Breastfeeding Friendly Child Care
Protecting, promoting and supporting breastfeeding is an important part of public health.The Department's Child and Adult Care Food Program encourages child care centers and family day care homes to support breastfeeding families and recognizes these providers with a Breastfeeding Friendly designation. Child care center/day care home staff complete an assessment that shows they support breastfeeding families.
Why should my center or home support breastfeeding?
- A child care center or home that is Breastfeeding Friendly actively supports breastfeeding families and helps parents continue breastfeeding when they return to work or school.
- Breastfeeding helps children by providing protection from infection, SIDS, obesity, constipation and diarrhea.
- Breastfeeding helps my center/home financially. Meals containing breast milk are reimbursed by CACFP.
- The Breastfeeding Friendly designation can be used to market my center or home as a place that welcomes breastfeeding families. My center/home can be listed on the NYS DOH website as Breastfeeding Friendly.
How do I apply to be designated as Breastfeeding Friendly?
- Child Care Center Breastfeeding Friendly Self-Assessment (DOH-5188) (PDF)
- Renewal Child Care Center Breastfeeding Friendly Self-Assessment (DOH-5215)(PDF)
- Day Care Home Breastfeeding Friendly Self-Assessment (DOH-5186) (PDF)
- Day Care Home Breastfeeding Self-Assessment Spanish (DOH-5186es) (PDF)
Where can I find more information on Breastfeeding?
- United States Department of Agriculture's Breastfed Babies Welcome Here! A Mother's Guide
- The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's Breastfeeding Website
- La Leche League International
- The United States Breastfeeding Committee Website
