In the US, many return to work while still breastfeeding. This means many breastfeeding infants are cared for in day cares, with sitters, and other child care settings. In response to this, West Virginia launched a breastfeeding friendly child care designation initiative.
According to the West Virginia Department of Health and Human Resources (DHHR), initiative is called the Breastfeeding Friendly Child Care designation.
It was created in partnership between the Division of Early Care and Education, the West Virginia Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants and Children (WIC), KEYS 4 HealthyKids, and the West Virginia Breastfeeding Alliance
Why Is There A Need For A Breastfeeding Friendly Child Care Designation?
As a certified breastfeeding counselor (CBC) or CBC student, you know many organizations support the importance of breastfeeding. The World Health Organization recommends exclusively breastfeeding for six months then alongside complementary solids until two years of age, then continued for as long as mutually desired.
The American Academy of Pediatrics, U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, and the U.S. Department of Agriculture recommend exclusive breastfeeding the first 6 months of life with continued breastfeeding at least through the first year as complementary foods are added.
However, one small study found up to 25% of new US mothers return to work within 2 weeks of giving birth. Many others return within 6-12 weeks. For those returning to work within the first 6 months of life, providing exclusive breast milk is challenging.
One challenge working parents face is overfeeding and possibly wasting of breast milk.
“By achieving the Breastfeeding Friendly Child Care designation, the provider is demonstrating support to both the mother’s choice to breastfeed and to the entire family during the transition back to work,” said Heidi Staats, Director of DHHR’s Office of Nutrition Services. “Staff are trained on breastfeeding facts, normalizing breastfeeding, safe handling of breastmilk, paced feeding, and being in tune to the infant’s hunger cues.”
How Can A Breastfeeding Friendly Child Care Designation Be Achieved?
This voluntary program is open to all licensed child care centers, registered facilities, and family child care providers. It is not a requirement but rather an extra step providers can take to show they offer evidenced based care.
To receive this designation, providers must complete the Ten Steps for Breastfeeding Friendly Child Care Centers. The steps, which do not need to be completed consecutively, are:
- Create a policy supporting breastfeeding.
- Train staff about breastfeeding.
- Inform families about the importance of breastfeeding.
- Provide educational and play opportunities normalizing breastfeeding.
- Provide proper storage and handling of breastmilk.
- Provide a breastfeeding friendly environment.
- Support breastfeeding employees.
- Ensure that each infant has a feeding plan.
- Contact/coordinate with local breastfeeding support.
- Continue learning about protection, promotion, and support of breastfeeding.
As a CBC, if you are in WV, USA, you can help your clients look for these designated providers. If you are a CBC elsewhere, you can consider advocating for similar programs in your area. Knowing how providers can achieve this can also help you educate your clients in what they should ask their child care provider about. Even in the absence of a specific designation, providers can (and should) become educated about breastfeeding.
How Does This Program Benefit Parents and Children?
There is a lot of misinformation about breastfeeding and supporting breastfeeding. When childcare providers provide outdated information, this can impact breastfeeding relationships.
If a provider is unfamiliar with proper storage and handling, or if they overfeed an infant, this can impact breastfeeding duration.
How Does This Program Benefit Child Care Providers?
Being able to offer evidenced based care means parents will trust the services offered. For child care providers, this means having a steady flow of clients.
More importantly, it means knowing they’re providing quality care.
For those who participate in The Child and Adult Care Food Program, they will receive meal reimbursement when mothers breastfeed at the center or provide pumped breastmilk for feeding their infants. This means they will not have any financial penalty for encouraging breastfeeding.
While one would hope that finances would not play any role in encouraging breastfeeding, it’s important to ensure childcare providers do not lose state support.
As a CBC, staying up-to-date with news which may impact your clients is an important part of providing professional support.
To learn more about this initiative, check the WV Infant/Toddler Professional Development website.