Preparing to go Baby Friendly

Preparing to go Baby Friendly in universities involves two stages: registering intent and gaining a Certificate of Commitment.

Register of intent

It is easy to register intent to implement the Baby Friendly standards: download and complete the Register of Intent form (below) which requires details of your department and the key individuals responsible for implementing the standards. The Baby Friendly Initiative will then record details of your department and its intentions and provide key individuals with information and support as the standards are implemented.

Key staff may also wish to join the Baby Friendly e-mailing service. This free service provides updates on new research into breastfeeding and news from the Baby Friendly Initiative. It is particularly valuable for staff who are responsible for educating staff about implementing the standards in the clinical areas. Click here to sign up.

Once you have filled in the register of intent, you can being working towards a Certificate of Commitment.

Certificate of Commitment

A Certificate of Commitment is awarded when the university has developed an action plan for how the requirements for full accreditation are to be met.

In order to apply for a Certificate of Commitment, your university department must submit:

• Written confirmation from the Head of Department (HOD), within the Certificate of Commitment application form, that the standards will be implemented
• Confirmation that no sponsorship or similar funding from companies covered by the WHO International Code of Marketing of Breastmilk Substitutes and subsequent resolutions (the Code) will be accepted and that no teaching in the department will be delivered by staff employed by such companies
• An action plan that:
  • includes all the actions required to implement the standards
  • presents a realistic and relevant timeline
  • identifies key staff responsible for implementing the listed actions.