Childcare

Breastfeeding Friendly Child Care

The choice to continue breastfeeding and providing human milk for a baby after mother returns to work is not a lifestyle choice but a health care decision. Breastfed babies and their moms who breastfeed them experience lasting health benefits. Providing a breastfeeding friendly atmosphere at your child care center or family day care home can encourage moms to continue breastfeeding after returning to work or school. A center that is breastfeeding friendly:

• Provides an atmosphere that welcomes and promotes breastfeeding as a normal method of feeding infants
• Helps mothers continue to breastfeed when they return to work or school
• Makes breastfeeding resources available to parents
• Feeds infants on cue and coordinates feeding times with parent’s schedule
• Trains staff so they can support breastfeeding parents
• Has a written breastfeeding policy

The first step is to complete an assessment to determine what additional steps you need to take, if any, to create a breastfeeding friendly environment at your facility.  

Additional Resources

Visit https://www.flbreastfeeding.org/breastfeeding-friendly-child-care-facilities/ – to learn tips on making your facility breastfeeding friendly or to apply to be designated as a Breastfeeding Friendly Child Care center in Florida.