For the first 6 months of life, the most suitable food for a baby is breast milk alone.   

A mother's own milk, even in the tiniest quantities, is amazing for her baby, since it is full of concentrated antibodies, stem cells and growth factors, as well as providing food. 

Some mothers may need help getting started with breastfeeding, and then other milks may be suggested.  The preferred option is human milk from donor mothers, while the mother works on increasing her supply as far as possible.  Premature babies especially need human milk for the immune protection and growth factors.  The World Health Organisation recommends the use of donor human milk as the feeding of choice, if mother’s own milk is insufficient or unavailable.

Whāngai Ora Milk Bank was established to collect and distribute safe donor milk for a limited period to babies in medical need.   The milk is screened, pasteurised and tested to make it the safest of all alternatives to a mother's own milk for the pēpi of our district.   While all babies deserve breast milk, we are a small charity run by volunteers and we do not have the capacity to supply outside Manawatu, Horowhenua or Tararua.