Note: *The AAP policy statement on breastfeeding has recently been updated to recommend breastfeeding through the first 2 years of life. To read the full updated policy, click here.

Pregnancy

Make a Plan to Breastfeed

Use for obstetric visits. Use only for moms planning to breastfeed. Can be used with Breastfeeding Plan and Gift of Time cards:

  • While breastfeeding is natural, it’s not always simple at first.
  • Find breastfeeding support. Reach out to your pediatrician, OBGYN, lactation consultant, or peer counselor to build your breastfeeding support team. These providers can offer support, advice and guidance around breastfeeding.
  • Consider taking a breastfeeding class now so you are ready when baby comes home. Search online for in-person or virtual classes.
  • Ask friends and family for help with everyday tasks. It’s okay, and perfectly normal, to ask for help with diaper changing, bathing, babysitting, laundry, errands, cooking and anything else. That way you can rest, recharge and focus on breastfeeding.
  • Ask your health care provider about options for free or low cost pumps. That way, you’re ready to ease into the transition for when you need – or want – to be away.
  • Talk to your employer. Your employer may offer breaks, private space to pump or other resources.
  • Tell your healthcare team you plan to breastfeed. Make sure all your providers (nurses, doctors, delivery hospital) know you’d like uninterrupted skin-to-skin time for the first hour after birth to bond with your little one and start breastfeeding.
  • Set a breastfeeding goal. You can start small. Commit to breastfeeding for the first 2 weeks — then, once you reach that milestone, you can set a new goal.
Why Messages Resonate:
  • The acknowledgement that while natural, breastfeeding can be difficult resonated with moms
  • Phrases that felt like they positioned breastfeeding more as a choice were appreciated, as was language that accounted for the fact that not all moms can breastfeed
  • Specific actions and advice was seen as helpful

Reduce Sugary Drink Consumption

Use for obstetric visits:

  • Too much sugar increases the risk of gestational diabetes, which can cause complications during pregnancy and delivery.
  • It can also make your blood sugar spike and then plummet, affecting your energy and mood.
  • Lots of everyday drinks sneak extra sugar into your diet.
  • Sodas, sports drinks, coffees, teas, and even fruit juice may have more than the recommended amount of daily sugar.
  • Check drink labels to look for low- or no-sugar options.
  • Try these tips for limiting sugar:
    • When you’re thirsty, try water first
    • Make your water more exciting by adding a piece of your favorite fruit
    • Try another alternative like flavored water or seltzer
Why Messages Resonate:
  • The explanation that sugary drinks can make your blood sugar spike and then plummet was tangible and salient information
  • “Sneaky sugar” felt empathetic, acknowledging mothers-to-be are trying to be healthy while surrounded by temptation
  • Tips for finding alternative beverages increased self-efficacy and a sense of control
  •  Information on how to check the label increased self-efficacy and a sense of control

0-36 Months

Healthy Feeding for the First Three Years

Use for visits from 0 to 36 months:

  • Healthy feeding supports your baby’s brain development.
  • From 0 - 6 months, stick to only breast milk or formula.
    • From 6 - 12 months, after you’ve introduced solid foods, continue to give your baby only breast milk or formula to drink, along with occasional sips of water.
    • Even as babies start to eat solid foods, they still get most of their nutrition from breast milk or formula until about their first birthday.
  • From 12 - 36 months, if it feels right for you and your toddler, continue breastfeeding. Otherwise, stick to milk or water as often as you can.
    • Sugar-sweetened beverages like flavored milks, sports drinks, soda and even fruit juice can fill your baby or toddler up without giving them the nutrition they need for their growing bodies and brains.
Why Messages Resonate:
  • The ability to support their child’s brain development was salient and motivating
  • The information that breastmilk or formula meets most of babies' nutritional needs for about the first year was new and surprising
  • Caregivers appreciated acknowledgment that they may not always control what their toddler drinks

