CGBI: Resources- Lactation and Infant Feeding in Emergencies

Notes On Using This Kit

The materials in this basic rapid response bundle include information and helpful guides for health workers, frontline responders, shelter managers, and volunteers supporting families in their communities.
These are some key resources to assist in supporting families with infants and young children (from birth to 2 years of age) in providing safe nutrition during emergencies.
To download the complete kit as a zip (compressed) file, please click here: CGBI- L.I.F.E. Support Basic Kit. We recommend that you take a moment to review the components of the bundle and decide what resources best fit the needs for your organization and affected families. Feel free to use and print them or as a guide to develop tailored resources.

U.S. CDC Guidance for Infant Feeding in Emergencies

• Recommendations for handling expressed human milk in home settings
• Cleaning and sanitizing infant feeding items
• Cleaning and sanitizing devices for human milk expression (pumps)
• Supporting Families with Relactation

L.I.F.E.™ Support- Basic Kit v.1.2 COMPONENTS

[Last Updated 9/21/2018]

IFE Core Group Operational Guidance

IFE Operational Guidance for Emergency Relief Staff and Programme Managers : A comprehensive guide for policies and procedures to support infant feeding in emergencies

Save the Children Response assessment, planning and support tools

Full Save the Children IYCF-E Toolkit (2022)

Selected components included in the bundle (requires Google sign-in):

• Example of Cup Feeding Guide for Health Workers
• Template for Simple Rapid Assessment v.2
• Summary of Frontline Feeding Support
• How to conduct an IYCF-E Support Group
• Summary of Complementary Feeding Guiding Principles for Non-breastfed Child 6-24 months of age

Basic Emergency Nutrition Guidance

AAP Flyer Infant Feeding In Disasters and Emergencies (ENGLISH, SPANISH): Information for frontline support and parents, including a decision-making tree on page 2 that is useful for supporters

Guide on Hand Expression created by LER (ENGLISH and SPANISH): This is helpful for parents who rely on milk expression (“pumping”) their milk with a device and can be used along with guidance for cup feeding. Avoiding pumps, bottles, and nipples is important when access to sanitary milk expression and feeding environments is limited.

WHO safe formula preparation Guidelines (2012): Important guidance for shelter workers or others working in settings where they may be preparing formula for families to use. Also, good information to share with families or have posted in areas within shelters or other settings where parents will be preparing formula themselves.

Mental Health and Psychosocial Support

Resources from Postpartum Support International

• PSI Awareness poster (ENGLISH) (SPANISH)
• PSI Awareness for dads (ENGLISH) (SPANISH)
• PSI support brochure (ENGLISH) (SPANISH)

Resources from SAMHSA

• SAMHSA Behavioral Health Disaster Response Mobile App – assist those responding to disasters to ensure that resources are readily available
• SAMHSA Treatment Locator
• SAMHSA Disaster Distress Helpline
• SAMHSA Tips for Talking with and Helping Children and Youth Cope After a Disaster or Traumatic Event: A Guide for Parents, Caregivers, and Teachers

EXAMPLES OF POSTERS AND SIGNAGE FOR SHELTERS

Example of Toddler play area signs to encourage creating safe play spaces for infants and young children (0-3)

CGBI- Toddler Play Area ENGLISH | CGBI- Toddler Play Area SPANISH

Examples of Posters to Remind Helpers of Key Points*:

• Reminders for shelter staff, volunteers, and other helpers to conduct an assessment to determine the infant feeding support required. Breastfeeding infants should not receive formula unless medically indicated. CGBI- Rapid Needs Assessment
• Reminders for how to support all breastfed infants and their caregivers. CGBI- Supporting Breastfeeding
• Reminders for creating safe and supportive environments to all families with infants and young children. Examples of Signs for Creating Supportive Spaces for Baby Care, Breastfeeding Welcome, Family Care. CGBI- Baby Care Area | CGBI- Family Care Area | CGBI- Breastfeeding Area
• Reminder to shelter staff, helpers, and families of the risks of washing and preparing formula in toilet areas. CGBI- Washroom Warning
• Safer preparation of formula feeds in food preparation areas or designated formula preparation areas. The WHO guidance for preparing powdered infant formula should be made available for the full guidance. CGBI- Preparing Formula
• Warehouse with reminders regarding Operational Guidance for donations of breastmilk substitutes and feeding items. CGBI- Managing Donations
• Warehouse and food distribution areas to ensure that formula feeding kits (also called “BMS Kits” in the Save the Children Toolkit) include all materials needed to prepare formula feeds more safely. CGBI- Formula Feeding Kit
  • Express Guide for Infant Feeding in Emergencies, created by Alimentación Segura Infantil (ASI) (one-page, rack card style) ASI Express Guide in English | ASI Express Guide in Spanish
  • Example of information Cards to be included in infant feeding kits distributed to families, created by Alimentación Segura Infantil (ASI) (for printing on 4×5 post card stock, front and back) ASI Formula Kit Card ENGLISH | ASI Formula Kit Card SPANISH

*Refer to the IFE Operational Guidance for complete instructions, and for additional ideas for creating signs that may assist staff and helpers.

Rapid Needs Assessment

Toddler Play Area

Breastfeeding Area Sign

Hyperlinks on this page reviewed 9/30/2024