Research shows that there is no better food than breast milk for a baby in his or her first year of life. Breastfeeding provides many health, nutritional, economic, and emotional benefits to both mothers and babies. Since a major goal of WIC is to improve infants’ nutrition, mothers are encouraged to breastfeed their infants.

To encourage breastfeeding, mothers who breastfeed:

• are given information through counseling and educational materials
• receive follow-up support through peer counselors
• are eligible to participate in WIC longer than non-breastfeeding mothers
• receive an enhanced food package
• can receive breast pumps, breast shells, or nursing supplements to help support them to start and continue breastfeeding.

For more information on breastfeeding, check out the USDA Food & Nutrition Services WIC Breastfeeding page.