We are proud to announce that all 189 childcare providers serving children ages 0 to 3 now have a curriculum that normalizes breastfeeding, completing step 10 of the 10 Steps to a Breastfeeding Family Friendly Community for the preschool portion.
At Breastfeed Durham, our commitment to supporting breastfeeding families goes hand in hand with ensuring that our child care providers have the resources and environments they need to thrive. We recently completed an intensive journey—reaching out to all 242 registered childcare providers in Durham—to assess and enhance lactation support in our community.
A Community-Wide Effort
We began by contacting every one of Durham’s 242 providers and discovered that while all are registered, only 189 serve children from birth to age 3. Recognizing the critical role these early years play, we invited these providers to complete our comprehensive online survey.
But we didn’t stop there. To truly understand the unique challenges and opportunities each provider faces, we revisited 114 facilities in person and followed up by emailing our tailored breastfeeding curriculum to 54 providers. Alongside the survey, our team installed dedicated lactation spaces, distributed handouts and posters, and shared email videos of training sessions—ensuring that every provider had the tools necessary to create a supportive lactation environment.
Why Your Participation Mattered
Breastfeeding is much more than a feeding method—it’s a cornerstone of infant health, a catalyst for bonding, and a critical element of early childhood development. For working parents, balancing childcare and breastfeeding can be challenging. By participating in the Breastfeeding Friendly Child Care Provider Survey, you shone a light on both the successes and the gaps in current lactation support. Your insights helped us tailor resources, policies, and best practices that will continue to create welcoming environments for lactating parents across Durham.
Survey Highlights and Incentives
Our survey delved deep into several key areas:
- Staff and Enrollment: Capturing the number of staff and children in each program.
- Facilities & Policies: Evaluating existing structures that support lactating parents and employees.
- Educational Materials: Assessing tools and activities that normalize breastfeeding.
- Employee Support: Reviewing the training and resources available to staff.
In recognition of your valuable time and insights, participants were offered a range of thank-you gifts—from free training sessions and books to posters and assistance in setting up lactation spaces. These tokens were our way of saying “thank you” for being partners in this vital work.
The Impact of Your Contribution
Every survey response contributed directly to a larger vision: a Durham where every child care center is a beacon of support for breastfeeding families. The data you provided helped us identify areas for improvement, celebrate successes, and guide the development of future initiatives and resources. Your contributions have paved the way for a community where breastfeeding is fully supported and celebrated.
Looking Back, Moving Forward
Our journey began in the spring of 2020, when 32 childcare providers eagerly lined up to become officially certified as Breastfeeding Friendly Childcare Providers. Then, the COVID-19 pandemic forced us to pivot—transitioning to virtual trainings and reimagining how to connect with providers amid unprecedented challenges.
Now, with this project complete, we look back with pride at how our renewed approach, bolstered by fresh funding and dedicated community effort, has re-engaged Durham’s childcare providers. The survey—and the follow-up work it inspired—stands as a testament to the resilience, adaptability, and shared commitment that defines our community.
Behind the Scenes: A Glimpse into Our Work
There’s a story behind every survey response and every installed lactation space. Imagine a community event with water bottles lining the tables, childcare bundles carefully arranged in a corner, and even a few leftover items from our Breastfeed Durham gala—a tangible reminder of the long nights, the countless phone calls, and the unwavering passion that drove our work. These behind-the-scenes moments capture the essence of our mission: turning challenges into opportunities and building a community where every breastfeeding family is celebrated.
Celebrating Our Partners and Providers
We remain proud to acknowledge the childcare providers who embraced this initiative and set a high standard for breastfeeding support. Congratulations to First Presbyterian Day School and Yates Baptist Child Development Center for earning both the Breastfeed Durham Awards and the North Carolina Breastfeeding-Friendly Child Care Designation from the NC Department of Health and Human Services. Their leadership continues to inspire all of Durham.
