going back to work or 

school. This will give you a good idea about when you will need to plan to pump your breastmilk while 

you are away from your baby. 

What Time Did My Baby Eat? 

Morning Afternoon Evening 

Sample 

Day 

1:30 a.m. 8:00 a.m. 1:30 p.m. 4:00 p.m. 5:30 p.m. 10:30 p.m. 

4:00 a.m. 11:00 a.m. 2:30 p.m. 8:00 p.m. 

6:30 a.m. 

Day 1 

Day 2 

Day 3 

Day 4 

Day 5
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Mother pumping her breastmilk while looking 

at a photo of her baby.

 Tip

Some moms find their milk flows 

better if they:

• Look at a picture of their baby. 

• Smell an item of their baby’s clothing. 

• Apply a warm, moist compress to the 

breasts or gently massage the breasts. 

• Listen to music to help them relax.

How to Pump and Collect Your Breastmilk

Clean. Wash your hands and clean any surfaces.

Pump and collect your breastmilk. Collect milk into a clean container meant 

for breastmilk storage. Hard plastic bottles are best because they do not 

break and are easy to handle. You can also use glass containers or breastmilk 

storage bags. Do not use bottle liners or other plastic bags to collect 

breastmilk. These are not made for the collection and storage of breastmilk.

Date it. Label the container with the date you pumped the breastmilk. 

Keep breastmilk cool in a refrigerator to give to your baby later.

Clean up. Keep germs from getting into the breastmilk by washing the 

parts of your pump that touch the milk with soap and water. Let all of the 

parts air dry. If you cannot wash your pump parts at work or school, try 

to bring extra pumping parts to use throughout the day and then wash them 

when you get home.

 

 
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Storing Your Breastmilk 

You can store fresh breastmilk in a refrigerator 

or freezer.

• When you store your breastmilk in the freezer, 

leave an inch or so of space at the top of the 

bottle or breastmilk storage bag. Breastmilk 

will expand as it freezes. Always use the oldest 

frozen breastmilk first.

• Keep the older breastmilk in the front of the 

freezer and put your fresh breastmilk towards 

the back. 

• Avoid storing breastmilk in the door of 

your freezer or refrigerator. The front of 

the refrigerator and freezer can be warmer 

because of the door opening.

• Try to use fresh breastmilk whenever possible.

• See the chart below for times and 

temperatures to store breastmilk at home.

Maximum Time and Temperature to Store Breastmilk

Countertop

77 °F or colder (25 °C) 

(room temperature)

Refrigerator

40 °F (4 °C)

Freezer

0 °F or colder (-18 °C)

Freshly Pumped 

Breastmilk

Do not use after 

4 hours

Do not use after

 4 days*

Up to 6 months is best. 

Do not use after 

12 months

Thawed Breastmilk 1-2 hours Do not use after 1 day 

(24 hours)

Never refreeze 

thawed breastmilk

Leftover From 

a Feeding

(baby did not finish 

the bottle)

Do not use after 2 hours after the baby is finished feeding.

*Child care providers participating in the Child and Adult Care Food Program may only store breastmilk 

in the refrigerator for 3 days (72 hours). This is stricter than the guidelines for storing breastmilk at home. 

According to the Academy of Breastfeeding Medicine, breastmilk may be stored in the refrigerator at 

home for up to 4 days.

 Tip

If you use a double electric breast pump to 

pump breastmilk from both breasts at 

the same time, you can keep your hands 

free to do other things. You can buy a 

“hands-free” pumping bra. You can also 

make your own by cutting small holes in 

the middle of a sports bra to keep the 

pump next to your breast.

Leave an inch or so of space at the top.
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Thawing Frozen Breastmilk 

If you are preparing bottles using frozen breastmilk, 

only thaw as much frozen breastmilk as you need. 

This helps to prevent waste. 

• To thaw frozen breastmilk, you can: 

• put the bottle/bag in the refrigerator 

overnight; 

• hold the bottle/bag under warm running 

water; or 

• put the bottle/bag in a container of 

warm water. 

• Use thawed frozen breastmilk within 24 hours. 

• Do not refreeze thawed or partially 

thawed breastmilk. 

• Do not add fresh breastmilk to already frozen 

or partially thawed breastmilk. 