0-6 Months

Delay Solid Food Introduction Until 6 Months

Use for 1-month, 2-month, and 4-month visits:

  • Babies reach milestones, like starting solid food, when they are ready. These special milestones are worth the wait.
  • Try waiting to introduce solids until your baby is about 6 months old.
  • Stick to breast milk or formula instead. This supports the development of your baby’s body and brain.
Why Messages Resonate:
  • Moms liked the reminder of how much they enjoyed their babies’ early milestones.
  • The reminder to savor milestones helped parents resist adopting an “achievement” approach and pushing early mastery of milestones.
  • Linking the start of a behavioral milestone (introducing solid food) with an easy-to-remember age-related milestone (6 months) was a helpful anchor.

Extend Breastfeeding for a Full Year

Use for 6-month and 9-month visits and only for moms who are breastfeeding:

  • What are your plans for continuing to breastfeed?
  • Have you thought about continuing a bit longer?
  • Breast milk provides complete nutrition for the first full year of your baby’s life, even as your baby transitions to solid foods.
  • Breastfeeding for a full year or more is a proven way to support your baby’s growing body and brain.
  • That’s why many moms extend breastfeeding to a full year or more.
  • So if you can, consider breastfeeding for the first full year.
  • If your patient continues to breastfeed for the full year, encourage them to continue breastfeeding for another year (the current AAP recommendation duration for breastfeeding is 2 years).
Why Messages Resonate:
  • Knowing babies get most of their nutrition from breastmilk for about the first 12 months was new information that moms found reassuring as they navigated their babies’ changing tastes.
  • References to helping support brain development was salient and important.
  • Messages that congratulated both moms and their baby make them feel acknowledged and appreciated.

7-12 Months

Encourage Food Exploration

Use for 6-month and 9-month visits:

  • As babies explore solid foods from about 6 to 12 months, what they like or don’t like can change from one minute to the next. It’s normal.
  • Starting solids is mostly about exploring.
  • Here are some tips to keep mealtime fun:
    • Let them feed themselves. Playing with their food is normal, lets them explore, and builds fine motor skills.
    • Offer a healthy variety of tastes, colors, and textures.
    • Offer foods more than once, but don’t stress if they don’t want it. Many babies need to try food 10 times before they accept it.
    • Breast milk or formula gives babies most of the nutrition they need, even as they explore solids.
Why Messages Resonate:
  • Affirmation that it’s normal for their baby’s tastes to suddenly change
  • The fact that babies get most of their nutrition from breastmilk or formula for about the first 12 months was new and reassuring information
  • Reduced pressure to make their baby eat foods they are rejecting

12-24 Months

Limit Sugary Drinks During Toddler Years

Use for 12-month, 15-month, 18-month and 24-month visits:

  • It’s normal for toddlers to occasionally refuse to eat.
  • Limiting sugary drinks can help your toddler have a better mood and a better appetite at dinner
  • Soda, sports drinks, flavored milk and even 100% fruit juice contain too much sugar and calories.
  • These drinks can fill toddlers up without providing the nutrition they need for their growing bodies and brains.
  • Stick to milk or water for your toddler if you can.
  • If your child is already used to sugary drinks, here are ways to cut back:
    • Dilute the juice: Gradually water down juice and sweet drinks. Add some water, then some more, until every drink is at least half water.
    • Add fruit: Make their water more exciting by adding pieces of their favorite fruit.
    • Find tasty alternatives: Try other options like flavored water.
Why Messages Resonate:
  •  Affirmation that toddlers’ moods are highly changeable, and their tastes for foods can suddenly change
  • Affirmation that sometimes toddlers refuse to eat, and this can be disappointing when a parent has worked hard to prepare dinner
  • The link between sugary drinks and spoiled appetites was insightful and was motivating
  • They appreciated the flexibility to reduce SSBs, since eliminating them entirely often felt too hard to do