The purpose of an international symbol for breastfeeding is to increase public awareness of breastfeeding, to provide an alternative to the use of a baby bottle image, to designate baby friendly areas in public, and to mark breastfeeding friendly facilities.
Of course, breastfeeding does not require a special place and is appropriate—as the Canadian government’s slogan says—”anytime, anywhere.” The purpose of the symbol is not to segregate breastfeeding, but to help integrate it into society by better accommodating it in public.
The International Breastfeeding Symbol is now used all over the world to demonstrate supportive, safe places for women to breastfeed their children. Businesses, public, and governmental spaces use this symbol to say “Breastfeeding welcome here.”