• You can combine fresh breastmilk with 

refrigerated breastmilk that was pumped 

the same day into one container to get the 

amount needed for a feeding. Make sure to 

cool the fresh breastmilk first before adding it 

to the refrigerated breastmilk. 

Caution. Tell your child care 

provider not to heat your 

breastmilk in a microwave. 

This can create hot spots in the 

breastmilk and can burn the 

baby. Heating breastmilk can also 

damage the important nutrients 

the baby needs to stay healthy. 

How Can I Take My Breastmilk 

to the Child Care Site? 

Breastmilk can be stored in a refrigerator 

or freezer. 

Warming a Bottle 

Bottles do not have to be warmed. If you choose 

to warm a bottle, you can: 

• warm the bottle under warm running water; or 

• place the bottle in a container of water that is 

no warmer than 120°F (49°C).

Important. If the bottle is 

warmed, gently swirl the milk 

and test a small drop on your 

wrist before giving it to the 

baby. It should be warm but 

not hot. 
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How to Transport Breastmilk Safely

It is important to make sure you transport 

bottles of your breastmilk safely to the child 

care site to prevent it from spoiling.

1. Wash your hands with soap and water. 2. Fill clean bottles with the amount of 

breastmilk your baby usually drinks in one 

feeding.

3. If the fat or creamy part has separated, swirl 

the container to mix. Do not shake—this can 

cause some of the breastmilk’s nutrients to 

break down.

4. Bring extra frozen or fresh breastmilk in 

smaller amounts (1-2 fluid ounces) in case 

your baby wants more breastmilk than what is 

in one bottle.

5. Clearly label each bottle of breastmilk with 

your baby’s full name and date the breastmilk 

was pumped.

6. Take the breastmilk to your child care site 

in an insulated bag or cooler with ice or ice 

packs to keep the breastmilk cold. Make 

sure the breastmilk is put in the refrigerator or 

freezer as soon as you arrive.

 

 
20

If your baby will receive breastmilk in a bottle at 

child care, you will need to help your baby get 

used to a bottle beforehand. 

Here are some tips that have worked for 

other mothers: 

• Ask for help. See if someone else can feed 

your baby the bottle. 

• Stay out of sight. If you are the one holding 

your baby, he or she may search for your 

breast. If you are nearby, the baby may resist 

the bottle. Be patient. Remember, your breast 

is your baby’s first choice. With time, he or she 

will drink from the bottle. 

• Start small. When you first try using a bottle, 

offer about half an ounce of breastmilk 

an hour or 2 after your baby has finished 

breastfeeding. This is when your baby is alert 

and ready to eat, but not so hungry that he 

or she is upset. Once your baby shows he or 

she is willing to drink from the bottle, you can 

increase the amount offered. 

Paced Bottle Feeding 

Paced bottle feeding is a way of bottle feeding 

that allows your baby to have control over how 

much milk he or she takes in. 

• When you feed your baby with a bottle, try to 

hold the bottle mostly sideways, not straight 

up. Then the milk will flow into your baby’s 

mouth at the right speed. 

• Follow your baby’s lead. This gives your baby 

a chance to show whether he or she is hungry 

or full. If your baby opens his or her mouth to 

accept more, then he or she is still hungry. 

• If your baby turns his or her head, then it’s 

time to end the feeding. Trust your baby to 

know when he or she is hungry and when 

he or she is full. Do not make your baby finish 

a bottle. 

Feeding Breastmilk in a Bottle 

Tip 

Introduce a bottle of your breastmilk at 

least 2 weeks before your baby starts 

child care. Make sure you and your baby 

are comfortable with breastfeeding before 

introducing a bottle. 

Hold the bottle during feeding and do not prop it. Propping 

means resting the bottle on something (like a pillow) instead of 

holding it, and can: 

• cause choking and suffocation. 

• possibly cause ear infections and baby bottle tooth decay. ⃠• deprive the baby of cuddling and human contact.
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How to Feed Your Baby With a Bottle 

Bottle feeding should take about the same amount of time it takes to breastfeed. Hold the baby in the cradle 

of your arm during the feeding, so that he or she is sitting almost upright. This makes the baby feel secure 

and allows you to observe signs of hunger and fullness. It also helps to prevent choking during feeding. If a 

baby’s head is tilted back or lying flat, the liquid could enter the baby’s windpipe and cause choking. 

