What is the SNP Scottish Government doing to promote breastfeeding?

The SNP Scottish Government is working hard to improve already high breastfeeding rates. Over 40 per cent of babies born in 2016-17 were still being breastfed after six to eight weeks – the highest rate since 2001.

After the UK-wide Infant Feeding survey was scrapped, the Scottish Government introduced the Scottish Infant Feeding Survey to continue monitoring levels of breastfeeding.

In addition, the Scottish Government held Scotland’s first Breastfeeding Summit to explore ways to encourage and support more mothers to breastfeed for longer. At the Breastfeeding Summit, new NHS guidance for breastfeeding ‘Off To A Good Start’ was launched. You can find more information here.

Scotland is the only country in the UK to have specific legislation in place that prevents discrimination against women who breastfeed in public. But we know that legislation alone won’t change attitudes.

We will increase resources for breastfeeding to support mothers, particularly in the days immediately following birth, and support the maternal and infant nutrition framework.

We have also included guidance for breastfeeding in Scotland’s Baby Box, which all babies in Scotland are now provided with. Scotland’s Baby Box aims to help tackle deprivation, improve health and support parents. You can read more about Scotland’s Baby Box here.