14 Del. Admin. Code § 934-III-51.0

Current through Reigster Vol. 28, No. 6, December 1, 2024

Section 934-III-51.0 - Feeding of Infants

51.1 A licensee shall ensure an infant is given foods and drinks on demand or according to the infant's eating habits using the following guidelines:

51.1.1 A parent or guardian provides a written feeding statement listing the foods and drinks, including specific formula or breast milk, an infant eats or drinks. This schedule must be updated monthly and as needed;

51.1.2 Mixing prepared formula or breast milk in a bottle with anything else requires written permission from an infant's health care provider;

51.1.3 A written record of each infant's food intake must be shared with the parent or guardian daily. Feeding problems must be discussed with the parent or guardian before the infant leaves that day;

51.1.4 An infant must be held for bottle-feeding. When an infant is able to hold a bottle or does not want to be held while fed, the infant may be placed in a high chair or at a feeding table; and

51.1.5 Introduction to all new foods and beverages must be made only with the parent's or guardian's permission.

51.2 Infants are allowed to take breaks during feedings. Infants must be observed for signs of fullness and must be allowed to stop a feeding when full unless documentation from an infant's health care provider requires the feeding to continue;

51.3 Parent or guardian permission is needed to feed formula to an infant receiving only breast milk;

51.4 A staff member shall hold only one infant at a time while bottle feeding;

51.5 An infant must never be placed in sleeping or relaxing equipment with a bottle or have a bottle propped for feeding;

51.6 Bottles and infant foods must be warmed for no more than five minutes under running warm tap water or by placing them in a container of water that is no warmer than 120° F. They must not be warmed or thawed in a microwave oven;

51.7 Semi-solid foods may be fed as requested by the parent or guardian once an infant is six months old and developmentally ready unless the parent or guardian provides documentation from the infant's health care provider stating otherwise;

51.8 Foods for infants must be a texture and consistency that helps them eat safely. Puréed foods must be served from a dish unless serving the entire contents of the jar;

51.9 Cow's milk may not be served to infants;

51.10 Juice may not be fed to infants;

51.11 Bottles and nipples kept by the home must be washed and sanitized before each use;

51.12 All bottles of formula prepared from a powder must be labeled with the child's name, and date and time of preparation;

51.12.1 All bottles of formula prepared from a powder must be used within two hours of preparation, unless refrigerated immediately after preparation or on arrival if prepared by a parent or guardian;

51.12.2 Refrigerated, unused, prepared powder formula must be thrown away after 24 hours;

51.13 All bottles of formula prepared from a concentrate or ready-to-feed formula must be labeled with the child's name, and date and time of opening or preparation;

51.13.1 All bottles of formula prepared from a concentrate or ready-to-feed formula must be used within two hours of preparation, unless refrigerated immediately after preparation or on arrival if prepared by a parent or guardian;

51.13.2 Refrigerated, unused, prepared concentrate or ready-to-feed formula must be thrown away after 48 hours of opening the concentrate or ready-to-feed formula's bottle or can;

51.14 Unused portions of any formula must be thrown away after each feeding that exceeds one hour;

51.15 Formula must be prepared from a factory-sealed container;

51.16 Prepared bottles of formula must be covered when stored in the refrigerator; and

51.17 Breast milk must be fed only to the infant it was intended for.

51.17.1 Frozen breast milk must be thawed under running cold water or in the refrigerator and used within 24 hours.

51.17.2 Thawed, previously frozen breast milk may be kept at room temperature for one to two hours.

51.17.3 Breast milk must be used within two hours after a feeding has finished.

51.17.4 Expressed breast milk must be returned to the parent if it is in an unsanitary bottle, if it has been unrefrigerated for more than four hours, or if it is more than two hours after a feeding has ended at room temperature.

51.17.5 Refrigerated, unused, freshly expressed breast milk that was never frozen must be returned to the parent after four days.

51.17.6 Breast milk that was frozen and stored in a freezer at 0° F must be thrown away after six months.

51.18 As described in Appendix XI, a licensee shall ensure a breakfast provided and served by a home has at least one age-appropriate serving-size item from each of the required food groups including breast milk or formula.

51.19 As described in Appendix XI, a licensee shall ensure lunch or dinner provided and served by a home has one age-appropriate serving-size item from each of the required food groups including breast milk or formula.

51.20 As described in Appendix XI, a licensee shall ensure that a snack provided and served by a home has at least one age-appropriate serving-size item from each of the required food groups, including the breast milk or formula, grain, and fruit and vegetable food groups.

14 Del. Admin. Code § 934-III-51.0

24 DE Reg. 272 (9/1/2020)
25 DE Reg. 1017 (5/1/2022)
26 DE Reg. 103 (8/1/2022) (Final)