Published: Friday, 28th July 2017

World Breastfeeding Week is 1 to 7 August and local parents can get lots of advice.

Royal Greenwich received a prestigious award from UNICEF for how it supports local families with breastfeeding. From giving advice to parents at local children's centres to encouraging local businesses to provide a welcoming environment for breastfeeding mothers.

Special events for World Breastfeeding Week

A number of local children's centres are holding special events during World Breastfeeding Week, a global event to raise the profile of breastfeeding on an international scale.

Local children's centres are open to all parents-to-be and families with babies and young children in the borough. Anyone can go along to a special breastfeeding event or for support and advice.

The following events are taking place:

  • Discovery Children's Centre, Wednesday 2 August, 10am to 12pm - Breastfeeding Celebration Tea
  • Sherington Children's Centre, Monday 7 August, 10am to 12pm - Breastfeeding Celebration Tea
  • Waterways Children's Centre, Monday 7 August, 1pm to 3pm - Love Baby Festival

Help for mums who find it challenging

Councillor David Gardner, Royal Borough of Greenwich Cabinet Member for Health and Adult Social Care said: "World Breastfeeding Week is a great opportunity for parents and people with a baby on the way to pop along to their local children's centre and find out more about the benefits of breastfeeding.

"There is excellent support available especially for any mums who might be finding breastfeeding challenging. It's not always easy or straightforward but we can do our best to help people through any problems.

"Breastfeeding your baby exclusively for the first six months has proven health benefits."

'Proud of the excellent work in our children's centres'

Councillor Miranda Williams, Royal Borough of Greenwich Cabinet Member for Children and Young People said: "We are really proud of the excellent work in all of our children's centres and the help they provide across the board to local families. In particular I'd really like to thank the many volunteers who run many of the sessions in our children's centres. Without them we wouldn't be able to support the number of families that we do.

"Support with breastfeeding is a key part of the help our centres provide and I do urge any parent or parent-to-be with any questions just to go along to one of our helpful friendly centres and they will give you the advice you need."