Scheme to boost breastfeeding in Wakefield

Breastfeeding rates in the city are among the lowest in the country, with six out of ten mothers breastfeeding their newborns but just three out of ten still doing so six to eight weeks later.

To tie in with Breastfeeding Celebration Week, which runs from Monday, and to make mums feel more confident about feeding in public, Wakefield Council is hoping to increase the number of businesses which welcome breastfeeding.

Coun Pat Garbutt, Wakefield Council’s Cabinet Member for Adults and Health, said: “We’re delighted to launch this initiative across the district to give mums extra reassurance that there are many breastfeeding-friendly venues when out and about.

“It is important that we support mums who choose to breastfeed in any way that we can. We’ve always welcomed breastfeeding and this initiative will make it easier for mothers to see which venues are signed up.

“We also want more businesses to join us and sign up to show their support and make Wakefield even more breastfeeding-friendly.”

Many businesses have already signed up the scheme, including those at shopping centre Trinity Walk.

Centre manager Cormac Hamilton, said: “Making mums who choose to breastfeed feel welcome is extremely important and as a centre, we want them to feel relaxed and at ease when they need to feed their little ones.

“Our retailers are very supportive, including Cafe Nero for example, who like many others go that extra step.”

Visit www.wakefield.gov.uk/breastfeeding for a map of businesses supporting the scheme.