Free formula milk can be provided by the Free Milk Scheme for eligible parents.  This is pre-mixed bottled formula.

Parents can provide their own pre-mixed bottled formula.  Parents who provide pre-mixed bottle formula must provide an original unopened shop bought container with the child's name written on it.

Parents who provide a bottle of formula milk in a baby bottle before drop-off, must retain the original packaging of the milk at home. Parents must inform staff of the time that the formula milk was opened.  The formula milk will be disposed of within 2-hours of the milk being opened.

Parents must inform staff of all changes to their baby's feeding routine.

The Tots' Clubhouse Nursery School will take information from parents and respect their wishes.  However, staff reserve the right to:

• Refuse to mix formula milk with whole milk (or semi-skimmed).
• Throw away any formula milk that is provided by a parent if there are visible concerns that the milk has not been prepared correctly or is spoilt upon opening.  
• A photograph will be taken and shared with the parent to advise why the milk has been disposed of.
• Throw away any formula milk that is unused and or has been kept in the fridge for 2-hours.

The Tots' Clubhouse Nursery School staff will ensure that they:

• Do follow the manufacturer's instructions very carefully, as they vary as to how much water and powder to use.
• Do not add extra formula powder when making up a feed. This can make your baby constipated or dehydrated.
• Do not add extra water when making up a feed. Too little powder may not give your baby enough nourishment.
• Do not add sugar or cereals to your baby's formula.
• Never warm up formula in a microwave, as it may heat the feed unevenly and burn your baby's mouth.

Please refer to the manufacturers guidance for more information.

We follow NHS guidance on the types of formula suitable for babies.

https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/baby/breastfeeding-and-bottle-feeding/bottle-feeding/types-of-formula/

Parents must inform staff of the following:

• Quantities/amounts of milk to be given to the child.
• The times when they would be expected to be given the milk.

Parents who provide ready-mixed powdered formula milk must confirm with staff the following:

• The manufacturer of the formula milk.
• The amount of power that they are providing.
• The amount of water use to prepare it.

Prescription Milk Powder

Parents who provide prescribed powder milk:

• Parents should use a scoop to measure out the required formula powder milk into pots, labelled with child's name, for each bottle to be made.
• Parents should send in as many clean feeding bottles as will be needed.    We do not expect to clean and sterilise bottles whilst we care for the child.
• Please do not put the formula powder milk in the feeding bottle.

The Tots' Clubhouse will provide the boiling water to prepare the formula powder milk when required.

Feeding bottles that are provided should be cleaned an sterilised following the NHS guidance:

https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/baby/breastfeeding-and-bottle-feeding/bottle-feeding/sterilising-baby-bottles/

The Tots' Clubhouse Nursery School staff will follow the NHS guidance for preparing the formula milk as below:

Formula milk that is given under prescription should be prepared by a parent, and staff should be informed of the nature of the prescription and manufacturer of the powder.

Step-by-step guide to preparing a prescription formula feed

• Step 1: Fill the kettle with at least 1 litre of fresh tap water (do not use water that has been boiled before).
• Step 2: Boil the water. Then leave the water to cool for no more than 30 minutes, so that it remains at a temperature of at least 70C.
• Step 3: Clean and disinfect the surface you are going to use.
• Step 4: It's important that you wash your hands.
• Step 5: If you are using a cold-water steriliser, shake off any excess solution from the bottle and the teat, or rinse them with cooled boiled water from the kettle (not tap water).
• Step 6: Stand the bottle on the cleaned, disinfected surface.
• Step 7: Follow the manufacturer's instructions and pour the amount of water you need into the bottle. Double check that the water level is correct. Always put the water in the bottle first, while it is still hot, before adding the powdered formula.
• Step 8: Loosely fill the scoop with formula powder, according to the manufacturer's instructions, then level it using either the flat edge of a clean, dry knife or the leveller provided. Different formulas come with different scoops. Make sure you only use the scoop that comes with the formula.
• Step 9: Holding the edge of the teat, put it into the retaining ring, check it is secure, then screw the ring tightly onto the bottle. Make sure the ring is attached firmly.
• Step 10: Cover the teat with the cap and shake the bottle until the powder is dissolved.
• Step 11: It's important to cool the formula so it's not too hot to drink. Do this by holding the bottle (with the lid on) under cold running water.
• Step 12: Test the temperature of the formula on the inside of your wrist before giving it to your baby. It should be body temperature, which means it should feel warm or cool, but not hot.
• Step 13: If there is any made-up formula left in the bottle after a feed, throw it away.
   

Review date: December 2026