Breastfeeding support for all in Richmond
Running from 1st to 7th August, World Breastfeeding Week aims to create and promote environments that help parents breastfeed for longer. This includes having community support and making sure families receive information on its benefits and where to go if they need support. The World Health Organization recommends exclusive breastfeeding for the first six months of a child’s life. Breastmilk provides essential nutrients, supports immune system development, and enhances the mother-child relationship.
World Breastfeeding Week 2024’s theme ‘Closing the gap, breastfeeding support for all’ is about actions that can help to enhance support and opportunities, especially for vulnerable families. Richmond upon Thames has announced the launch of a new scheme delivered by The Breastfeeding Network (BfN) to support parents to breastfeed as long as they would like.
The scheme invites local businesses and venues to sign up and become breastfeeding-friendly venues. The scheme is free to join and is open to premises from hairdressers, shops, libraries and museums to community centres, GP practices and health centres — in fact anywhere that is open to the public.
By signing up to this scheme businesses and organisations can help show that they welcome and support families by displaying an easily recognisable sticker and sharing information with their staff and volunteers about why it is important and how it is protected.
To join the scheme or for further information, contact richmond@breastfeedingnetwork.org.uk.
