Food Safety for Infants After a Natural Disaster
Breastfeeding
- Breastfed infants should continue breastfeeding.
Formula Feeding
- For formula-fed infants, use ready-to-feed formula if possible.
- If using ready-to-feed formula is not possible, it is best to use bottled water to prepare powdered or concentrated formula.
- If bottled water is not available, boil water for 1 minute and let it cool before mixing with formula.
- Use treated water to prepare formula only if you do not have bottled or boiled water.
- Clean feeding bottles and nipples with bottled, boiled, or treated water before each use.
- If your baby is younger than 3 months old, was born prematurely, or has a weakened immune system, consider taking extra precautions to safely prepare powdered infant formula when ready-to-feed formula is not available.
Hand Washing
- Wash your hands before preparing formula and before feeding an infant. You can use alcohol-based hand sanitizer for washing your hands if the water supply is limited
Learn more about safe infant and child feeding during a natural disaster.
Learn More
- Preparedness for Expectant and New Parents
- Further information: Food and water safety after a disaster or emergency
- Physician resource: Infant Feeding During a Disaster pdf icon[PDF-245KB]external icon
- Additional Resource: Caring for Children in a Disaster
Page last reviewed: February 4, 2020
