Step 1. Why does the breastfeeding policy need to be written?

Having a written breastfeeding policy allows to:

- Make the various actors at the facilities agree to comply with practices that favor breastfeeding.
- Make the medical and nursing staff take ownership of the topic.
- Have recommendations applicable to specific environments.
- Monitor, evaluate and obtain data on breastfeeding practices and their effects, e.g., through audits.
- Exchange views within and outside the institution, involving more actors, sharing experiences and facilitating the replication of good practices.
- Raise awareness through communication actions and products (conferences, courses, dissemination material, etc.).
- Analysis and benchmark of standards and outcomes between different health care facilities.