Infant feeding

Breastfeed - anytime, anywhere

We champion breastfeeding in our borough. We want mums to feel confident and empowered to breastfeed their babies whenever, and wherever they are.

We spoke to local mums about their breastfeeding experience. We're now working to help increase breastfeeding visibility and tackle barriers to feeding in public.

Breastfeeding offers so many benefits for mum and baby, and it’s time we celebrated this!

Join us in honouring the strength of breastfeeding. It’s a choice, a right, and a personal journey.

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Breastfeeding groups

If you are pregnant or breastfeeding, why not come along to our breastfeeding group? The group is informal, and you can just drop-in, no booking required. Partners and birthing partners are also welcome to attend.

You'll be able to meet an infant feeding support worker and other families to share your thoughts and feelings. It is also a great opportunity to build your confidence in feeding out and about.

Breastfeeding workshops

If you're pregnant and have questions about breastfeeding, the infant feeding team run free, antenatal information sessions covering topics including colostrum harvesting, the benefits of breastfeeding and much more. Come alone or bring a friend/partner/family member. There will be opportunities to ask questions and find out more about breastfeeding support in Barnsley.

Sessions are held on Level 3 at the Library @ The Lightbox:

• 24 March 2026 - 1pm to 2:30pm

• 24 April 2026 - 10am to 11:30am

• 26 June 2026 - 1pm to 2:30pm

For further information about these sessions or to book please call 01226 775700 or email infantfeedingservice@barnsley.gov.uk.

You can find further information about feeding your baby on Barnsley Virtual Family Hub.

Breastfeeding exhibition

From 7 to 11 October 2024, we hosted a breastfeeding exhibition at the Library @ the Lightbox.

This was a showcase and celebration of breastfeeding across Barnsley.

On display were various elements of our campaigns. This included imagery from our first Anytime, Anywhere campaign featuring local breastfeeding mums. Photographs were displayed alongside local case studies, a family image bank, breastfeeding awareness quotes and information on services and support mechanisms. 

The event was a huge success. The images will be displayed in locations across Barnsley including Family Hubs.

Below are a couple of the images that were featured. 

Restaurants, cafes and food places

• 200 Degrees Coffee Shop, The Glassworks, Barnsley

• Coffee Boy, The Glassworks, Barnsley

• Falco Lounge, the Glassworks

• Joseph Bramah, Market Hill, Barnsley

• Locke Park Cafe

• Nando's Barnsley

• Old George, Market Hill, Barnsley

• Old George, Town Hall, Barnsley

• Old Moor Tavern, Broomhill

• Teepot Cafe, Elsecar Park

• The Old Ivy Shed Cheesecakery

Businesses, shops and organisations

• Barnsley Gymnastics Club

• Busy Bee's Nursery, Penistone

• Cawthorne Road Day Nursery

• Chatterbox Children's Academy Ltd, Birdwell

• Emma Woods Childminding, Darfield

• HS Therapy

• OnPar Health, Worsbrough

• Sprint Swim Academy

• Sweaty Mama, Barnsley

• The Glassworks, Barnsley

• The Waxing Witch

• Tots Explore, Shafton 

• Virgin Money, Peel Square, Barnsley

Charitable organisations

• Community Pantries

• Royston Friends Association

• The Exodus Project

• The Salvation Army, Goldthorpe

Barnsley Markets

• Market Kitchen

Parks

• Elsecar Park

• Locke Park

Museums

• Cannon Hall

• Cooper Art Gallery

• Elsecar Heritage Centre

• Experience Barnsley

• Worsbrough Mill

Leisure centres

• All Barnsley Premier Leisure Centres

• Penistone Leisure Centre

Libraries

• All Barnsley libraries

NHS premises

• Barnsley Hospital

• All GP surgeries

• All baby clinics in Barnsley

Dentists

• Darton Dental Practice

• FP Dental Practice, Wombwell

• My Dentist, Peel Street, Barnsley

Family hubs

• Central Family Hub

• Dearne Family Hub

• North Family Hub

• North East Family Hub

• Penistone Family Hub

• South family Hub

Schools and colleges

• Holy Rood Catholic Primary School

• Summerfields Primary Academy

• Tankersley St Peters Primary School

Reasons to join the scheme

By telling your staff about the scheme and advising them to be kind and helpful to breastfeeding mothers, you'll:

• be helping babies get the best start to life

• boost customer happiness and loyalty

• find business may increase. This is because mothers often visit at a time of day which may be a quiet time for you

• show that you are committed to good customer service and supportive of the local community

• benefit from publicity on the Barnsley Council website and social media. It may also spread by word of mouth from friends

What the scheme involves

Your business and staff agree to:

• provide a welcoming atmosphere for breastfeeding families accepting that mums can breastfeed anywhere they choose to

• prominently display ‘Barnsley Breastfeeding Welcome Here’ signs (provided by the scheme)

• not ask a mum who is breastfeeding to move or treat them any differently to a mum who chooses to bottle feed

• make sure existing staff and new employees are made aware of the scheme; they should know how to be supportive to needs of breastfeeding families

• not promote formula milk companies and their products (further advice can be provided if needed)

• wherever possible provide facility for a mum who asks to breastfeed in private

• be supportive to mums who are returning to work when breastfeeding

Remember, any mum with a new baby would welcome a friendly smile and help finding a seat especially if her baby is hungry.

Tips for how staff can support a breastfeeding mum

As someone who works in a Breastfeeding Welcome premises you should know how to help a breastfeeding mum:

• make eye contact with the mum

• try and help mum find a seat where she feels comfortable

• if possible offer a glass of water

• act normal don’t stare

• don’t get embarrassed

Remember it isn’t just breastfeeding mums who value a friendly smile. Any mum with a new baby would welcome help finding seat especially if her baby is hungry.