World Breastfeeding Week – celebration 1 August

MEDIA RELEASE 25 July 2007

World Breastfeeding Week – celebration 1 August

Whakatane’s first baby breastfeeding friendly cafes become accredited

Soon local parents and caregivers of babies will be able to identify cafes that have suitable facilities to breastfeed and care for their infants.

As part of a regional initiative, Toi Te Ora – Public Health invited cafes to participate in an audit to see if they met certain criteria that was conducive to being baby (breastfeeding) friendly. Cafes within the Tauranga, Whakatane and Rotorua central business districts have been audited, and those who have met the criteria will be presented with their certificates and window sign on the 1st of August. This will enable cafes to identify themselves as ‘baby (breastfeeding) friendly’.

“The objective of this initiative is to move towards normalising breastfeeding in public places, enabling women to feed their infants without feeling uncomfortable, and therefore to encourage more mothers to breastfeed and for longer” says Deanna Watkins, Health Promoter, Toi Te Ora – Public Health. “Many cafes cater for children with special menus and lunch bags filled with child-suitable foods such as cheese, fruit and raisins. But babies have special needs and cafes that are welcoming and set up for babies quickly gain a reputation among parents. Being able to identify audited cafes will ultimately prove a marketing advantage”.

The timing of this accreditation is also significant as it marks the first day of World Breastfeeding Week; August 1st to August 7th. This year’s theme is in support of encouraging skin-to-skin contact between mother and baby at birth to facilitate breastfeeding throughout the world and save a million babies lives annually.

It is recommended by the Ministry of Health, that infants are fed exclusively on breast milk from birth to four to six months of age and preferably supplemented with appropriate solid food until at least 12 months. The following short term benefits inform this decision:

• Breast milk remains a major source of nutrients throughout the first year of life, even after solid foods have been introduced (after 4-6 months)
• Breast milk is always the right temperature and readily available
• Breast milk is very low cost
• There is less risk of overfeeding or underfeeding
• Breast milk contains optimal ratios of polyunsaturated fatty acids required for retinal and brain development
• The bio-availability of human milk is superior to that of infant formula

The immunological benefits of breastfeeding are:

• Reduces risk of infectious diseases because of maternal antibodies passed to the infant
• Reduces risk of food allergy
• May reduce the risk of Sudden Infant Death Syndrome

Source: Ministry of Health, Food and nutrition Guidelines for Healthy infants and Toddlers (Aged 0-2 years): A Background Paper, June 2000

The first of the Bay of Plenty cafes to be accredited baby breastfeeding friendly are:
Tauranga
Henry's Café 75 Elizabeth Street
Spring Street Café 43 Spring Street
Robert Harris Café State Insurance Arcade, Red Square
Sober Camel Café 45 Grey Street
Sunrise Café 10 Wharf Street
Starbucks Corner the Strand and Spring Street
The Fatted Aphid Piccadilly Arcade
Café Versailles 107 Grey Street
Deli on Devonport 22 Devonport Road
Grindz Café 50 First Ave
Whakatane
Checkers Ice Cream Café 108 The Strand
Inspirations 42 King Street
Robert Harris Corner The Strand and Richardson Street
The Bean Coffee 72 Strand East
Tamar's Café 126 The Strand
Rotorua
Le Café de Paris 1206 Hinemoa Street
Indigo 1154 Hinemoa Street
Barbrossa 1195 Tutanekai Street

ENDS

For more information on the World Breastfeeding Week national event: www.womens-health.org.nz
For more information on the World Breastfeeding Week international event: http://worldbreastfeedingweek.org/

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