Below is a snapshot of our award-winning providers, organized by ZIP code:
27701
- Durham Head Start: Employer & Community Partner Award (2024)
- First Presbyterian Day School: Employer, Community Partner, & Child Care (2022)
- Leathers Meachem Head Start: Employer & Community Partner Award (2024)
- McDougald Terrace Head Start: Employer with Policy & Community Partner Award (2024)
27703
- All My Children Childcare at Partridge St: Employer with Policy & Community Partner Award (2024)
- Brighter Minds Childcare: Community Partner Award (2024)
- Creative Minds Childcare: Community Partner Award (2024)
- DD&T’s Home Daycare: Community Partner Award (2024)
- Just Growin Up Daycare: Community Partner Award (2024)
- Quality Academy Home Daycare: Community Partner Award (2024)
- Mary’s Home Day Care: Community Partner Award (2024)
- Nana’s Babies: Community Partner Award (2024)
- True Colors In-Home Daycare: Employer and Community Partner Award (2024)
27704
- Big World Little People Childcare: Community Partner Award (2024)
- Gorman Early Learning Center: Employer Award (2024)
- Kadejah’s Playhouse: Community Partner Award (2024)
- Linking Connections Learning Center: Employer & Community Partner Award (2021)
- Little Star Daycare: Community Partner Award (2024)
- Love Laugh and Learning: Employer Award (2024)
- Over the Rainbow: Community Partner Award (2024)
27705
- Branches Community School: Employer with Policy & Community Partner Award (2021)
- Early Start Academy: Community Partner Award (2024)
- KIN: Employer and Community Partner Award (2024)
- KIN, Too: Employer and Community Partner Award (2024)
- SugarNSpice Home Childcare: Community Partner Award (2024)
- Talentos Giraffe School: Community Partner Award (2024)
- The Little School at Duke: Employer with Policy & Community Partner Award (2021)
- Wildflower Cottage for Children: Employer Award (2024)
27707
- All My Children Childcare at Academy Rd: Employer with Policy & Community Partner Award (2024)
- A Brilliant Beginning Daycare: Community Partner Award (2024)
- Bryson Christian Montessori School: Community Partner Award (2024)
- Community Preschool at Lakewood: Employer and Community Partner Award (2024)
- Wondertots Learning Academy: Community Partner Award (2024)
- King’s Kids Child Development Center: Employer and Community Partner Award (2024)
- Learning Jungle Hope Valley: Employer and Community Partner Award (2024)
- Mount Zion Daycare: Community Partner Award (2024)
- Small Wonders Daycare: Community Partner Award (2024)
27712
- Giggles and Smiles: Community Partner Award (2024)
- Little Sprouts Childcare: Community Partner Award (2024)
- Pooh’s Corner Family Childcare: Community Partner Award (2024)
27713
- Beacon RTP: Employer Award (2024)
- Childcare Network 166: Employer with Policy and Community Partner Award (2024)
- Families and Communities Rising Head Start: Employer & Community Partner Award (2023)
- Grays Small Wonders Daycare: Community Partner Award (2024)
- Mariposas Spanish Immersion Home Daycare: Employer and Community Partner Award (2024)
- New Life Child Development Center: Community Partner Award (2024)
- Primary Colors ELC: Community Partner Award (2024)
- Rochelle Sanders Daycare Home: Community Partner Award (2024)
- Southside Child Care: Employer & Community Partner Award (2021)
- Starting Legends Childcare LLC: Community Partner Award (2024)
- Through Faith Family Childcare Home: Community Partner Award (2024)
- The Goddard School of Durham: Employer & Community Partner Award (2021)
- The Learning Experience: Employer and Community Partner Award (2024)
- The Woodcroft School: Community Partner Award (2024)
- Wonderkids Childcare: Community Partner Award (2024)
Moving Forward Together
Although this project is now complete, our commitment to supporting breastfeeding families and enhancing child care environments in Durham continues. Your participation in the Breastfeeding Friendly Child Care Survey was more than a response—it was a statement. It paved the way for lasting changes that ensure every child care provider has the resources to support families from the very start.
Thank you for joining us in this important effort. Together, we’ve made Durham a leading example of a breastfeeding-friendly community—a place where every family feels supported and every child thrives.
We appreciate your continued support and look forward to the next steps in our journey toward elevating child care in Durham.