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In November 2017, Small Blessings Daycare Home in Brentwood was designated as Breastfeeding Friendly by the New York State Department of Health (NYSDOH). This daycare home actively supports breastfeeding families and helps mothers to continue breastfeeding when they return to work or school.
Through NYSDOH’s "Creating Breastfeeding Friendly Communities" grant, the Breastfeeding Resiliency, Engagement, and Empowerment (BFREE) team aims to create a sustainable care continuum to support breastfeeding mothers and infants throughout Long Island. Child care centers and day care homes are an essential part of this continuum.
NYSDOH’s Child and Adult Care Food Program (CACFP) encourages child care centers and family day care homes to support breastfeeding families and recognizes these providers with a Breastfeeding Friendly certificate.
Although moms often reported returning to work or school as the main reasons why they stopped breastfeeding, it has been documented that moms with breastfeeding support are more likely to breastfeed longer. In November 2017, with the leadership buy-in of Dorris H. Claudio, as well as a team-oriented approach to include all staff members, Small Blessings Daycare Home in Brentwood received the NYS Daycare Home Breastfeeding Friendly Designation. All staff have completed the breastfeeding friendly training requirements on handling breastmilk and the many benefits of breastfeeding. They have joined a national effort to support and accommodate the needs of breastfeeding mothers as they return to work and school. The site offers breastfeeding moms a private, relaxing area to breastfeed on site. If a mom prefers, she can provide the site with her breastmilk which will be fed to her infant on demand and according to the mother's normal feeding schedule. Culturally-sensitive breastfeeding materials have been made available to all parents.
Small Blessings Daycare Home worked collaboratively with the BFREE Team and NYSDOH to successfully meet the standards in qualifying for the NYS Breastfeeding Friendly Designation. The BFREE team worked closely with the site champion, Dorris H. Claudio, to offer support to breastfeeding moms and their families in order to meet their breastfeeding goals. Small Blessings Daycare Home is now proudly displaying the “Breastfed Babies Welcome Here" framed certificate and window cling at their program.
Where can you find Breastfeeding Friendly Child Care:
Breastfeeding Friendly Child Care Centers
Breastfeeding Friendly Child Care Homes