Wandsworth welcomes breastfeeding

Wandsworth has launched a new scheme to help mums throughout the borough. Businesses, such as restaurants and cafes, will now advertise whether they are 'breastfeeding friendly' in a bid to allow more mums to feel able to breastfeed their children in public. The scheme also hopes to encourage women to breastfeed for longer in order to improve their children's health.

Almost 72 per cent of mums living in the borough breastfeed their babies. This is higher than the UK national average, which is just under 50 per cent. Despite this high average, many of the women in Wandsworth have reported that they feel embarrassed when feeding their babies in public places. Although the 2010 Equality Act protects the act of breastfeeding in public, many women are still reluctant to do it, especially when they are in shops or cafes.

The Breastfeeding Welcome scheme has been launched in the hope of providing support for mums when they do need to feed their children in public places throughout the borough. All public venues, including children's centres, doctor's surgeries, shops and cafes, will be able to display a window sticker letting people know that they allow breastfeeding.

Not only will this encourage mums to breastfeed, it will also allow other members of the public to know that on occasion someone may be breastfeeding in that establishment. The businesses that advertise they welcome breastfeeding will be rewarded by being advertised on the Breastfeeding Welcome website, which is a national site.

Houda Al-Sharifi, the director of public health for Wandsworth, said: "Wandsworth Council supports breastfeeding because of the immense health benefits it has for mothers and their babies. We know that breastfeeding reduces tummy upsets, lung infections and asthma in babies. It also reduces the risk of mothers developing breast cancer. Mothers who are in a position to breast feed are strongly encouraged to do it and we are doing everything we can to support them."

By joining the scheme Wandsworth is proving itself to be a family orientated and tolerant borough.

 

Published 19th July, 2013

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