Northern Health is committed to supporting breastfeeding*-friendly spaces across Northern BC. This includes public spaces, workplaces, businesses, and organizations.
We encourage businesses and organizations to prominently display the provincial breastfeeding/chestfeeding decal (PDF, shown to the right) to show your commitment to support breastfeeding-friendly spaces.
Request your decal online from Northern Health.
*Note: We use the term breastfeeding. Some parents may prefer nursing, chestfeeding, or human milk feeding.
Why support breastfeeding-friendly spaces?
- Parents need to be able to respond to their children's needs, any time, anywhere.
- Appropriate spaces for breastfeeding support families to actively participate in their communities. This is important for the well-being of children, parents, families, and communities.
- Breastfeeding is a human right that is protected by the British Columbia Human Rights Code (PDF). It is discriminatory to ask a person to stop breastfeeding, cover up, or move somewhere else.
- Employers are expected to take reasonable steps to accommodate the breastfeeding needs of their employees, including pumping milk while at work.
What your organization can do
- Be welcoming. Some families have experienced barriers and discrimination. You can help.
- Put up posters. Yes you can: We welcome families to breastfeed or chestfeed anytime, anywhere (PDF) - Perinatal Services BC (PSBC)
- Request a decal (shown above) and put it on your organization's window or glass door.
- Review and share this tipsheet: Welcome families to breastfeed or chestfeed anytime, anywhere (PDF) - Perinatal Services BC (PSBC)
- Support staff needs. Review and share this infographic: Create a lactation-friendly space in your workplace (PDF) - Perinatal Services BC (PSBC)
Featured resources
- Breastfeeding-friendly public spaces: A toolkit for local governments - Interior Health
Featured NH Stories
- Back to work after baby: How employers support breastfeeding
- Breastfeeding-friendly spaces: Make breastfeeding your business
- Breastfeeding-friendly spaces: Shifting attitudes about breastfeeding
- Protect breastfeeding: The right to breastfeed in public spaces
For more information
- To request a decal for your site, email us at Breastfeeding@northernhealth.ca