Breastfeeding Environment and Support Practices

Supportive environments and program practices can help mothers breastfeed their infant for as long as recommended by health experts.

The best practices (per GO NAPSACC) and related resources in this section focus on how child care providers can support infant and maternal health by empowering mothers to breastfeed. Having designated space to breastfeed and store milk at a program site, displaying material that normalizes and educates about breastfeeding, and having a positive attitude about breastfeeding are all ways that providers can support the nutrition of infants in their care.

Best Practice

The resources in this category are the same for the following five GO NAPSACC best practice goals:

  • "A quiet and comfortable space, other than a bathroom, is always available for mothers to breastfeed or express breast milk."
  • "The space set aside for mothers to breastfeed or express breast milk offers privacy, an electrical outlet, comfortable seating, and a sink with running water in the room or nearby."
  • "Enough refrigerator and/or freezer space is always available for all breastfeeding mothers to store expressed breast milk."
  • "Posters, brochures, children’s books, and other materials that support breastfeeding are displayed throughout the building."
  • "Teachers and staff use a variety of strategies to promote and support breastfeeding, including sharing information and showing positive attitudes."

Resources

Community Lactation Support Guide

Summary: Designed for community champions who want to build or strengthen breastfeeding‑friendly environments in community settings, workplaces, and early childhood programs. Find practical steps, examples, and tools for getting started.

Source: Michigan State University Extension

Go Nutrition and Physical Activity Self-Assessment for Child Care (NAPSACC) Bilingual Self-Assessments

Summary: Free for providers. Contacting a consultant and completing the online version of the appropriate assessment opens a suite of planning, learning, professional development, and implementation tools to understand further what the best practices are and how to make them happen in your child care.

Source: Go Nutritional and Physical Activity Self-Assessment for Child Care (Go NAPSACC)

Healthy Beverage Consumption in Early Childhood: Recommendations from Key National Health and Nutrition Organizations

Summary: CDC’s recommendations and rationale for child care policies and practice regarding breastmilk and other beverages.

Source: Center for Disease Control

Healthy Kids, Healthy Future

Summary: Click on the Support Breastfeeding Circle to get information about how to support breast feeding in a day care setting as well as tips for setting up a breastfeeding area. Use the menu to the left to find more activities and resources.

Source: The Nemours Foundation

Storage, Handling, and Preparation of Breast Milk in Early Care and Education (ECE) Programs

Summary: Simple tip sheet storing, handling, preparing, and disposing breastmilk.

Source: Center for Disease Control

Supporting Breastfeeding Families in Early Care and Education (ECE) Programs

Summary: Simple tip sheet for handling and storing breastmilk and how to support breastfeeding mothers.

Source: Center for Disease Control

Ten Steps to Breastfeeding Friendly Child Care Centers Resource Kit

Summary: A resource kit to promote breastfeeding in child care centers in 10 simple steps.

Source: Wisconsin Department of Health and Human Services

Toolkit for Child Care Providers

Summary: Click on “Child Care” in the left-hand menu to find tools for promoting breastfeeding, such as external toolkits, printable posters, and training materials for child care providers.

Source: Michigan Breastfeeding Network