Breastfeeding welcome: District promotes ‘breastfeeding-friendly places’
To mark World Breastfeeding Week, under the slogan “Breastfeeding. Your superpower”, the Waldeck-Frankenberg district is highlighting its “Breastfeeding-friendly places” initiative. The aim of the campaign is to promote healthy child development and to make it easier for parents to breastfeed or bottle-feed whilst out and about. Ten businesses and organisations in the district are already part of the growing network.
Families with babies welcome
Breast milk provides babies with essential nutrients and strengthens their immune system. Breastfeeding also has positive effects for mothers, such as fostering bonding and reducing the risk of postnatal depression. At the same time, the decision to breastfeed or not is a very personal one. The ‘Breastfeeding-Friendly Places’ initiative is aimed at all families who wish to care for their child in an undisturbed and pleasant atmosphere – regardless of how they choose to feed their baby. Participating shops, cafés, public offices or medical practices display a special sticker to indicate that families with infants are warmly welcome there. A ‘Breastfeeding-Friendly Place’ offers comfortable seating without any obligation to make a purchase. A private area, nappy-changing facilities and free drinking water are also desirable, though not mandatory.
Making Waldeck-Frankenberg more family-friendly
“We’re delighted that ten businesses from Frankenberg, Korbach, Twistetal and Bad Arolsen have already signed up,” explains Franziska Strube from the Health Service. Of course, the scheme does not mean that breastfeeding or feeding is unwelcome in other places. “Rather, we want to highlight where families with babies can feed their children in peace. The feedback from parents has been consistently positive, and for the businesses it’s a simple way to show their hospitality.”
Karl-Friedrich Frese, the district’s First Deputy District Administrator, also emphasises the importance of the project: “Our initiative is a key step towards making Waldeck-Frankenberg even more family-friendly. In doing so, we are providing very practical support for young families. I therefore warmly invite all shops, businesses and organisations in the district to join the campaign and thereby make a valuable contribution to our community.”
These places are already taking part:
- Bad Arolsen: Town of Bad Arolsen, ‘Kleines Wunder’ Midwifery Practice
- Korbach: Möbelkreis kitchen showroom, Thalia, the municipal library, Goldstück patisserie and café, Korbach Information Centre
- Twistetal: Protestant nursery
- Frankenberg: Illerküken Childminding Centre, Kunterbunt Farm Shop
The district welcomes further interested organisations wishing to expand the network of breastfeeding-friendly places. The Registration is straightforward and free of charge online . Parents and anyone else interested can find all the information, the registration form for businesses and a map showing all participating locations here.
Keywords:
Breastfeeding-friendly places Public Health Specialist Health Service