Breastfeeding

Public Breastfeeding in Rhode Island

A new law (R.I. Gen. Laws § 23-13.5) supporting breastfeeding families takes effect on March 1, 2009. This law allows a woman to breastfeed or bottle-feed her child in any place open to the public.
Press release

The Department of Health and the Rhode Island Breastfeeding Coalition have developed the following materials to help employers and organizations support breastfeeding in their businesses or meeting places. These materials may be downloaded below or requested online (quantities are limited).

• Fact Sheet for Rhode Island Businesses
  
• Fact Sheet for Rhode Island Organizations
• “Breastfeeding Welcome Here” Window Decal
  

Additional Breastfeeding Laws in Rhode Island

Employers should provide a breastfeeding mother with flexible breaks and a safe, clean, private place to pump or breastfeed her child. R.I. Gen. Laws § 23-13.2-1 (2003)

Mothers breastfeeding in public are protected from disorderly conduct laws. R.I. Gen. Laws § 11-45-2 (1998)

All Rhode Island laws and bills can be located through the Rhode Island General Assembly Website.

A list of national breastfeeding laws is posted at National Conference of State Legislatures, Maternal and Child Health, Breastfeeding Laws by State.