August is National Breastfeeding Month
While it doesn’t matter how you feed your baby, whether by bottle, formula, or by the breast, breastfeeding is an impressive skill for both babies and mothers that is worth celebrating. While it seems like one of the most natural, instinctual acts, it can still be difficult, tiring, painful, and taxing for many people and babies. There are tons of benefits to breastfeeding, and that’s why August is National Breastfeeding Month. Keep reading to learn more about National Breastfeeding Month and how good oral development begins at birth.
What is National Breastfeeding Month?
On August 6, 2011, the USBC officially declared August as National Breastfeeding Month.
In recognition of National Breastfeeding Month (NBM), each August, the U.S. Breastfeeding Committee hosts a social media advocacy and outreach campaign inviting member organizations, breastfeeding coalitions, partner organizations, and individuals to participate in online action and conversation about the policy and practice changes needed to build a landscape of support for babies and families. It's a time where we Learn, connect, and act together to build momentum that sustains movement through the coming year.
The U.S. Breastfeeding Committee is excited to announce that the 2025 National Breastfeeding Month (NBM) theme is Forward Together. This year’s theme centers on unity, solidarity, and hope, and celebrates the strength and determination of the organizations and advocates committed to advancing policy, systems, and environmental change in the First Food field and improving access to human milk.
[source: https://www.usbreastfeeding.org/national-breastfeeding-month.html ]
How to Celebrate National Breastfeeding Month
Whether you breastfeed, plan to, used to, know someone who does, or simply support breastfeeding in general, there are lots of ways to celebrate National Breastfeeding Month!
- Take action with the USBC. The U.S. Breastfeeding Committee is mobilizing to increase investments that support babies and families by urging Congress to direct $20M to the Centers for Disease Control & Prevention (CDC) Hospitals Promoting Breastfeeding program in the Fiscal Year (FY) 2026 Labor, Health and Human Services, and Related Agencies appropriations bill. This funding will help build and strengthen critical programs that support states, territories, tribal nations, local governments, hospitals, and communities in advancing breastfeeding continuity of care, as well as increase access to breastfeeding-friendly environments within hospitals, workplaces, and community spaces.
- Make a donation. Donate to your local breastfeeding organizations, USBC, or a breast cancer organization in honor of National Breastfeeding Month.
- Help a breastfeeding mama. Whether you’re traveling on a bus or airplane, enjoying the local park, or having a meal at a restaurant, chances are you might run into a breastfeeding mama. Give her a knowing smile and allow her to feed her baby without judgement or stares—it's the best way to help a breastfeeding mother!
Do You Breastfeed?
If you breastfeed, used to, or know someone who does, here are the awesome benefits being enjoyed by both mother and baby:
Mothers who breastfeed their babies have a lower risk of:
- Breast cancer
- Ovarian cancer
- Type 2 diabetes
- High blood pressure
Babies who are breastfed have a lower risk of:
- Asthma
- Obesity
- Type 1 diabetes
- Severe lower respiratory disease
- Acute otitis media (ear infections)
- Sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS)
- Gastrointestinal infections (diarrhea/vomiting)
- Necrotizing enterocolitis (NEC) for preterm infants
[source: https://www.cdc.gov/infant-toddler-nutrition/breastfeeding/index.html ]
Good Oral Development Starts at Birth
Good oral development starts at birth, and good oral development also starts with the tongue!
Oral development focuses on tongue function because tongue function affects many areas other than just feeding. These include:
- Breathing
- Sleeping
- Swallowing
- Dental health
- Facial structure development
If your baby has a tongue tie, trouble latching, dribbles while he eats, or has another oral issue, it can be practiced! Oral development and nursing are skills that can be practiced and learned, which is another reason to celebrate National Breastfeeding Month!
The goals of proper oral development include:
- Making sure your baby’s tongue moves well
- Checking that your baby’s tongue has good mobility
- Exercising your baby’s tongue to get good strength
They are the essential ingredients to ensure proper breastfeeding or bottle feeding!
How do we practice this? Through proper Oral Development Teethers and exercises!
Innobaby Oral Development Teethers
Does your baby have trouble latching, make clicking sounds while feeding, or just want to look super cute while holding an adorable teether?
There are many imitations of Innobaby’s Fruit Teethers out there, but none are the original! Innobaby holds its teethers to the very highest standards (Conforms to Toy Safety Standard ASTM F963 and EN71) and uses the highest quality TPE available, because Innobaby wants the best for your baby, just like you! Other teethers may be too small or break apart easily, but you can trust ours.
Our teethers are:
- Beneficial to your baby
- Aid in oral development
- Help with feeding skills
- Set them up with solid food skills
- Exercise a tongue tie
- Safe and won’t break
Plus, our training teethers stimulate the muscles of the lips, tongue, and cheeks to improve oral motor skills, which aids in nursing, eating solid foods, drinking from cups, and speech development.
The light and easy-to-grip handle on all our teethers also improves hand-eye coordination, because giving two to your baby will allow for bilateral movement and stimulation of both sides of the brain.
For more great family products, parenting tips, and nursing resources, head to Innobaby.com!