Breastfeeding is a child’s right, not a privilege

Breast feeding as explained above is not only best for the baby but also a mandatory need for the young one. We would like to drive this point home that alternatives to breast feeding are only ALTERNATIVES to the best if not available.

Many a times we treat our children like commodities wherein we take decisions for our children based on our concepts and conveniences and not on what is best for the child. Not doing what is best for your child amounts to an act of omission in safe and good parenting. These acts include omission of:

• Breastfeeding,
• Vaccination,
• Timely check-ups,
• Treatment when needed and so on.

Parents need to get the message clear:

For all the parents, the message is that if you have brought a child into this world, the responsibility of his/her good health is entirely yours. Breast feeding forms the back bone of this responsibility and no mother is doing a favour on her child by breast feeding her child. She needs the support of her family and society as well for carrying out this great responsibility. It is the child’s right and not a privilege to be breast fed. Healthy babies of today would make a healthy and prosperous world tomorrow.

Deficient infrastructure not supporting breast feeding:

The concept of nursing one’s baby is public is a very normal practice in villages, but an absolute no no in urban settings. The reasons for the same may be lack of privacy, inadequate support from fellow colleagues and organisations, unfriendly or insecure environment and mind-set of the society around and so on. It is recommended that all organisations have crèches and feeding rooms to enable nursing mothers to breast feed their babies. Just as we have public toilets everywhere these days including the malls and airports, it would be recommended to have feeding rooms for mothers in the malls, airports, railway stations, hospitals, work places and so on. This step can significantly boost the breast feeding practice in this country.