First Breastfeeding Friendly Accredited Café in the Bay

MEDIA RELEASE
9 August 2011

First Breastfeeding Friendly Accredited Café in the Bay

Grindz Café in Tauranga has become the first Breastfeeding Friendly accredited café in the Bay of Plenty.

The Breastfeeding Friendly project is run by Toi Te Ora – Public Health Service across the Bay of Plenty and Lakes districts. A Health Improvement Advisor works with cafes and restaurants to assist them in becoming accredited as Breastfeeding Friendly for their customers. Customers can identify a Breastfeeding Friendly café or restaurant by signage in the windows.

“Grindz Café is a good example of a breastfeeding friendly environment. They provide a welcoming and supportive space for mothers to feel comfortable while breastfeeding their babies,” says Health Improvement Advisor, Louise Harvey.

“It’s nice to have a place that is warm and comfortable for mothers to come in and breastfeed. Our staff are really supportive too,” says Lesley Graham, Owner of Grindz Café.

Exclusive breastfeeding is recommended until babies are around six months old, with continued breastfeeding along with appropriate complementary foods up to two years of age or beyond. It’s important that breastfeeding mothers have support from their partners, family/whānau, health practitioners, and once breastfeeding has been established, their employers and the community.

Toi Te Ora – Public Health Service also assists early childhood centres and kōhanga reo to become Breastfeeding Friendly.

Assistance to become Breastfeeding Friendly is open to all cafes, restaurants, early childhood centres and kōhanga reo in the Bay of Plenty and Lakes District Health Board regions and is free. Call 0800 221 555 for more information.

ENDS

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