The Ohio Department of Health, Ohio Breastfeeding Alliance, and Ohio Child Care Resource and Referral Association (OCCRRA) has teamed up to offer a Breastfeeding Friendly Child Care Designation. The purpose of this designation is to provide Early Childhood Education (ECE) professionals with the knowledge and tools to support breastfeeding children, families and employees in their setting.

ECE programs play an important role in supporting breastfeeding mothers and their infants by welcoming breastfeeding mothers and making sure staff members are trained to handle breast milk and follow mothers’ feeding plans. Increasing access to ECE programs that support breastfeeding families will help women start and continue breastfeeding.

ECE programs can earn breastfeeding friendly designation by creating and implementing a breastfeeding policy that meets the minimum requirements outlined in the application and by completing the Ohio Approved online training, “Supporting Breastfeeding in the ECE Setting.” See the "Designated Child Care Sites" tab below for recognized breastfeeding-friendly child care sites across Ohio.

Model Breastfeeding Policy

• Ohio Licensing Rule 5101:2-12-07 & Ohio Licensing Rule 5101:2-13-07, Appendix B, states “Programs shall have a policy in place describing supports for onsite breastfeeding or pumping for mothers who wish to do so (if the program serves infants or toddlers).”
• ODH and partners have created a model policy for ECE professionals to adopt. The key elements of the policy include:
  • Environment: Provide an atmosphere that welcomes breastfeeding families.
  • Support: Help mothers continue to breastfeed when they return to work or school.
  • Education: Train all staff in essential breastfeeding knowledge and practices.
• Sample Child Care Policy

Training

The training, Supporting Breastfeeding in the ECE Setting, is available online and at no cost through the Ohio Professional Registry. The training is approved for 2.0 Ohio Approval (OA) credit hours. Once registered through the OCCRRA registry, the course will be completed on OhioTRAIN.

• Instructions on how to complete the course on OhioTRAIN.
   
• The program administrator is required to take the training in order to be eligible to apply for designation. All program staff should be encouraged to take the training.

Application

Programs can apply for breastfeeding friendly designation once a policy is in place and staff have completed the required training. Please refer to the model policy for guidance.

Application Instructions

• Applications can be submitted at any time and will be reviewed on a monthly basis. Please allow 30 days for a review decision.
• Three levels of achievement will be awarded: gold, silver and bronze.
• Designation is valid for 2 years. A renewal application will be required to continue designation.
• Programs may reapply at any time during their designation period to increase their award status (ex. bronze to gold).
• The application must be completed online, but a printable version is available for guidance.

For Child Care Centers

• Example Survey
• Printable version

For Family Providers

• Example Survey
• Printable version

Please direct questions to breastfeedECE@odh.ohio.gov.

Designated Child Care Sites

• ECEs achieving breastfeeding friendly designation will receive a letter, certificate, and award for display

Designated Breastfeeding Friendly Child Care Sites

• 2020 
  • Green Bean Junction, Fairfield County
  • Angela F Lyshe-Theirry, Hamilton County
  • Kisha Johnson, Hamilton County
  • Cora's Angels, Mahoning County
• 2021
  • New Pathways Child Development Center, Butler County
  • Helpful Hands Children Center, Franklin Country
  • Waverly's Hope Child Care LLC, Hamilton County
  • Tonya Moore, Hamilton County
  • Nana's Home Day Care, Richland County
• 2022
  • Rashawn Algee, Cuyahoga County
  • Superior Academy, Cuyahoga County
  • Bridgewater Learning Center, Butler County
  • All About Kids Child Care and Learning Center, Franklin County
  • Creative Child Care West, Franklin County
  • Little Explorers Child Care, Franklin County
  • Wee Care Academy, Greene County
  • Cozy Care Nursery School and Child Care, Muskingum County
  • Little Blessings Daycare, Lawrence County
  • Kristy Shaner, Licking County
  • Small Wonder Preschool, Preble County
  • Veronica Barr, Sandusky County
  • Candyland Child Care Center, Summit County
• 2023
  • TLC Learning Center, Auglaize County
  • Beyond Our Dreams, Lark County
  • Angie's Angels, Sandusky County
  • Imaginative Beginnings Early Learning Center, Wood County

Resources

• Breastfeeding Support Guide for ECEs
• Breastfed Babies Welcome Here

Ohio Licensing Rules

Rule: Ohio Licensing Rule 5101:2-12-07 & Ohio Licensing Rule 5101:2-13-07, Appendix B

Programs shall have a policy in place describing supports for onsite breastfeeding or pumping for mothers who wish to do so (if the program serves infants or toddlers).

Rule Ohio Licensing Rule 5101:2-12-23 & Ohio Licensing Rule 5101:2-13-23

Prepare and serve infant food in a manner appropriate to the developmental needs of each child. The center/family child care provider shall introduce new foods only after consultation with the parent. The center/provider shall comply with written feeding instructions from the infant's parent, physician, physician's assistant, or certified nurse practitioner (CNP) which shall include the following:

1. Type of food and/or formula/breast milk.
2. Amount of food and/or formula/breast milk
3. Feeding times or frequency of feedings.

Require the parent to update the written feeding instructions as needed.

*Basic Infant Information for Child Care is a sample form that can be used for the feeding plan. Or, centers/providers can create their own form, as long as it has the rule mentioned and includes the following information:

1. Type of food and/or formula/breast milk.
2. Amount of food and/or formula/breast milk.
3. Feeding times or frequency of feedings

Not feed any foods, other than formula or breast milk, to infants under four months of age, unless there is written documentation on file from a physician, physician's assistant or CNP.

Ensure that formula, breast milk, or other liquids in a bottle are not heated in a microwave oven.

1. If formula or breast milk is to be warmed, bottles shall be placed in a container of water not hotter than one hundred twenty degrees or be placed in a commercial bottle warmer. The container of water shall be kept out of reach of children and shall be emptied and cleaned each day. The bottle shall be shaken well, and the formula or breast milk temperature tested before feeding.
2. Frozen breast milk shall be thawed under cold running water or in the refrigerator.
3. Ensure that the unused portion of formula, breast milk or food remaining in a container from which the infant has been directly fed shall not be reheated or served again.
4. Store, prepare and serve food, formula and breast milk in a safe and clean manner.

5. Ensure that if breast milk is provided by the parent, it shall be labeled with the infant's name, the date pumped, and the date the bottle was prepared. Centers shall follow the chart in Appendix A to this rule for storing breast milk: Storing Breast Milk Appendix A

Ohio Department of Education

Rule 3301-37-09

If breast milk is provided by the parent or guardian, it shall be labeled with the child's name, date expressed, date of receipt, and shall be immediately refrigerated. Breast milk or formula shall not be stored for more than twenty-four hours. The unused portion of formula, breast milk, or food remaining in the container from which the infant has been directly fed shall not be reheated or served a second time and shall be discarded.

Breast milk or formula shall not be heated in a microwave oven.