A Nova Scotian restaurant is inviting mom and baby to dine in a breastfeeding friendly environment.
Moms at Flavor restaurant in Sydney, N.S. feel comfortable sharing the experience of feeding their babies together, but out in public it can garner attention that doesn’t always make the necessity of feeding comfortable.
Christina MacNeil works for the Cape Breton District Health Authority. She’s also a mom and admits she even used to feel uncomfortable breastfeeding her son.
"As soon as we went out in public, sometimes people would look at you. And you didn't know what they thought, you just kind of felt that maybe they were judging you," says MacNeil.
A new campaign called "make breast feeding your business" might help by identifying businesses that are breast feeding friendly for both employees and customers.
Scott Morrison, owner of two Sydney area restaurants and father of three, was the first to sign up.
"We have a lot of young women who work here. My wife breastfed all three of our kids, so we just wanted to throw our support behind it," says Morrison.
While this restaurant is the first in the Sydney area to publicly declare itself breastfeeding friendly, the health authority is hoping others will soon jump on board.
Cape Breton Health Nurse Kim Shebib says both mom and baby benefit.
"There’s a lower risk of certain illnesses. And diseases like diabetes, ear infections, respiratory infections, certain childhood cancers," Says Shebib
Customers CTV spoke with seemed to support the restaurant’s initiative.
"I think it's great. It’s always great to feel more comfortable while you're at it, and that it's accepted," says Courtney Buchanan.
"As long as it's done with discretion, personally, I’m fine with it," adds Josh Wludyka
If customers complain they are uncomfortable with being near a breastfeeding mother, restaurant staff say they’ll be offered a different seat if one is available.
Breastfeeding is already protected under the human rights act in all three Maritime provinces.
With files from CTV’s Ryan MacDonald
