title: A model infant feeding policy for Baby-Friendly designation in the USA.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  In June 2010, the Communities Putting Prevention to Work program (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention) funded a New Jersey (NJ) Office on Nutrition and Fitness, Department of Health and Senior Services project to reduce obesity and increase exclusive breastfeeding by increased implementation of the Baby-Friendly Hospital Initiative in the state of NJ. At baseline, NJ had no Baby-Friendly hospitals and no hospital was using an infant feeding policy that conformed to standards required by Baby-Friendly USA for designation.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To create a model infant feeding policy that would be adaptable for use at multiple NJ hospitals preparing for Baby-Friendly designation.
  
  
  METHODS
  Project consultants created a policy based on existent policies from the American Academy of Pediatrics, the Academy of Breastfeeding Medicine, certified Baby-Friendly hospitals, and guidance from Baby-Friendly USA. This policy was submitted to Baby-Friendly USA, the US body responsible for Baby-Friendly designation.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Baby-Friendly USA requested changes; after adaptations, the policy was made available to targeted NJ hospitals via a statewide portal. The hospitals made relevant adaptations for their setting, and those that were ready submitted the policy during the Baby-Friendly designation process. The policy was acceptable to Baby-Friendly USA.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  A collaborative initiative can use a single breastfeeding policy template as an aid toward Baby-Friendly designation. Such work streamlines the process and saves time and resources.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pediatrics, Cooper University Hospital, Camden, NJ, USA.
authors.forename: Lori
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Feldman-Winter
authors.forename: Diane
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Procaccini
authors.forename: Anne
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Merewood
mesh_terms: D001942:Breast Feeding; D003696:Delivery Rooms / Q000458:organization & administration / Q000592:standards*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007224:Infant Care / Q000379:methods / Q000458:organization & administration / Q000592:standards*; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D008427:Maternal Health Services / Q000458:organization & administration / Q000592:standards*; D017146:Models, Organizational; D009515:New Jersey; D016134:Organizational Policy; D017410:Practice Guidelines as Topic; D011247:Pregnancy; D014480:United Nations; D014481:United States; D014944:World Health Organization