21 Ways To Celebrate National Breastfeeding Month Other Than, Well, Breastfeeding

1.) TRIVIA TIME

Post breastfeeding trivia on your social media. Here are a few fun fact categories to start you off:

• Breastfed Baby Facts
• Breastfeeding Mother Facts
• Myths & Misconceptions
• Special Milk Components
• Uses & Functions

2). SAY THANKS TO MOMS

Thank a mother for breastfeeding. Put one of these cards in the hands of a mother you see nursing in public — or if you’re the shy type, leave it on the windshield of her car or tell her “I think you dropped this” before scampering off. So long as she gets the message, mission accomplished!

Check out a selection of cards here (Spanish version also available).

3). SUPPORT BASKET

Gift a mother-to-be with a Breastfeeding Support basket. Try out the ideas I listed for what I lovingly refer to as the Bare (Boob) Necessities Basket.

4). GIVE AN INFO PACK

Send a Breastfeeding Mom’s Info Pack to a mother-to-be. Dr. Momma says they’re intended for “an expecting mother who plans to nurse her baby, in situations where you’d like to give her something encouraging, plant seeds of useful information, and empower her in the gentle care of her baby on the way.”

5). MILK & COOKIES

Bring homemade lactation cookies to pass out at a La Leche League meeting (The other moms will bring the milk 😉 ). Most LLL chapters meet twice a month, so you could even go to both August sessions if you’re so bold!

Don’t count on having leftovers from the first meeting. Nursing moms do quite like their free snacks.

Long list of lactation cookie recipes here.

Find a list of LLL chapters here.

6). GET FRIENDLY

Motivate a local business that is known to be breastfeeding-accommodating to place a “Breastfeeding Friendly” sign or plaque in their window.

Print this out onto a plaque:

Or get this sticker (which I have on my car’s front windshield) by the Breastmilk Counts campaign:

7). BOOK & BOOB ARE BUT ONE LETTER APART

Leave an educational breastfeeding book in a Little Free Library (locate one in your city here). How about donating a breastfeeding book to stock your local public library or the reading zones of nearby high schools, colleges, and religious congregations?

8). TELL YOUR STORY

Write a letter to your child about your breastfeeding experience thus far. Here is one I wrote to my son: “My Dear Toddler, I Want to Tell You Something You Already Know About Breastfeeding.”

9). RECIPES

Experiment with some tasty breast milk recipes. Here are a few to start you off:

• Recipes For Kids & Adults
• Recipes For Babies
• Recipes For Nursing Moms
• Using Breast Milk Outside The Kitchen

10). SHARE A BRELFIE

Don’t just share on your own social media timelines either — share to the page of a place where you breastfed and thank the establishment for being considerate to mothers and children. For example, if you nursed during mass/church service, post your Brelfie to the Facebook page of your place of worship. If you nursed while having lunch at a favorite restaurant, post your Brelfie along with a review of your dining experience. And so on…

If your Brelfie was snapped at home, you can still help normalize society’s views on breastfeeding. Say you nursed on your couch at home while watching a cooking show — share the photo to the show’s fan page with the caption: “Everybody’s gotta eat, even the littlest of [Insert Cooking Show] fans <3”

11). OFFER TO CAPTURE

Offer a photo shoot to local breastfeeding moms. Make it super affordable. Free is always good! Otherwise consider donating the proceeds to benefit a pro-breastfeeding organization.

12). ATTEND AN EVENT

Search “World Breastfeeding Week” and “National Breastfeeding Awareness Month” for events happening near you. Here are a few:

• The Big Latch On kicks off the month on August 1st at locations across the nation.
• Aug 1-7: WABA World Breastfeeding Week
• Aug 8: Cradle Me Here…  A Breastfeeding Awareness Health Art Event
• Aug 10: Breastfeeding Law Awareness Day
• Aug 17: Celebrating Donor Milk: Giving, Receiving & Banking
• Aug 23-30: Black Breastfeeding Week
• Positive Media Blitz
• “Live, Love, Latch” picnics hosted by La Leche League.
• …and so much more!

13). WEAR ADVOCACY GEAR

Bracelets, shirts, pins — go head to toe or go subtle if that’s more your style. Wear an advocacy shirt to the gym, or maybe a bracelet that’s sure to catch the eye of a cashier at your favorite store. Positive breastfeeding messages will help normalize love and respect for children in our culture. Check out the cool gear at Made by Mamma and bracelets at Dr. Momma.

14). LOBBY DISPLAY AT WORK

Ask your place of employment to feature a breastfeeding display on the bulletin board or in their lobby.

15). HOST A MOVIE NIGHT

Invite friends over for a screening of “The Milky Way” documentary.

16). LEARN ABOUT INNOCENTI DECLARATION

Do you know about the Innocenti Declaration on the Protection, Promotion, and Support of Breastfeeding? We are now celebrating its 25th anniversary! Find out about the Declaration here, here, and here.

17). CELEBRATE POSITIVE MEDIA

Join the LIVE Celebration at Good Morning America in Times Square, NYC on Wednesday, August 5th. This program has been one of few that has stood out in their longtime covering of breastfeeding news in a positive way rather than using sensationalism or controversy.

18). MAKE A GOOD BUSINESS MOVE

Encourage a company or business to consider making a breastfeeding policy or reconsidering their existing one. The Positive Media Blitz posted this one to use as an example (feel free to copy and paste):

Subject: Corporate Breastfeeding Policy

Hello,

My name is [insert your name], and I would like to inquire about your corporate breastfeeding policy.

Have you seen the Employees’ Guide to Breastfeeding and Working? This is a great tool developed by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.

I invite you to read the guide here: http://uhs.berkeley.edu/…/Breastfeeding%20and%20Working%20f…

Each year, August 1-7, 2015 marks World Breastfeeding Week. This year’s theme is “Breastfeeding and Work: Let’s Make It Work!” Employers like you can make a tremendous difference in the achievement of the goals surrounding this year’s World Breastfeeding Week celebration.

If you currently support nursing families in your workplace (or are prepared to do so), I would appreciate hearing about it. The best workers in our area – and around the world – seek companies with a strong corporate culture. Support for breastfeeding exemplifies support for our families.

Please do not hesitate to contact me at [INSERT YOUR CONTACT INFO HERE] for more information or to follow up.

Thank you for your thoughtful consideration of this email.

Best regards,

[YOUR NAME]

19). HASHTAG SURFING

Search these hashtags and enjoy the love (add them to your own posts, too!): #WBW2015, #‎BFLAD,‬ ‪#‎bfinglawday‬ ‪#‎NormalizeBfing‬ ‪#‎NormalizeBreastfeeding‬, #NormalizeBfing, #PositiveBreastfeeding, #BeautifulBreastfeeding, #NormalizeSociety, #Brelfie, #CelebrateBfing, #NIP. 

20). HOST A MOTHER’S TEA PARTY

Brew some lactation tea, sip from pretty cups, discuss motherhood.

21). MAKE BABIES AND ART, NOT WAR

Get inspired by breastfeeding art! Create your own or organize a group breastfeeding art project. Auction it off and give the proceeds to a pro-breastfeeding organization, or donate for display at a local business like a hospital, church, or restaurant.

See examples of amazing breastfeeding art pieces by famous artists here.