June 30, 2023

The Barry-Eaton District Health Department (BEDHD) is excited to announce the opening of a new Baby Café in Eaton County! Barry-Eaton Baby Café meetings are held on Fridays from 10:00am-12:00pm at AL!VE in Charlotte, Michigan and Tuesdays from 10:00am to 12:00pm at the Hastings Library or at Tyden Park (weather permitting) in Hastings, Michigan. New, pregnant, breastfeeding and/or experienced mothers are encouraged to attend. Older siblings are always welcome, and light refreshments are always provided.

The Barry-Eaton Baby Café is supported by the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services Maternal Child Health Block Grant in affiliation with BEDHD, AL!VE, and Hastings Public Library. Baby Cafés are free, drop-in, informal breastfeeding support groups offering ongoing professional lactation care and intervention. The Barry-Eaton Baby Café provides pregnant and breastfeeding mothers a friendly and comfortable environment to learn more about breastfeeding. At Baby Café, mothers can relax, share tips and techniques, and socialize with other moms. One-on-one help from specially trained health professionals is available, including professional lactation support and peer counselors from the Women, Infants, and Children (WIC) program. Babies can also have their breastfeeding assessed at Baby Café, providing additional support for parents.

The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends infants be exclusively breastfed for about the first 6 months, then continue breastfeeding while introducing complimentary foods until a child is 12 months or older. Breastfeeding has numerous benefits for the infant as well as the mother. For infants, breastfeeding can reduce the risk of type 1 diabetes, asthma, sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS), and obesity later in life. For mothers, breastfeeding can reduce the risk of high blood pressure, type 2 diabetes, and some types of cancer. Other benefits of breastfeeding include reducing the infant’s risk of stomach bugs and ear infections along with providing antibodies that can provide protection from illnesses. BEDHD recognizes the importance of breastfeeding and is happy to provide the Barry-Eaton Baby Café as one way to give children a safe, healthy start in life.

For more information on the Barry-Eaton Baby Café, please contact Lindsey Patterson at lpatterson@bedhd.org or follow us on Facebook @Barry-EatonBabyCafe.