What is the Baby Friendly Initiative?
The Baby-Friendly Initiative (BFI) is a world-wide strategy that sets standards to improve infant and maternal/birthing parent’s health by supporting, promoting and protecting breastfeeding. The goal of the initiative is to improve outcomes for infant and maternal/birthing parent’s health by providing a high standard of care and supporting them to make an informed decision about infant feeding without the influence of formula marketing. Public Health Sudbury & District is committed to promoting a baby-friendly culture by following the steps outlined in the Baby-Friendly Implementation Guideline, Breastfeeding Committee for Canada, 2021.
Our Baby-Friendly Promise
- We welcome individuals to breastfeed at all Public Health Sudbury & District locations.
- We work with all families to help them make informed decisions about feeding their baby.
- We inform pregnant individuals and their families about the importance of breastfeeding.
- We encourage families to hold and feed their baby skin-to-skin.
- We encourage families to feed their babies whenever they seem hungry.
- We support 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 are 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.
If you have questions about BFI, call the Health Information Line at 705.522.9200, ext. 342 (toll-free 1.866.522.9200).
For more information on the Baby-Friendly Initiative please visit bfiontario.ca.
This item was last modified on January 16, 2023