A popular Tauranga cafe has become the first in the Bay of Plenty to gain a Breastfeeding Friendly accreditation, providing mothers with a comfortable environment to feed their baby in the central city.
Mother-of-three and owner of Grindz Cafe in 1st Ave Lesley Graham said the cafe offered couches where
mothers could breastfeed their baby comfortably.
"Women breastfeed in here all the time and you cannot see anything, it's all very discreet. It's a very natural process," Ms Graham said.
The former La Leche League leader said there were few places in the city where women could breastfeed in a supportive environment.
"If they're in town and their child needs feeding they know there's a place to come. It's great that we're the first place [to become accredited]," she said.
The Breastfeeding Friendly project is run by Toi Te Ora Public Health Service across the Bay of Plenty and Lakes districts.
The project insures staff are trained in what it means to be breastfeeding friendly, while the business must develop a breastfeeding friendly policy before displaying signage and gaining accreditation.
Part of the process is ensuring staff understand it is illegal to ask a breastfeeding woman to stop, leave, use the toilet as an alternative or to cover up.
Toi Te Ora communications officer Debbie Phillips said accreditation also included regular reviews to ensure businesses remained breastfeeding friendly.
"Having a policy, staff training, signage and an annual review will ensure quality assurance for breastfeeding mums and the breastfeeding friendly status."
Customers can identify a Breastfeeding Friendly spot by signage in the windows.
Assistance to become Breastfeeding Friendly is open to all cafes, restaurants, early childhood centres and kohanga reo in the Bay of Plenty and Lakes districts. Call 0800 221 555.
