The Baby Friendly Hospital Initiative (BFHI) was launched by WHO and UNICEF in 1992 to promote exclusive breastfeeding and reduce bottle feeding, which endangers infants. Hospitals participating in the BFHI must adhere to a breastfeeding policy and implement ten evidence-informed practices to support breastfeeding mothers. Recognition as a Baby Friendly Hospital requires meeting specific criteria through self-assessment, on-site checks, and a final review by the national task force.

1. PREPARED BY-
RAJALAKSHMI.S, LECTURER,
JOSCO COLLEGE OF NURSING, EDAPPON, MAVELIKARA

2. INTRODUCTION
Baby friendly hospital initiative was launched jointly by WHO and UNICEF In March 1992
in order to encourage and promote exclusive breastfeeding.
Bottle feeding is the biggest killer of babies so BFHI was launched to resurrect the dwindling
practice of breast feeding.

3. BFHI was launched in 1992 in India, as a part of ‘Innocenti declaration’ on breast
feeding.
The BFHI movement is active in India under a National Task Force comprising of
Government of India, UNICEF, WHO, Voluntary organizations and many
professional bodies.

4. AIM
BFHI aims at improving the knowledge , attitude and practices of health care workers by
providing them with knowledge and skills to promote exclusive breastfeeding among
infants up to the age of 6 months.

5. Ten evidence- informed practices were developed by the BFHI as guideline for caregivers
worldwide to promote breastfeeding.
Baby friendly hospitals are required to adopt breastfeeding policy and to follow the ‘ten
steps of successful breastfeeding’ as recommended by code of practice of
WHO/UNICEF.

6. TEN STEPS OF SUCCESFUL BREASTFEEDING.
Every facility providing maternity services and care of newborn infants should;
Have a written breastfeeding policy that is routinely
communicated to all health care staff. Train all health care staff in skills necessary to implement this policy.

7. Inform all pregnant women about the benefits and
management of breastfeeding
Help mothers initiate breastfeeding with in ½ hour of
birth.

8. Show mothers how to breastfeed and how to maintain
lactation even if they should be separated from their infants.
Give newborn infants no food or drink other than breast milk
unless medically indicated.

9. Practice rooming-in- allowing mothers and infants to
remain together 24 hours a day. Encourage breastfeeding on demand.

10. Give no artificial teats or pacifiers to
breastfeeding infants.
Foster the establishment of breastfeeding support
groups, and refer mothers to them on discharge from
the hospital or clinic.

11. For recognition of a hospital as baby friendly, it has to follow 3
steps:
1. A hospital that conducts a minimum of 250 deliveries per year
can seek the recognition. After implementation of the 10 steps
for promotion of breastfeeding, a duly completed self
assessment form and registration form should be sent to BFHI
secretariat.
RECOGNITION AS BABY FRIENDLY HOSPITAL

12. 1. The hospital/ nursing home meeting all the ten criteria is visited by an “Assessor” for on
the spot checks and interview the mothers and health care staff. The assessor sent his report
and observations to BFHI secretariat which is reviewed by the Review Committee for final
recommendation.
2. The hospital fulfilling the national BFHI requirements are recognized as Baby Friendly”.
The national task force organizes a public ceremony for presentation of BFHI certificate
and a logo. The hospitals that are unable to fulfill the criteria for certification can reapply
for it later on, after eliminating all short comings.

13. REFERENCE
• Marilyn J Hockenbery, Wong’s Essesntials of peadiatric nursing, 2nd
edition, Elsevier publications.
• Rimple Sharma, Essentials of peadiatric nursing, 2nd edition, Jaypee
publishers,
• https://www.who.int/nutrition/bfhi/infographics/en/