Breastfeeding-Friendly
Child Care
A Guide for Policy Development
Table of Contents
What do we know about breastfeeding? ............................................................................................................... Page 3
Sample breastfeeding policy for child care centres …………………………………………………………………………………………… Page 5
How friendly is your child care centre to breastfeeding families? Self Assessment Tool …………………………………….. Page 6
Space for breastfeeding in child care centres …………………………………………………………………………………………………….. Page 7
Sample information sheet for parents about what to expect in a breastfeeding-friendly child care centre ………...Page 8
List of children’s books that normalize breastfeeding ………………………………………………………………………………………… Page 9
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This Guide was developed by the Community Breastfeeding Alliance of Waterloo
Region (2009).
Contributors:
Grace Bermingham
Nikki Drysdale
Mary Denomme
These materials may be adapted and distributed for nonprofit or educational purposes without
obtaining permission. Please credit the Community Breastfeeding Alliance of Waterloo Region as
the source of these materials. We would appreciate receiving copies of any materials produced.
Please send an email to [email protected] letting us know about your
work, and include electronic copies of the documents if possible.
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What do we know about breastfeeding?
Today, most women are breastfeeding their babies. Breast milk is
the best food you can offer your baby. Health Canada and the
World Health Organization recommend that it should be the only
food or drink for the first 6 months of life and after that,
breastfeeding should continue - with the gradual introduction of
solid foods - for 2 years and more (Health Canada). In Ontario, the
rights of mothers to breastfeed are protected under the Ontario
Human Rights Code.
There are well-established benefits for breastfed children. These include:
Source: Region of Waterloo Public Health, Us Department of Health and Human Services
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•
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Fewer illnesses and fewer hospital visits
Lower risk of allergies, diabetes, obesity and some cancers
Promotes closeness with the mother
Promotes proper jaw and tooth development
Potential links to better brain development in children
Breastfeeding also provides the following benefits to mothers:
Source: Region of Waterloo o Public Health, Us Department of Health and Human Services
• The following illnesses are less common in women who have
breastfed one or more babies:
o Ovarian cancer
o Breast cancer
o Type 2 diabetes
o Post partum mood disorder or depression
• Breastfeeding promotes closeness between mother and child
• Breastfeeding saves money; formula (artificial breast milk) is
expensive
• Breastfeeding helps to burn fat and helps with post partum
weight loss
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Breastfeeding is good for the community as well:
Source: Us Department of Health and Human Services
• There are decreased costs to the health care system
• There is less waste going to the landfill and recycling depots
• As more families breastfeed their children, breastfeeding becomes the norm in our
community
Breastfeeding is good for child care providers too!
• Breastfed babies tend to get sick less often (fewer ear infections, colds and flu)
• A child care facility that supports breastfeeding families is very attractive to families looking
for child care and could be included on all marketing materials
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POLICY # ____________
Breastfeeding Families
________________________________ (name of child care facility) recognizes that breastfeeding is a normal
and natural part of a child’s first years and that breast milk is the optimal food for growth and development of
infants.
As such, _____________________________ (name of child care facility) encourages its staff, students,
volunteers and families to have a positive, accepting attitude toward women, children and breastfeeding.
_________________________________ (name of child care facility) acknowledges that Health Canada
recommends exclusive breastfeeding for the first six months of life with continued breastfeeding for a up to two
years.
Breastfeeding Policy
__________________________________ (name of child care facility) promotes and supports breastfeeding for
mothers who are breastfeeding when they return to work/school. In keeping with this philosophy, our centre will
adhere to the following practices.
Practices:
1.
Provide a welcoming atmosphere that encourages mothers and employees to initiate and continue
breastfeeding after returning to work/school.
2. Provide a comfortable space for mothers to breastfeed their children on site (i.e. a rocking chair) but welcome
mothers to breastfeed wherever they are comfortable.
3. Provide a space in the refrigerator for storage of expressed breast milk.
4. Assist the breastfeeding infant/mother in the transition from home into the child care setting.
5. Educate staff and families on the benefits of breastfeeding through literature and provide referrals to
community organizations for breastfeeding support when necessary.
6. Staff will be educated in the proper storage and handling of human milk. This child care facility will follow the
guidelines as outlined in the Region of Waterloo Public Health‘s Safe Healthy Children’s Manual, a Guide for
Child Care Providers (see below).
