Research by Lansinoh has named the top breastfeeding-friendly cities in the country, with London coming in the top three
We all know that breastfeeding is best for baby, but why are rates in the UK so low? In 2015, 776,950 babies were born in this country and yet, by 12 months of age, only 0.5% were still being breastfeed, despite the World Health Organisation recommending mothers nurse their infant into their second year.
It’s a complex issue fraught with opinion, but the truth is that many mothers still don’t feel comfortable breastfeeding in public – something that is pretty much unavoidable if you’ve chosen to breastfeed exclusively (and still want to leave the house in the first year of baby’s life).
So, for some moral support, the experts at Lansinoh have put together a list of the 20 most breastfeeding-friendly cities in the UK for it’s first Feed with Confidence Awards, championing businesses across the country who go above and beyond to support breastfeeding mums. London, Norwich and Exeter made the top three, closely followed by Banbury in Oxfordshire and East Grinstead.
“Breastfeeding protects the health of mothers and babies both in the short and long term. The Feed with Confidence Awards highlight the social places and people throughout the UK who are supporting mums who choose to breastfeed”, explains Sasha Singh, EU Professional Marketing Manager at the Lansinoh Laboratories. “We are delighted with the level of response the Awards have received. We hope that it gives more breastfeeding mums the confidence to feed in public and it encourages more openness and acceptance within our society”.
Further research by Lansinoh found that the over 65s are the most accepting of breastfeeding in public with, perhaps surprisingly, men more at ease with it than women. When questioned, almost half – 46% – said that witnessing a woman feeding in a café, pub of restaurant made them feel uncomfortable. That’s one sad stat!
So, next time you’re out and about and the need for a feed arises, look out for Lansinoh’s ‘feed with confidence’ stickers in the window of cafes, bars, restaurants and even shops deemed breastfeeding-friendly.
Want more? When exactly is the right time to stop breastfeeding?
