On August 1 to 7, let’s celebrate World Breastfeeding Week!

Breastfeeding is the natural way to feed a child with major health benefits for parents and babies. Parents have the right to breastfeed anywhere, anytime – a right protected by the Human Rights Code in Ontario. However, we still have some work to do to help parents feel comfortable breastfeeding in public places.

As such, the Halton Baby-Friendly Initiative (HBFI), an organization in Halton working hard to raise awareness about the importance of breastfeeding, is helping workplaces and businesses learn how they can welcome breastfeeding at their organization.  The more public spaces that welcome breastfeeding, the more parents in our community will feel comfortable breastfeeding in public.

As part of the World Breastfeeding Week celebrations, HBFI and the Oakville and Burlington Public Libraries are displaying eight life-sized cut-outs at these library branches:  Central, Iroquois Ridge, Woodside and Sixteen Mile in Oakville; and Central, Alton, Tansley and Brant Hills in Burlington.

These life-sized cut-outs of local Halton mothers breastfeeding their babies help show breastfeeding in public is normal and comfortable.

Keep an eye out for HBFI’s cut-outs as they travel all around Halton.  Watch for them in the coming months at your local hospital and other locations.

Happy #WorldBreastfeedingWeek! #EmpowerParentsEnableBreastfeeding #WBW2019

Have you spotted one of these cut-outs? Connect with us!

• Leave us a comment below
• Tweet with us @haltonparents
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• Email us at haltonparents@halton.ca

For parenting information or to speak with a Public Health Nurse (every Monday to Friday from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.) simply dial 311 or 905-825-6000.

About this guest blogger:

Sue Gierszewski:

I have worked as a Public Health Nurse in Halton for many years.  My passion and the focus of my work is supporting parents and babies with feeding.  I coordinate a group of volunteers who provide peer support to breastfeeding mothers through the Halton Breastfeeding Connection, and work closely with our community coalition the Halton Baby-Friendly Initiative to protect and support breastfeeding.  Outside of work, I love spending time with my family and granddaughter and exploring nature in Canada’s National Parks.