The Law in California on Breastfeeding

California laws include provisions on breastfeeding.

The California Breastfeeding Coalition advocates breastfeeding. There are different laws for breastfeeding that address the right to breastfeed in public, at work and in other common situations.

Public Breastfeeding

California Civil Code allows a mother to breastfeed her child in any location, public or private. The only exception to this is if the mother is in a private home. Then the homeowner can request that she not breastfeed in the private residence.

At Work

The state of California encourages and supports mothers that breastfeed. Employers are required to provide employees with facilities that are adequate for breastfeeding or pumping breast milk. An employer should also ensure that a mom who is pumping milk has adequate break times so that she may pump, unless it would disrupt the operations at the place of employment.

In Hospitals

All hospitals in California that provide maternity care must make available a breastfeeding consultant, or lactation consultant, if the mother so requests. The consultant should be available while the mother is still in the hospital after delivering a baby. The mother has the option to decline these services.

References

• California Laws Related to Breastfeeding
• California Breastfeeding Laws