The Sudbury and District Health Unit has been officially designated as “baby friendly” by the Baby-Friendly Initiative Ontario.
The Baby-Friendly Initiative (BFI) is a world-wide strategy that sets standards for infant feeding. It was initiated to protect, promote and support breastfeeding.
The goal of the initiative is to improve outcomes for mothers and babies by providing a high standard of care and supporting them to make an informed decision about infant feeding without the influence of formula marketing.
To become BFI the 10 steps to successful breastfeeding from The Breastfeeding Committee for Canada and the World Health Organization’s (WHO) International Code of Marketing of Breastmilk Substitutes need to be followed.
Here's the health unit's baby friendly policy:
- We welcome mothers to breastfeed at all Sudbury & District Health Unit locations across the Sudbury and Manitoulin districts.
- We work with all families to help them make informed decisions about feeding their baby.
- We inform pregnant women and their families about the importance of breastfeeding.
- We encourage mothers to hold and feed their baby skin-to-skin.
- We encourage mothers to feed their babies whenever they seem hungry.
- We support mothers and families to sustain breastfeeding up to two years and beyond with appropriate introduction of solid foods.
- We have a policy that protects, promotes and supports breastfeeding. Our staff is trained to follow this policy.
- We work with our community partners to support breastfeeding.
- We do not endorse or give out formula, bottles, nipples or pacifiers.
