Breastfeeding friendly businesses in Toronto
Reported May 26, 2011
The Ontario Human Rights Commission’s policy regarding breastfeeding states that it is unlawful to discriminate against a woman who is breastfeeding her baby or older child, including breastfeeding that child in a public place. The policy states that a woman has a right to breastfeed her baby anywhere without being harassed or mistreated.
Toronto Public Health (TPH) aligned with various businesses around Toronto to support and encourage women who wish to breastfeed their children around Toronto. These businesses register as “breastfeeding friendly” establishments, thereby encouraging families to feel comfortable being in these places with breastfeeding children. Restaurants, theatres and retail malls are encouraged to participate in this programme.
When a place of business decides to participate, owners and staff are encouraged to promote breastfeeding to mothers who enter the place of business by posting signs that the TPH provides, by having staff encourage mothers to breastfeed in public (rather than steering mothers to restrooms) and by having owners discuss with their staff how they can encourage mothers to breastfeed and why they should. This helps not only the women who are breastfeeding to feel comfortable and accepted doing what is natural, but it helps others who are present to become more accepting of it as well.
For a list of businesses that are participating in the programme, see the TPH Breastfeeding Friendly directory. However, a business does not need to be listed in the directory in order for a woman to breastfeed her baby there. As the note on the directory points out, it is a mother’s legal right to breastfeed her baby anywhere, so even if a business is not listed in the directory, she is still within her rights to breastfeed there.
Credits: Val Tobin and more details at:
http://www.examiner.com/breastfeeding-in-toronto/breastfeeding-friendly-businesses-toront
