Northern Ireland businesses welcome breastfeeding mums

A number of local businesses across Northern Ireland, including hairdressers, coffee shops and restaurants, have signed up to a scheme to support breastfeeding mums in their local community. The Breastfeeding welcome here scheme is a regional initiative coordinated by the Health Promotion Agency for Northern Ireland (HPA) to support mothers who wish to breastfeed when they are out and about with their baby.

The initiative is the first of its kind to be launched in Northern Ireland and aims to encourage social acceptability of breastfeeding and increase awareness about the importance of breastfeeding to the health of both mother and baby. The main driving forces behind the initiative are the local breastfeeding mums who have been approaching businesses in their local community and encouraging them to join the scheme.

Janet Calvert, Regional Breastfeeding Coordinator with the HPA said: “Breastfeeding mums need everyone’s support and the Breastfeeding welcome here scheme will make it easier for mums to recognise places where they can breastfeed when they are out with their baby.

“It makes good business sense for organisations that are open to the general public to cater to all their customers’ needs and ensure breastfeeding mums using their facilities feel comfortable and welcome. It’s good for mums, babies and your business.”

Businesses which are open to the general public, have non-smoking facilities and support breastfeeding will be eligible to join the scheme. They will be given a window sticker and certificate to display on their premises to show that breastfeeding is acceptable in all areas open to the general public and that their staff are aware of the scheme and supportive of breastfeeding mums.

Ciaran Milligan, owner of Celebs Sandwich Bar in Belfast, one of the first businesses to join, said: “I fully support the scheme and any forward thinking business would do the same. It makes life easier for mums while they are out and about but it’s also good for business as it shows that we are supportive of our customers and hopefully it will encourage them to come back in the future.”

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Notes to the editors
Further information about breastfeeding and the scheme is available from the HPA’s breastfeeding website: www.breastfedbabies.org.

For further information contact
Sinead Byrne at the HPA Press Office -Tel: 9031 1611 / 9031 1514 or Email: s.byrne@hpani.org.uk