Help make Wandsworth a breastfeeding friendly borough
Published: Friday, August 1, 2025
This World Breastfeeding Week (1 to 7 August), Wandsworth Council is highlighting the importance of breastfeeding and encouraging local businesses and public venues to join the Breastfeeding Friendly scheme, helping parents feel supported when feeding their babies out and about.
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Breastfeeding has lifelong health benefits for babies and mothers. It provides essential nutrients, supports babies’ immune system development, and helps to build a strong emotional bond between parent and child. The World Health Organization recommends exclusive breastfeeding for the first six months of a baby’s life.
In Wandsworth, we want every family to feel confident and supported in their feeding choices. That’s why we’ve teamed up with The Breastfeeding Network to launch the Breastfeeding Friendly scheme which is a growing network of businesses and community spaces across the borough committed to welcoming and supporting breastfeeding families.
Since launching in April, 29 local venues have joined the scheme, including family hubs, libraries, cafes, GP surgeries, sports facilities and pubs. Each venue displays a clear sticker in their window to let families know they are welcome to breastfeed there without judgement or pressure.
Graeme Henderson, Cabinet Member for Public Health and Community safety said,
“In Wandsworth, we’re committed to supporting residents to live healthier, happier lives and that means working closely with local businesses and communities to make wellbeing more accessible for everyone.”
Francisco Pereira at Barn Elms Sports Centre said,
"The reason why we accepted to be part of the scheme to be breastfeeding friendly at Barn Elms Sports Centre was due to our commitment and focus in assisting the community and being inclusive to all the members of the community around us, which also would include being breastfeeding friendly and having a safe and comfortable space for breastfeeding privately."
Breastfeeding in public is a legal right. However, social attitudes can impact how comfortable a parent feels. That’s why the Breastfeeding Friendly scheme not only helps families feel at ease but also educates staff and volunteers in participating venues about the importance of creating safe and respectful environments.
We also offer a range of support in Wandsworth for families with babies and young children. This includes breastfeeding drop-in groups, Well Baby clinics, and 1-1 Specialist Infant Feeding clinics.
Our Health Visiting team, trained under the UNICEF Baby Friendly Initiative offers expert guidance on breastfeeding, responsive feeding, and how to make the most of your milk supply.
Let’s make Wandsworth a borough where breastfeeding families feel seen, supported and safe, wherever they go.