September 28, 2015 

 Breastfeeding Friendly Business Toolkit

 The Grey Bruce Health Unit is launching a new Breastfeeding Friendly Business Toolkit to assist local business and organizations to support both their customers and employees to continue to breastfeed their children. Breastfeeding is one of the most important starts to healthy infant and child development. A measure of wellness of a community is reflected in the number of mothers who start and continue breastfeeding.

“The local rates for women starting to breastfeed are good but what we see is a significant drop after six months and again after one year.”‎ says Dr. Hazel Lynn, Grey Bruce Medical Officer of Health. “Embracing breastfeeding friendly businesses helps to support the entire community on the road to wellness; and we all want to be healthy!”

The media, local businesses and the public are invited to the launch of the new Toolkit:

When: Monday, October 5, 9:30 a.m.

Where: Frog Pond Café, 209 8th St E, Owen Sound

The Toolkit speaks to the benefits of breastfeeding and contains strategies and resources local businesses can use to create a baby friendly environment for their patrons and employees. This is part of a community-wide effort to break down the challenges to breastfeeding and to make it easier for breastfeeding to become part of the norm.

The Grey Bruce Health Unit encourages businesses/organizations to take a look at the Toolkit, review the checklist and place a sticker in a visible location to show their support. For more information about breastfeeding friendly business and to receive a toolkit, contact the Grey Bruce Health Unit at 1-800-263-3456 or publichealth@publichealthgreybruce.on.ca

Becoming a breastfeeding friendly business is good business.

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Attachment: Breastfeeding friendly business sticker jpg

 For more information:

Lee Fawcett

Public Health Nurse

Grey Bruce Health Unit

519-376-9420 or 1-800-263-3456 ext. 1451

L.Fawcett@publichealthgreybruce.on.ca