World Breastfeeding Week runs 1–7 August every year. You don't need to be a peer supporter, a lactation expert, or even someone who works with babies to take part. The most useful things you can do are: go to a local group, start one if there isn't one, share your story, and ask the businesses and employers around you what they actually do to support feeding families.
Protecting breastfeeding is a shared responsibility — it's up to all of us, from breastfeeding parents to peer support groups, IBCLCs, maternity nurses, GPs, health visitors, nurses, paediatricians, midwives, businesses, employers, friends and communities.
On a global scale, breastfeeding is one of the best investments for saving lives and improving the health, social and economic development of individuals and nations. But lots of people worry there isn't much they can personally do. Here's what there is.
Five ways to take part
1. Go to a breastfeeding group
If you're a breast or chestfeeding parent, attending a support group can seem daunting at first — especially if you're having problems. But peer-to-peer groups can help you troubleshoot feeding problems and offer the emotional support you may be looking for.
And you don't need to be having problems to go. Many parents attend for the social side. If you're pregnant and hoping to breastfeed, go along, get some information, and chat to other parents about their experiences so you feel more prepared.
If you're not a parent, or your children have long since grown up: donate to your local breastfeeding group. Know where they are and how to signpost someone who needs help.
2. Start your own group
If you don't have a local support group, start one. Breastfeeding support is a vital public health responsibility, and together we can make a difference to families who want to breastfeed.
Ask in your local Facebook group, talk to other families, do some research and see what's available. All you need is a space you can all meet in, and feet through the door. Groups across the country are held in church halls, community centres, town halls, soft play centres, parks and cafes. Find a space that works for your community and go for it.
If you're not a parent but you run a local business that could provide that space — offer it. Or sponsor the group.
3. Take a brelfie
Normalising breast and chestfeeding is important to help inspire others and change the stigma around feeding in public. Brelfies — breastfeeding selfies — are a great way to show the world how proud you are of your feeding journey. Set it to public and use the World Breastfeeding Week hashtags so others can see it.
And if you see someone else sharing their story or their brelfie, leave an encouraging comment. Breastfeeding is a marathon, and we all need people cheering us on as we pass each milestone. Your kind comment could be exactly what a parent needs to spur them on to the next stage.
4. Share something — even if it isn't a photo
Some people are too shy to take a brelfie, or feel uncomfortable sharing feeding images. That's fine too.
Follow your favourite infant feeding pages on social media and share their World Breastfeeding Week posts. Or write about your own experience — who supported you, and what helped you reach your goals. Telling your story matters: it shows others that breastfeeding is possible, and helps build a community of people willing to protect it.
5. Ask local organisations what they do
Ask your local café or leisure centre what commitments they'll make to being breastfeeding friendly. In the UK, the law protects you to breastfeed wherever your baby is legally allowed to be — yes, that includes the swimming pool.
If you run a local business, join a Breastfeeding Friendly Scheme so service users know they're supported to feed in your establishment. And if you're an employer, ensure you have a safe space for staff to express and store their milk, and support them to use it — employees unable to take time to express safely are at real risk of problems like mastitis, and of having to stop feeding before they wanted to.
Common questions
When is World Breastfeeding Week?
1–7 August, every year.
Can you take part if you're not a parent?
Yes. Donate to a local group, offer a venue, sponsor a group, signpost people who need help, or share posts from infant feeding organisations.
Can you legally breastfeed in public in the UK?
Yes. The law protects you to breastfeed wherever your baby is legally allowed to be.
What should employers do?
Provide a safe space for staff to express and store milk, and actively support them to use it.
Support breastfeeding all year, not just one week
Babyem's accredited training is taught by IBCLCs, clinicians and published authors — so you can support feeding families with real knowledge.