The Milk Trail, which is being organised by Sheffield City Council’s Family Hubs, is open to everyone, whether they are breastfeeding or just want to show their support, to get out and explore the city while highlighting breastfeeding-friendly venues.
The new trail was launched at a Infant Feeding Event hosted in the Winter Garden on Thursday 20 March.
While there are many breastfeeding-friendly locations across the city, the trail highlights eight places where anyone breastfeeding their baby can find a comfortable spot and a supportive atmosphere.
The specially created Milk Trail map, which can be downloaded or picked up from a family hub, focuses on eight venues across the city, who have signed up to Breastfeeding in Sheffield’s Breastfeeding Friendly award.
The Milk Trail also includes a fun quiz about mammals and their milk and the answers to each question can be found at each of the eight venues.
Once the quiz is completed it can be returned to one of the Family Hubs, where it will be entered into a prize draw.
Breastfeeding is proven to be the healthiest form of nutrition for babies in their early weeks, months and beyond as it helps with brain development as well as supporting their immune system while providing a range of health benefits for the mother too.
Sheffield’s breastfeeding rates are above the national average, with 58% of babies receiving some form of breast milk at six weeks old.
We know that Sheffield has higher than average rates of breastfeeding thanks to the work that has continued through our family hubs, and the milk trail aims to help build on this.
There continues to be a need to support new mums who are breastfeeding across the city, to have safe, calm spaces to feed their babies with confidence.
The Milk Trail is a fun way to raise awareness while supporting families, no matter where they are on their breastfeeding journey.
It will help families easily identify breastfeeding-friendly venues and hopefully will help give those mums the confidence to feed their babies while in a public place.
Councillor Dawn Dale, Chair of the Education, Children and Families Committee
To take part in the Milk Trail, download a map online or call into any of the family hubs in Sheffield.