Breastfeeding Knowledge and Attitudes of Employees at Wisconsin Childcare Centers

Abstract

Breastfeeding (BF) is fundamental to the health of a mother and infants in the first years of a child’s life. The American Academy of Pediatrics (2022) updated their recommendations to six months of exclusive BF followed by continued BF with complementary foods for at least two years and beyond as desired. With extended BF recommendations, the knowledge and beliefs of BF by non-primary caregivers should be considered. BF knowledge has a strong influence on BF beliefs and practices in primary caregivers and healthcare practitioners (Agrawal et al., 2022; Baranowska et al., 2019). Limited current research is available regarding childcare employee BF knowledge, attitudes, and beliefs. This study assessed relationships between (1) education status and BF beliefs and (2) years of experience and BF knowledge in Wisconsin childcare employees.