- Breast milk is to be brought daily in a closed container clearly labeled with the child’s name and date.
- Containers of breast milk must be refrigerated upon arrival.
- If breast milk is frozen it can be left in the refrigerator to thaw. If still frozen when it is needed, the
milk can then be warmed by placing the bottle in cool water to finish thawing before warming. Ask
the guardian/caregiver if the child has a preference for a temperature. Warm the bottle in warm
water. Swirl the contents and test for temperature before feeding the child. Throw away what the
child does not drink.
- Microwaves should never be used for warming breast milk.
7. Breastfeeding promotion information will be displayed.
8. Discrimination and harassment of breastfeeding mothers in any form is unacceptable and will not be tolerated
at _________________________ (name of child care facility).
9. Educate staff and families about the ____________________________ (name of child care facility)
breastfeeding policy.
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Breastfeeding-Friendly Child Care Centre
Self-Assessment Tool
Our centre is breastfeeding-friendly which means that mothers are welcome to breastfeed
anytime, anywhere.
 Yes
 No
If requested by a mother, our centre has a comfortable place for mothers to breastfeed their
children.
 Yes
 No
Our centre recognizes that breastfeeding is a human right and protected under the Ontario
Human Rights Code.
 Yes
 No
Our centre welcomes mothers to visit during the day to feed their children.
 Yes
 No
 Yes
 No
Our staff is aware that breast milk is an essential part of breastfed children’s meals and the
only food requirement for babies less than 6 months of age.
Our centre makes parents welcome to send expressed milk in a clearly labelled bottle which
will be stored in the refrigerator, and that staff will provide the milk to the child as instructed
by the parent(s).
 Yes
 No
Our staff is aware of the benefits of breastfeeding and are sensitive to the needs of
breastfeeding families such as allowing them to breastfeed when they drop off their child and
when they pick their child up at the end of their day.
 Yes
 No
Our staff is aware of the powerful message sent to children by using the word “formula” to
describe all infant bottle feeding. Breastfeeding inclusive language is encouraged. E.g.,
“nursing”, “breastfeeding” and “giving baby a bottle”.
 Yes
 No
Our staff does not discourage breastfeeding-friendly play. E.g., when children pretend to
breastfeed their dolls or stuffed animals.
 Yes
 No
Our centre has books/materials that present breastfeeding as a normal child feeding
method.
 Yes
 No
Our centre avoids or removes books/materials that present formula (artificial milk) feeding
as the only or best choice for infant feeding (formula feeding alone is included in the
content of the story or resource).
 Yes
 No
Our centre supports and encourages employees to breastfeed their children in care.
 Yes
 No
 Yes
 No
Our centre has a policy that describes the centre’s commitment and practices related to
breastfeeding.
Our staff is familiar with the breastfeeding policy and can refer to it if needed.
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 Yes
 No
Space for breastfeeding in child
care centres
Mothers can breastfeed anytime, anywhere.
Child care centres are busy places and space is often in high demand. A
room designated solely for breastfeeding is not needed (and not
always possible). While breastfeeding mothers can feed their children
anytime, anywhere, some mothers might enjoy having access to a
quiet corner in a room or use of a semi-private room.
Making these available to mothers upon request would be helpful.
Basic ideas to make breastfeeding welcome for mothers and children
include:
 Options for mothers to use a comfortable chair
 Options for mothers to feed their child in a lower traffic location with
potential for greater privacy (if requested by the mother)
 Access to a sink with hot and cold running water
 Access to a wastebasket
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We are a breastfeeding-friendly child
care centre!
breastfeeding-friendly facility means the following:
 Mothers are welcome to breastfeed their children in the child care facility anytime,
anywhere.
 Staff is aware of the World Health Organization (WHO) recommendation for mothers
to exclusively breastfeed infants under six months of age and to continue
breastfeeding their children until age two or older.
 Staff is aware of a mother’s right to breastfeed and the importance of breast milk for
infants and older children.
 Expressed breast milk that is clearly labelled will be stored in the refrigerator and
prepared for children as directed by the parent.
Are your child(ren) breastfed?