Brush the nipple of the bottle 

across the baby’s upper 

lip. Wait for his or her mouth 

to open. 

Try starting with a slow-flow 

nipple. For breastfed babies, 

it is best to choose a flow 

that is like your milk flow. This 

type of nipple is most like 

breastfeeding. 

Make sure the end of the 

bottle near the nipple is filled 

with breastmilk. This will lower 

the amount of air your baby 

swallows. 

Switch which arm you hold 

the baby with every so often 

when feeding a bottle. This 

helps the baby feel 

comfortable being fed from 

either side. It also gives the 

baby a chance to see different 

things to help with eye 

development. 

Make sure to look into your 

baby’s eyes to build comfort 

and trust. 

Follow your baby’s lead and 

burp your baby at natural 

breaks during the feeding 

or at the end of the feeding. 

Burp by gently patting or 

rubbing the baby’s back while 

the baby is resting on your 

shoulder or sitting on your lap.
22

Breastfeed for as long as you can. The 

American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) 

recommends that you give your baby only 

breastmilk for about the first 6 months. 

The AAP encourages mothers to continue 

breastfeeding for at least 12 months. 

Father brings breastmilk in a cooler. 

Talk to your child care provider about how you 

want your baby fed. 

☐ Tell your child care provider if and when you

plan to come to the child care site to

breastfeed your baby. This will help the child

care provider plan bottle feedings so your

baby is ready to breastfeed when you arrive.

☐ Describe how your baby shows that he

or she is hungry. Discuss how your baby

indicates that he or she is full.

☐ Tell your child care provider the best way to

soothe your baby when he or she is upset,

but not hungry. Let the child care provider

know if you want to use a pacifier, toy, or

something else to calm your baby.

☐ Tell your child care provider if you are using a

slow-flow bottle.

☐ Share information about how much your baby

typically eats at each feeding. Talk about how

often your baby usually breastfeeds.

☐ Discuss what your child care provider should

do if your child runs out of breastmilk. Do you

want the provider to call you? Should the

provider give your baby formula?

Plan ahead to help your child care provider. 

☐ Give your child care provider bottles with the

amount of breastmilk your baby usually drinks

at each feeding. Be sure to give your provider

enough breastmilk to last the full day.

☐ Label all bottles with your baby’s full name and

the date the milk was pumped.

☐ Bring extra fresh or frozen breastmilk in smaller

amounts (1-2 fluid ounces) in case your baby

wants more milk.

How Long Should I Breastfeed? 

How Can I Help My Child Care 

Provider Care for My Breastfed Baby? 
23

Food and Nutrition Service

A handout from Breastfed Babies Welcome Here! A Mother’s Guide 

https://teamnutrition.usda.gov • FNS-787A • November 2018 

USDA is an equal opportunity provider, employer, and lender . .

My baby usually drinks fluid ounces when I feed him or her. 

My baby usually drinks the bottle ☐cold or ☐warm. 

If my baby runs out of breastmilk, I would like you to: 

☐ use my back-up supply of frozen breastmilk. 

☐

☐

call me, so I can bring more breastmilk. 

give my baby formula. 

Dear Child Care Provider: Here Is Information About My Breastfed Baby! 

Yes No 

If you have a space for me to breastfeed at your 

child care site, I would be interested in using it. 

I plan to breastfeed my baby at pick up. 

Please make sure my baby is ready! 

Parent’s Signature: 

When my baby is hungry, he or she (check all that apply): 

I will bring a back-up 

supply of breastmilk when 

possible. Please store it 

in the refrigerator or freezer! 

☐ Sucks hands and other objects

Smacks lips 

Cries 

☐ Roots or turns his or her head and opens his or her mouth

Bobs head or mouth against your upper body

Other

☐ ☐

☐ ☐

Today’s Date Baby’s Name (First and Last) 

Baby’s Birth Date Parent’s Name (First and Last) 

Yes No 

When I bring in breastmilk, I will 

label the bottle with my baby’s 

full name and the date I pumped 

the breastmilk. 

Tip 
24

• Drink plenty of water throughout the day. You

may expect to be thirstier than before you

were breastfeeding. Have a glass of water

while you breastfeed your baby.

