Breastfeeding offers a true head start to children and families.  Yet the latest National Study of Children’s Health (HRSA, 2005) found that only 32.1% of children under the federal poverty line were breastfed for the six months recommended by the American Academy of Pediatrics. Staff in Early Head Start and Migrant and Seasonal Head Start programs can make a difference!  In March, 2007, the Early Head Start National Resource Center hosted an Expert Work Group (EWG) on Breastfeeding on behalf of the Office of Head Start (OHS).  The goals of the EWG were to identify the barriers to breastfeeding for low-income families, and to offer recommendations to the Office of Head Start on how to respond.  The EWG identified a variety of meaningful resources already available to families and staff on the internet.  This Guide to On-Line Breastfeeding Resources offers a connection to resources that can offer families information and support and can help staff in their work.  

On each page of this Guide, there is content for families and staff, and links to on-line materials with more information.  Click on a link, and go to a page that includes the link and an abstract for the particular resource.  Click again to go to the resource itself.  (In some instances, scroll down to get to the particular resource).  These resources have been reviewed by members of the Expert Work Group on Breastfeeding, including certified lactation consultants.  However, the materials cannot substitute for the expert support of a health provider or lactation consultant familiar with the child and family. 

As you use this Guide, we want your feedback.  Please email us at ehsinfo@zerotothree.org with your comments

View the Breastfeeding: Guide to On-Line Resources