If you plan on sending expressed breast milk with your child:
 Breast milk is to be brought in daily in a closed container clearly labeled with the
child’s name and date.
 Containers of breast milk must be refrigerated upon arrival.
Information about breast milk preparation:
 If breast milk is frozen it will be left in the refrigerator to thaw. If still frozen when it
is needed, the milk will then be warmed by placing the bottle in cool water to finish
thawing before warming. Please let us know if your child(ren) has a preference for a
temperature. The bottle will be warmed in warm water. Milk that the child does not
drink will be thrown away.
 Microwaves will never be used for warming breast milk.
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Children’s books that normalize breastfeeding
Baby Whales Drink Milk
By Esbensen, Barbara Juster. Full color illustrations by Lambert Davis. 32 pages. Harper Collins, 1994.
A "Let's-Read-and-Find-Out Science" book about humpback whales, emphasizing that whales are mammals and
feed their babies milk. "Humans are mammals. Cats, dogs, horses and pigs are mammals too. They all feed their
babies milk that comes from their bodies." Shows a human mother holding but not breastfeeding her baby
Baby's Day
By Sarah Pooley. Published by Peter Bedrick Books in New York.
It shows various things the baby does through the day with simple words under each picture. On the last page,
as the baby is getting ready for bed, the child is nursed with "milk" written under the picture. There are no
bottles or pacifiers in this book. The child does drink out of a sippy cup at meals (typical of an older baby).
Contemplating Your Bellybutton
By Jun Nanao. Kane/Miller.
Breastfeeding is portrayed as a natural part of a baby's life.
Daniel's Dog
By Jo Ellen Bogart. Scholastic Canada.
Breastfeeding mother pictured in the course of the story.
Feeding Babies
By Chiyoko Nakatani. Full-color illus. 24 pp., Puffin Books.
A collection of small babies feeding, e.g., a giraffe, hippo, etc., ending with a human baby breastfeeding.
I Am a Little Dog / I Am a Little Elephant / I Am a Little Giraffe / I Am a Little Hedgehog / I Am a Little Kangaroo /
I Am a Little Pig / I Am a Little Whale
By Francois Crozat, Barron's Educational Series, 1995-1997
The books in this series are narrated by the baby animal, and all make mention of nursing at least once. In I Am
a Little Pig, the mommy pig has more babies than nipples, and the baby pig that tells the story is bottle-fed by
the farmer's daughter, while all its siblings nurse. The baby elephant says that mommy's milk "is so good, and it
keeps me healthy."
Mommy Breastfeeds our Baby
By Teresa Carroll. Full color illus. by Linda Gray. 22 pp. NuBaby, Tuscaloosa, AL, 1993.
"Helps children to understand breastfeeding as a natural and special way to feed the new baby." (LLL).
Over the Green Hills
By Rachel Isadora, Greenwillow Books, 1992.
Set in South Africa. Nursing is incidental to story - younger sister is fed several times during story. Good
example of baby weaning (toddler) and extended nursing.
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The Pirate Queen
By Emily Arnorld McNully.
This is a book for older children or read-aloud book, with a wonderful illustration of a nursing mother.
A Teeny Tiny Baby
By Amy Schwartz. Full-color illus. by the author. 32 pp. Orchard Books, 1994.
It's "told by" the newborn ("I am a teeny tiny baby. Mom and Dad cater to my every need.") and one sequence
shows the mother nursing in many different locations in the house, ending up with a scene of her nursing in the
middle of the night with all the lights out except where she is.
We Have A Baby
By Cathryn Falwell. Full-color illus. by the author. Clarion books, 1993.
Shows a family with a new baby in a very nurturing way. Each page is "a baby to …" (hold, bathe, love, feed,
etc.) - the "feed" page shows the mom nursing the baby while snuggling with the older child.
We Like to Nurse
By Chia Martin. Full-color illus. by Shukyo Lin Rainey. 30 pp. Hohm Press, 1995.
"Presents breastfeeding as a natural part of life for many different kinds of animals" (LLL).
The Barenaked Book
By Kathy Stinson
Introduction to body parts for young children. Has an illustration of a nursing mother.
For more information about
breastfeeding friendly child care,
contact the Community Breastfeeding
Alliance of Waterloo Region
Email: [email protected]
Phone: 519-883-2002 ext. 6151
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