The City of Maple Ridge, in partnership with Fraser Health, and with funding through BC Healthy Communities Plan H, aspires to create a welcoming baby-friendly community.
Project Overview
The intended outcome of this project is to create an inclusive/ supportive baby/family-friendly environment where breast/chest feeding is encouraged, supported, and safe, and contributes to the positive mental wellness of all visitors.
Project Background
We aim to support the convenience of breastfeeding by creating baby-friendly public spaces equipped with signage, education, and normalization of breastfeeding. The space will be accessible, comfortable, and dignified and will provide comfortable seating and a safe space for siblings to engage.
Breast/chest feeding provides a healthy start for babies as breast milk gives protection against infections and diseases, optimal nutrition, and reduced risks of sudden infant death syndrome and overall infant death risks.
The World Health Organization (WHO) and UNICEF created a global Baby Friendly Initiative (BFI) in 1991 with a focus on protecting, promoting, and supporting breastfeeding. Fraser Health Maple Ridge Public Health supports and promotes breast/chest feeding. Increasing breast/chest feeding initiation and duration in the community across all Fraser Health communities is a public health priority. A positive breastfeeding culture is vital for improving the health and well-being of families, and the populations we serve.
Community Engagement
City staff and community facilitators attended three engagement sessions, asking both parents, community partners, and staff a variety of questions regarding the design and implementation of the breast/chest feeding space.
What We Learned
Breast/ Chest feeding families are looking for the following characteristics within the space:
- Natural lighting & colours
- Comfortable chairs that are easy to clean
- Private, quiet and safe area
- Welcoming and inviting signage
- Safe spaces for siblings to engage
The Spaces
The City of Maple Ridge and Fraser Health Population and Public Heath, in partnership with the Maple Ridge Public Library, is pleased to announce the opening of three baby-friendly feeding spaces within the library. Each space has a comfortable chair to support breast/chest feeding, along with space designed to entertain siblings and resources to support young families. The Maple Ridge library is located at 22470 Dewdney Trunk Road.
The Future
Staff are assessing opportunities to offer additional baby-friendly feeding spaces in the community.
Additionally, City and Fraser Health Public Health Staff will be conducting an environmental scan regarding public breast/chest feeding within community facilities and developing a policy that will be presented to the local government for consideration.