What is a Baby Café?
GENDER EQUALITY: In this website, the terms “she”, “mother”, “mom” or other forms of speech referring to the female gender also includes those individuals identifying as other genders and non-binary. The term “breastfeeding” also includes chestfeeding, bodyfeeding, the use of supplemental nursing devices, and any pumping of breastmilk for human consumption.
Baby Café Breastfeeding Proclamation
BABY CAFÉ USA
August 2025 Proclamation & Call to Action
In Honor of World Breastfeeding Week & National Breastfeeding Month
Forward Together with Baby Café: Celebrating Community-Based Lactation Support
WHEREAS, breastfeeding is a powerful public health intervention that improves health outcomes for infants, parents, and communities; and
WHEREAS, many families face systemic and structural barriers that limit their ability to access skilled, culturally appropriate lactation care and ongoing support; and
WHEREAS, Baby Café USA supports a nationwide network of over 140 licensed Baby Cafés, offering free, drop-in, community-based breastfeeding and chestfeeding support led by International Board-Certified Lactation Consultants (IBCLCs) and trained peer supporters; and
WHEREAS, Baby Cafés are inclusive, evidence-based spaces that remove barriers to care and strengthen local communities by providing free breastfeeding support, mentorship, and connection; and
WHEREAS, we recognize and celebrate World Breastfeeding Week (August 1–7), as declared by the World Alliance for Breastfeeding Action (WABA), whose 2025 theme is “Prioritize Breastfeeding: Create Sustainable Support Systems”; and
WHEREAS, we also support National Breastfeeding Month, led by the U.S. Breastfeeding Committee (USBC), whose 2025 theme is “Forward Together”; and
WHEREAS, Baby Café USA has built an inclusive and sustainable network of community based lactation support across the country; and
WHEREAS, Baby Café USA affirms that every person, regardless of race, ethnicity, income,
insurance status, gender identity, or ZIP code should have access to a Baby Café;
NOW, THEREFORE, Baby Café USA calls on individuals, communities, health professionals, policymakers, Baby Café licensees, and partner organizations across the United States to join us in:
Forward Together with Baby Café: Celebrating Community-Based Lactation Support
We invite every community to take action during the month of August by:
Issued on this 25th day of June, 2025 By:
Baby Café USA Board of Directors
www.babycafeusa.org
[email protected]
August 2025 Proclamation & Call to Action
In Honor of World Breastfeeding Week & National Breastfeeding Month
Forward Together with Baby Café: Celebrating Community-Based Lactation Support
WHEREAS, breastfeeding is a powerful public health intervention that improves health outcomes for infants, parents, and communities; and
WHEREAS, many families face systemic and structural barriers that limit their ability to access skilled, culturally appropriate lactation care and ongoing support; and
WHEREAS, Baby Café USA supports a nationwide network of over 140 licensed Baby Cafés, offering free, drop-in, community-based breastfeeding and chestfeeding support led by International Board-Certified Lactation Consultants (IBCLCs) and trained peer supporters; and
WHEREAS, Baby Cafés are inclusive, evidence-based spaces that remove barriers to care and strengthen local communities by providing free breastfeeding support, mentorship, and connection; and
WHEREAS, we recognize and celebrate World Breastfeeding Week (August 1–7), as declared by the World Alliance for Breastfeeding Action (WABA), whose 2025 theme is “Prioritize Breastfeeding: Create Sustainable Support Systems”; and
WHEREAS, we also support National Breastfeeding Month, led by the U.S. Breastfeeding Committee (USBC), whose 2025 theme is “Forward Together”; and
WHEREAS, Baby Café USA has built an inclusive and sustainable network of community based lactation support across the country; and
WHEREAS, Baby Café USA affirms that every person, regardless of race, ethnicity, income,
insurance status, gender identity, or ZIP code should have access to a Baby Café;
NOW, THEREFORE, Baby Café USA calls on individuals, communities, health professionals, policymakers, Baby Café licensees, and partner organizations across the United States to join us in:
Forward Together with Baby Café: Celebrating Community-Based Lactation Support
We invite every community to take action during the month of August by:
- Proclaiming support for World Breastfeeding Week, National Breastfeeding Month, and the Baby Café model
- Promoting local Baby Cafés as inclusive, accessible sites for free lactation care and connection
- Visiting or encouraging someone to visit a local Baby Café to experience community-based lactation support firsthand
- Hosting or attending events during World Breastfeeding Week and throughout August
- Calling for the establishment of Baby Cafés in every community, especially those with documented disparities in breastfeeding access and outcomes
- Advocating for sustainable policies in healthcare, employment, and community settings that protect and promote breastfeeding
- Sharing personal stories, photos, and messages of impact using the hashtag #ForwardTogetherWithBabyCafe
Issued on this 25th day of June, 2025 By:
Baby Café USA Board of Directors
www.babycafeusa.org
[email protected]
| bcusa_proclamation_2025.pdf |
Baby Café Monthly Newsletters
Archived Newsletters
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Most Recent Newsletters
| 2025_05_bc_newsletter.pdf |
| 2025_06_bc_newsletter.pdf |
Baby Café USA Publications & Research
FROM BREASTFEEDING MEDICINE JOURNAL: Examining the Baby Café Model and Mothers' Breastfeeding Duration, Meeting of Goals, and Exclusivity
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Abstract
Objective: Accessible community lactation support impacts a woman's breastfeeding success by offering timely intervention and solutions, thereby allowing mothers to achieve breastfeeding goals and improve overall breastfeeding rates. Although the impact of breastfeeding support has been well established, there is a lack of consistency in the development and evaluation of support models. This report examines two differing populations of Baby Café attendees. The study evaluated the mother's achievement of personal and nationally recommended breastfeeding goals, the frequency of attending a Baby Café, and their ratings of the program as helpful in solving breastfeeding problems. Methods: A total of 559 mothers attending two Baby Cafés, one in Massachusetts and the other in southern Texas, were surveyed when their babies were 6 months old and again over age 12 months. Actual breastfeeding duration was compared with the mothers' initially stated goals and American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) recommended goals, and then evaluated against the number of Café attendances. The mother's rating of the Café for helpfulness was measured using a 1–5 effectiveness scale. |
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Results: Results show that mothers attending either of the surveyed Baby Cafés that served distinctly different populations reported higher breastfeeding exclusivity rates and higher rates of 12-month breastfeeding duration than national rates reported by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). More than 70% of all mothers surveyed rated the Café as most effective.
Conclusions: The Baby Café model was shown to be effective at helping mothers reach breastfeeding goals regardless of the Café's different geographical settings and the socioeconomic characteristics of the populations served.
READ COMPLETE ARTICLE
Conclusions: The Baby Café model was shown to be effective at helping mothers reach breastfeeding goals regardless of the Café's different geographical settings and the socioeconomic characteristics of the populations served.
READ COMPLETE ARTICLE
In the News
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Baby Cafés are free, drop-in, informal breastfeeding support groups offering ongoing professional lactation care and intervention. Most are open for 2 hours at least once a week. Some communities have more than one Café, each holding meets on different days of the week.
Baby Café USA is a non-profit 501(c)3 organization supporting the development of licensed U.S. Baby Cafés. Registered Non-profit No. 80-0787743 |
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