Baby-Friendly Hospital Initiative

In April 2025, Lucile Packard Children’s Hospital Stanford achieved the prestigious Baby-Friendly Designation after a rigorous review process conducted by Baby-Friendly USA, the organization responsible for bestowing this certification in the United States.

What is the Baby-Friendly Hospital Initiative?

The Baby-Friendly Hospital Initiative (BFHI) is a global initiative of the World Health Organization and the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF). The initiative’s goal is to improve health outcomes for mothers and babies through promoting and supporting breastfeeding and immediate skin-to-skin bonding.

This distinguished honor demonstrates that Lucile Packard Children’s Hospital Stanford is adhering to the highest standards of care for breastfeeding mothers and their babies. These standards are built on The Ten Steps to Successful Breastfeeding.

Why is breastfeeding important?

The positive health effects of breastfeeding are well documented and widely recognized by health authorities throughout the world. For example, the Surgeon General’s 2011 Call to Action to Support Breastfeeding stated, “Breast milk is uniquely suited to the human infant’s nutritional needs and is a live substance with unparalleled immunological and anti-inflammatory properties that protect against a host of illnesses and diseases for both mothers and children.”

We’re proud to join a growing list of more than 500 Baby-Friendly hospitals and birth centers in the United States. These facilities provide an environment that supports breastfeeding while respecting every woman’s right to make the best decision for herself and her family.

Learn more about our Johnson Center for Pregnancy and Newborn Services’ Breastfeeding Support program, including our new Infant Nutrition Lab, lactation consulting and support groups, and information on how skin-to-skin bonding can help with breastfeeding.

About Baby-Friendly USA

As the accrediting body and national authority for the Baby-Friendly Hospital Initiative (BFHI) in the United States, Baby-Friendly USA is responsible for upholding the highest standards in infant feeding care by coordinating and conducting all activities necessary to confer the prestigious Baby-Friendly designation and ensure the widespread adoption of the BFHI in the United States.

Learn more about Baby-Friendly USA and the BFHI >