Feeding Infants in CACFP Child Care Programs

Breast Milk or Formula Provided by Parent or Guardian

The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) and Dietary Guidelines for Americans recommend feeding infants breast milk exclusively for approximately 6 months after birth, if possible, and continuing to feed infants breast milk, along with complementary (solid) foods through at least the first year of life, and longer if desired. CACFP meals and snacks served to infants from birth through 11 months may contain:

  • iron-fortified infant formula;
  • breast milk (including expressed breast milk and a parent directly breastfeeding on-site); or
  • a combination of both.

An infant’s parent or guardian may choose to decline the infant formula offered by the CACFP facility and provide expressed breast milk or a creditable iron-fortified infant formula instead. This request is submitted by the parent/guardian to the CACFP facility using the CSDE's form, Accepting/Rejecting Infant Formula in the CACFP.

Meal Components Provided by CACFP Facility

When a parent or guardian chooses to provide breast milk (expressed breast milk or by directly breastfeeding on-site) or a creditable infant formula and the infant is consuming solid foods, the CACFP facility must supply all other required meal components for the meal or snack to be reimbursable.

Documentation on Infant Menus

CACFP facilities must maintain daily menu records to show what foods are served to each infant. CACFP facilities are not required to document if breast milk was served in a bottle by the child care provider or if the parent breastfed on-site. The menu may simply indicate that the infant was offered breast milk. Additionally, CACFP facilities are not required to record the amount of breast milk a parent directly breastfeeds their infant.

Reimbursement

CACFP facilities may claim reimbursement for meals and snacks containing parent/guardian-provided expressed breast milk or an allowable infant formula when they are served to the infant by the child care provider. This includes meals and snacks for infants who are consuming only breast milk or an allowable infant formula. The USDA also allows CACFP facilities to claim reimbursement for meals and snacks when a parent directly breastfeeds their infant at the child care center or family day care home. 

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