Elise FularaBreastfeed Chicago

It protects babies

It protects mothers

Less environmental impact

Economically beneficial

◦ To families

◦ To the health care system & overall economy

AAP (2012) called breastfeeding an important “public health issue and not only a lifestyle choice.”

US Surgeon General released “Call to Action to Support Breastfeeding Mothers” in 2011.

Identified key barriers to breastfeeding:

◦ Lack of knowledge and problems that arise from it

◦ Poor family and social support

◦ Social norms

◦ Embarrassment

◦ Employment and Childcare

◦ Health Services/Health Care Providers

Source: Illinois Breastfeeding Blueprint: http://www.ilbreastfeedingblueprint.org/pages/data/4.php

The Right To Breastfeed Act (Public Act 093-0942) – enacted 2004 states:

“A mother may breastfeed her baby in any location, public or private, where the mother is otherwise authorized to be, irrespective of whether the nipple of the mother's breast is uncovered during or incidental to the breastfeeding;…”

“A woman who has been denied the right to breastfeed by the owner or manager of a public or private location, other than a private residence or place of worship, may bring an action to enjoin future denials of the right to breastfeed. If the woman prevails in her suit, she shall be awarded reasonable attorney's fees and reasonable expenses of litigation.”

Recent (2010) museum visitation research found that families with children 5 and under were an important museum visitation demographic.

◦ Increased their museum visitation rates during the economic down-turn.

◦ Most likely segment to engage in repeat museum visitation.

Source: http://reachadvisors.typepad.com/museum_audience_insight/2010/03/museum-visitation-in-tough-economic-times.html

Social media “page bombing”

Nurse-ins staged with media coverage

Image credit: AP/Getty Images. http://www.cnn.com/2012/08/17/living/parenting-latch-on-nyc/

Train all staff, docents, and vendors on the law.

◦ Incorporate information as part of orientation and ongoing training.

◦ Post information where staff can see it.

◦ Provide instructions to staff about what to do if another patron complains about a breastfeeding mother.

Available at: http://breastfeedchicago.files.wordpress.com/2013/03/breastfeed-chicago-customer-services-guide.pdf

Can be included in training binders and posted in staff areas.

Ensure all front-end staff and vendors are aware of the law.

Not required but nice. Some moms prefer or need the privacy

◦ Not in a bathroom

◦ Provide clean and pleasant space with activities for older children.

◦ Ensure all staff, docents, and vendors know that moms don’t have to use it just because it’s there.

Chicago Children’s Museum

Oak Lawn Children’s Museum

Available at: http://www.breastfeedingsymbol.org/download/

Copyright-free symbol that can be downloaded and integrated into signs for the public areas of your museum to indicate nursing mothers’ rights will be respected.

Nursing mothers who are museum employees may be entitled to: ◦ Break time (unpaid) to express milk

◦ A private location to express milk that is not a bathroom

Illinois◦ Nursing Mothers in the Workplace Act (2004)

Federal - US Department of Labor◦ Break Time For Nursing Mothers (2010)

Museum of Contemporary

Art

Image credits (this slide and #13): The wonderful moms of Breastfeed Chicago’s Facebook group.