Where is it appropriate to breastfeed

Skip to main content. Babies and toddlers Home Babies and toddlers Breastfeeding - deciding when to stop. Actions for this page Listen Print. Summary Read the full fact sheet.

On this page. Breastfeeding Breastmilk in the first year Breastfeeding benefits Stopping breastfeeding early Take your time to wean your baby When to introduce solid foods Iron requirements Breastfeeding while pregnant Extended breastfeeding The child who does not want to be weaned Where to get help.

Breastfeeding The World Health Organization recommends that all babies be exclusively breastfed for 6 months, then gradually introduced to appropriate foods after 6 months while continuing to breastfeed for 2 years or beyond. Breastmilk in the first year Breastmilk contains all the nourishment needed to promote normal healthy growth and development in babies in their first 6 months of life and remains the most important food during their first year.

Breastfeeding benefits Breastfeeding even for a short time is beneficial. Stopping breastfeeding early Sometimes, weaning needs to happen earlier or more quickly than planned. Iron requirements A baby born at full term has a store of iron passed on from the mother during pregnancy.

Breastfeeding while pregnant If you become pregnant , you may choose to continue to breastfeed or you may like to gradually wean your baby.

Extended breastfeeding Some parents and babies enjoy breastfeeding so much they are in no hurry to stop. The child who does not want to be weaned You may be ready to cease breastfeeding, but your child may resist all your attempts to do so.

Weaning , Australian Breastfeeding Association. Breastfeeding through pregnancy and beyond , Australian Breastfeeding Association. Breastfeeding , World Health Organization. Infant and young child feeding , World Health Organization. How do we get started with solids? Give feedback about this page. Was this page helpful? Yes No.

View all babies and toddlers Related information. Content disclaimer Content on this website is provided for information purposes only. Reviewed on: Use of this site is subject to our terms of use and privacy policy. Registry Builder New. Medically Reviewed by Tarun Jain, M. Medical Review Policy All What to Expect content that addresses health or safety is medically reviewed by a team of vetted health professionals.

Getty Images. Breastfeeding in public is legal in all 50 states. Here's what nursing moms in the U. Back to Top. In This Article. Continue Reading Below. Read This Next. Best Nursing Tops for Breastfeeding Moms. The law specifies that an employer may not retaliate against an employee for asserting rights or remedies under this act. The law requires physicians who provide obstetrical or gynecological consultation to inform patients about the postnatal benefits of breastfeeding.

The law requires the Department of Health to provide and distribute written information on breastfeeding and the health benefits to the child. A municipality may not enact an ordinance prohibiting or restricting a mother from breastfeeding or expressing breast milk in a public or private location. Requires employers to provide daily unpaid break time for a mother to express breast milk for her infant child, if breaks are currently allowed, and facilities for storage of the expressed milk.

Employers are also required to make a reasonable effort to provide a private location, other than a toilet stall, near the workplace for this activity. The law also requires schools to have a written policy related to accommodating breastfeeding students in schools with private, and hygienic spaces to express breast milk during the school day. Failure to comply with the law may result in a fine. The notice shall explain the danger to women who are pregnant or breastfeeding their children, and young children, of eating mercury contaminated fish.

New Jersey Assembly Resolution urges certain airline companies to change policies to allow passengers to carry breast pumps and breast milk onto aircraft without counting against carry-on limits. Also requires that the employee be given breaks to express milk but does not require that she be paid for this time. Prohibits discrimination against breastfeeding mothers. This law also permits a child born to a committed mother to return with the mother to the correctional facility.

The child may remain with the mother until one year of age if the woman is physically capable of caring for the child. The commissioner must also make the Breastfeeding Mothers Bill of Rights available on the health department's website so that health care facilities and providers may include such rights in a maternity information leaflet.

NY SB relates to lactation counseling services when such services are ordered by a physician, physician assistant, nurse practitioner or midwife. NY SB requires the department of health of the state of New York to conduct a review of the effects of racial and ethnic disparities on breastfeeding rates and prepare and submit a report to the Governor and the legislature.

The law also directs to the state department of health to establish guidelines for employers concerning workplace breastfeeding and infant friendly designations. Ohio Rev. The law requires the Department of Health to issue periodic reports on breastfeeding rates, complaints received and benefits reported by both working breastfeeding mothers and employers.

The law also requires state agencies to allow paid break times for lactating employees to a use lactation room for certain purposes. The law also requires each school district to make a reasonable effort to provide certain room or other location for an employee to express milk or breastfeed a child.

A request from the woman must be made in writing. The law provides that benefits may be extended for an additional two weeks for covered individuals experiencing conditions related to pregnancy, including but not limited to lactation. Act No. Breastfeeding may not be considered a nuisance, obscenity or indecent exposure under this law. Rhode Island. The notice will explain the danger to women who are breastfeeding their children.

The law requires the department of health to issue periodic reports on breastfeeding rates, complaints received and benefits reported by both working breastfeeding mothers and employers and provides definitions. Reasonable accommodation is defined to include private non-bathroom space for expressing breast milk. Codified Laws Ann.

A written notice requesting an exemption must be submitted to the clerk of court within ten days of receiving the summons for jury duty. Specifies that the act of breastfeeding shall not be considered public indecency or nudity, obscene, or sexual conduct. In , the law removed the age limitation in statute permitting mothers to publicly breastfeed only their children who are age 12 months or younger.

Health Code Ann. Utah Code Ann. Utah House Joint Resolution 4 encourages employers to recognize the benefits of breastfeeding and to provide unpaid break time and an appropriate space for employees who need to breastfeed or express their milk for their infant children.

The employer shall also provide access to a clean refrigerator or freezer for the storage of breast milk. The individual must make the showing by affidavit, sworn testimony, or other competent evidence. An employer also may not require an employee to terminate employment or deny employment opportunities based on the need for an employer to make reasonable accommodations.

Also requires employers to make a reasonable accommodation to provide appropriate private space that is not a bathroom stall and prohibits discrimination against an employee who exercises or attempts to exercise the rights provided under this act. House Joint Resolution encourages employers to recognize the benefits of breastfeeding and to provide unpaid break time and appropriate space for employees to breastfeed or express milk.

The law specifies that in such a location, no person may prohibit a mother from breastfeeding her child, direct a mother to move to a different location to breastfeed her child, direct a mother to cover her child or breast while breastfeeding, or otherwise restrict a mother from breastfeeding her child.

House Joint Resolution 5 encourages breastfeeding and recognizes the importance of breastfeeding to maternal and child health. The resolution also commends employers, both in the public and private sectors, who provide accommodations for breastfeeding mothers. NCSL appreciates additions and corrections. Create Account. Breastfeeding State Laws.