Table 1 Eight Steps of Baby-Friendly Community Initiative

 1. Have a written Maternal Infant and Young Child Nutrition (MIYCN) policy summary statement consistently communicated to health care providers, community health workers and community members;

 2. Train health care providers and community health volunteers on MIYCN policy, in order to equip them with necessary skills to implement the policy;

 3. Promote and support optimal maternal nutrition among women and their families;

 4. Educate all pregnant women and lactating women and their families on benefits of breastfeeding to all parties and risks associated with artificial feeding;

 5. Help mothers to initiate breastfeeding their children soon after delivery; within 1 h of birth and support them to maintain exclusive breastfeeding for 6 months. Address any problems related to breastfeeding;

 6. Encourage mothers to continue breastfeeding their children up to 2 years or beyond, in conjunction with the appropriate, adequate and safe complementary feeding while providing holistic care and stimulation of the child;

 7. Provide a friendly environment, supportive of breastfeeding families;

 8. Promote collaboration among healthcare staff, community mother-support groups, mother-to-mother support groups and the members of the local community.