• Try to get as much rest as possible. Try to take

a nap after you put your baby down to sleep.

• Take time to be physically active.

Parents talking about their baby’s feeding habits. 

What About Taking 

Care of Me? 

Eat healthy foods and stay active. For healthy 

eating ideas, visit the Moms/Moms-To-Be 

webpage at Choose MyPlate 

https://www.choosemyplate.gov.

A caption goes here

Who Can Help Me If I Have 

Questions or Problems? 

It is normal to have questions as your baby grows, 

especially about breastfeeding. To find someone 

who can help you, talk with: 

• Your WIC counselor if you are a WIC

participant.

• Your doctor’s office. He or she may have a

breastfeeding specialist who can answer your

questions.

• Your State or County health departments.

• A La Leche League group. To find a group in

your area, visit http://www.lllusa.org.

• An International Board Certified Lactation

Consultant (IBCLC). To find an IBCLC, visit the

International Lactation Consultant Association

website at https://www.ilca.org. 

See the chart on page 25 for a full list of 

resources that can help answer your questions.
25

Resources

I need information on: Resource Name Website or Contact Number

Breastfeeding support in 

the hospital Baby-Friendly Hospitals http://www.babyfriendlyusa.org

Breast pumps General information about 

breast pumps http://www.fda.gov

Breastfeeding education, 

support groups, food

packages, and peer 

counseling

Special Supplemental Nutrition 

Program for Women, Infants, and 

Children (WIC)

https://www.fns.usda.gov/wic

Breastfeeding support 

groups and helplines La Leche League http://www.llli.org

Helpline: 1-877-452-5324

Finding a breastfeeding 

specialist

International Lactation 

Consultant Association http://www.ilca.org

Special Supplemental Nutrition 

Program for Women, Infants, and 

Children (WIC)

https://www.fns.usda.gov/wic

State Health Department https://www.cdc.gov/breastfeeding

Tips for Breastfeeding

Your Guide to Breastfeeding https://www.womenshealth.gov

WIC Breastfeeding Support https://wicbreastfeeding.fns.usda.gov

Private insurance 

coverage

Breast Pumps and 

Insurance Coverage: What You 

Need to Know

https://www.hhs.gov

Tips for eating 

healthy foods

Choose MyPlate for 

Moms/Moms-to-Be https://www.choosemyplate.gov

There are a lot of resources for mothers that want help with 

breastfeeding. See the list below for resources on specific topics.
26
27

In accordance with Federal civil rights law and U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) civil rights 

regulations and policies, the USDA, its Agencies, offices, and employees, and institutions participating 

in or administering USDA programs are prohibited from discriminating based on race, color, national 

origin, religion, sex, gender identity (including gender expression), sexual orientation, disability, age, 

marital status, family/parental status, income derived from a public assistance program, political beliefs, 

or reprisal or retaliation for prior civil rights activity, in any program or activity conducted or funded 

by USDA (not all bases apply to all programs). Remedies and complaint filing deadlines vary by program 

or incident. 

Persons with disabilities who require alternative means of communication for program information (e.g., 

Braille, large print, audiotape, American Sign Language, etc.) should contact the responsible Agency or 

USDA's TARGET Center at (202) 720-2600 (voice and TTY) or contact USDA through the Federal Relay 

Service at (800) 877-8339. Additionally, program information may be made available in languages other 

than English. 

To file a program discrimination complaint, complete the USDA Program Discrimination Complaint Form, 

AD-3027, found online at http://www.ascr.usda.gov/complaint_filing_cust.html and at any USDA office 

or write a letter addressed to USDA and provide in the letter all of the information requested in the form. 

To request a copy of the complaint form, call (866) 632-9992. Submit your completed form or letter 

to USDA by: (1) mail: U.S. Department of Agriculture, Office of the Assistant Secretary for Civil Rights, 

1400 Independence Avenue, SW, Washington, D.C. 20250-9410; (2) fax: (202) 690-7442; or (3) email: 

program.intake@usda.gov. 

USDA is an equal opportunity provider, employer, and lender. 

November 2018
28

U.S. Department of Agriculture

Food and Nutrition Service

FNS-787

November 2018