Bristol’s emergency provision of infant formula pathway

Pathway goals, infant feeding financial crisis advice, emergency provision of infant formula pathways

Pathway goals


The rising cost of living and the increasing price of infant formula mean that more families are struggling to afford enough food.

This pathway has been created with the help of key organisations and follows UNICEF's Supporting families with Infants under 12 months experiencing food insecurity

Our aims are to:

  • make sure that babies and families at risk receive the most suitable support to meet their needs, reduce risks, and improve their health and wellbeing
  • help prevent future food crises from happening

While this pathway includes providing one-off vouchers for formula in emergencies, our main goal is to find more sustainable, long-term solutions whenever possible.

How this pathway supports breastfeeding mothers and parents

Breastfeeding helps protect babies from food insecurity in their first 6 months and beyond, alongside other foods. However, a mother's confidence in breastfeeding can be affected during difficult times.

Although we say mother, woman and breastfeeding on this page, we understand that not everyone uses these terms. We support any parent with any aspect of feeding their baby.

This pathway aims to ensure that, when it is the mother's wish, mothers and parents can get the right support to start or continue breastfeeding.

For more information about local breastfeeding support visit the feeding your baby page on this site.

Why food banks and baby banks are advised not to accept donations of infant formula

Staff and volunteers at food banks and other organisations that support families facing hardship play a vital role in identifying needs and directing people to:

UNICEF advises that food banks and other organisations should not accept donations of infant formula for these reasons:

  • Safety and consistency: concerns about the safety of the formula, the reliability of the supply, and the wide variety of products available. It cannot be guaranteed that a food bank will be able to provide the correct and safe infant formula.
  • Risk of inappropriate formula: Providing the wrong type of formula could be harmful. For example, follow-on formula is not suitable for babies under six months old.
  • Delay in further support: Providing formula donations might prevent families from being referred for other support they need and are eligible for.
  • Contradicts health advice: Food marketed as suitable for infants under four months old should not be distributed, as this goes against UK public health recommendations.

Infant feeding financial crisis advice for professionals supporting families

Tips for professionals supporting families to establish families need for emergency formula

Food type and preparation

Has the parent been advised that even if money is tight, it is important not to:

  • water down feeds,
  • give cow's milk to babies under 1 year
  • introduce solid foods before 6 months
  • prepare bottles without sterilising them first or using boiled water that has been cooled to make up formula

Support to continue or restart breastfeeding

Has the parent been given sufficient support to continue or re-start breastfeeding?

Consider a referral to the Bristol Infant Feeding team for practical and emotional support. The team can also offer guidance and support with hand expressing and possible loan of a breast pump.

There are support resources and groups across Bristol visit feeding your baby on this site.

Formula advice

Has the parent been given information about only giving first milk and budget formula brands being equal nutritionally?

Parents may feel able to stretch money by buying a cheaper formula

Wellbeing concerns

Are there other wellbeing concerns such as parenting priorities, home environment, mental health or relating to other children in the family.

Age-appropriate infant diet

Is the parent aware of an age-appropriate infant diet? Parent may be giving more milk than recommended tor their age. They may be able to increase family foods or cow's milk that is available from food bank

Food insecurity

Is the parent able to access other food insecurity funds such as foodbanks, food clubs and Healthy Start vouchers?

Parents may be able to budget for formula if they can get family food from other sources

Benefits and budgetary support

Has the parent accessed benefits and budgetary support? Parents should be referred or signposted for support to prevent future crisis and to
budget for the baby's needs.

Responsive and safe bottle feeding

Has the parent been given advice about responsive bottle feeding? Consider other impacts of financial hardship such as pump, bottles and steriliser. Is fuel poverty an issue in boiling water or refrigeration?

Bristol's emergency provision of infant formula pathways

Pathway 1 and 2

A parent discloses financial hardship and requests emergency supply of formula. The pathway you should follow depends on the day and time of the request.

  • Monday to Friday 9am to 5pm follow pathway 1
  • Evening or weekends and not enough formula to last until next working day follow pathway 2

Pathway 1: Working hours

Step 1

Contact the Health Visiting (HV) Team for infant feeding assessment and support. 

  • East Central call 0300 125 6274
  • North call 0300 125 6278
  • South call 0300 125 6264

Step 2

The duty HV team will contact the family and should complete a feeding assessment and establish what support is needed using the infant feeding financial crisis for advice professionals section on this page.

Step 3

If the parent has more than 24 hours supply of formuala the  HV should signpost the parent to the Crisis Prevention Fund who assess eligibility for a shopping voucher. The application must be submitted before 12 midday for same day assessment.

Step 4

If the parent has less than 24 hours supply of infant formula and

  • the child is over 1 year see step 5
  • under 1 year the duty clinical lead should arrange for a voucher collection or delivery. then see step 5

Step 5

The duty HV should:

  • offer advice on healthy diet and full fat cow's milk or alternative
  • signpost parent to Healthy Start, local food bank or food clubs
  • consider barriers to offering a child an age-appropriate diet and wider support needs

Step 6

The named HV team should consider referral for ongoing family support to:

  • early help or a Family Hub
  • financial management advice
  • community organisations and hardship funds

Step 7

The duty HV should email the infant feeding health visitor team with information about the request and outcome.

Pathway 2: Outside of working hours

Step 1

Contact out of hours Social Care, the Emergency Duty Team will provide immediate support as well as onward referral and signposting as appropriate.