P.E.I. now home to dozens of breastfeeding-friendly businesses

The PEI Breastfeeding Coalition has started a new campaign to help encourage and support women wishing to breastfeed in public businesses and stores.

A pilot project is underway in businesses in Prince County.

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The coalition handed out 50 kits, called Make Breastfeeding Your Business, to pharmacies, restaurants, grocery stores and health centres, in places such as Tignish, Alberton, O'Leary and Tyne Valley.

"The overall goal is that breastfeeding becomes the cultural norm on P.E.I.," said Lindsay Lidstone, a nurse with the coalition.

The kit includes a large poster that says "You are welcome to breastfeed here," which the group is asking the businesses to put in noticeable places.

Tips for helping mothers, concerned customers

There are tips on ways to make mothers feel comfortable and that they support their decision to breastfeed.

Also there are tips in case someone complains about a mother breastfeeding.

"Explaining that you're a family-friendly business, and that you have a policy to support women who breastfeed," said Lidstone.

"That's an important thing to let that concerned customer know. Offering to move that concerned client to another area, so they all feel more at ease. But by not offering another seat to a breastfeeding mother, it shows you support her breastfeeding, and that the baby should not be moved while eating."

Part of 'an inviting customer experience'

One of the businesses that received a kit is the Co-op in O'Leary.

"We've tried to ensure that we provide as an inviting customer experience as possible," said Darren MacKinnon, the general manager.

"We're quite excited to become engaged in this project and to offer a location that's friendly to breastfeeding mothers."

The Co-op has almost completed a new family room that MacKinnon said will be comfortable and relaxing.

The breastfeeding coalition hopes to expand the campaign across the Island once it hears the response of the businesses in the pilot project.

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