Recent data shows that there has been a further increase in breastfeeding rates in Knowsley.
The number of babies in Knowsley being breastfed at 6-8 weeks has risen from 33.1% in 2024/2025 to 37.6% in 2025/2026.
Historically, Knowsley has one of the lowest rates of breastfeeding in England – as low as 17.1% in 2022/2023.
However, this new data shows continues growth as a result of many initiatives and support in place to help families in Knowsley to breastfeed.
Since April 2023, Knowsley’s Family Hubs and Infant Feeding Strategy Group have introduced:
- Knowsley’s Breastfeeding Friendly Pledge – over 64 business and public venues have signed up to the Breastfeeding pledge and proudly display the pledge and window sticker, making it easy for breastfeeding families to identify supportive environments.
- Knowsley’s Breastfeeding Strategy – this aims to create a breastfeeding culture in Knowsley, where people are empowered to breastfeed and have access to the support they need to breastfeed for as long as they would like to.
- Launched the Breastfeeding Friendly campaign – this promotes breastfeeding and highlights the support available to new and expecting parents, reinforcing Knowsley’s commitment to becoming a truly breastfeeding-friendly borough.
- Enhanced the Infant Feeding Team – a range of infant feeding support is available from specialists who offer one-to-one support guidance and advice to families.
- Breastfeeding workshops in primary schools – these take place during Year 5 PHSE lessons and aim to normalise breastfeeding as part of the ‘Body changes’ session.
- Breast pump loan scheme – new and expectant parents can loan equipment from Family Hubs across the borough and will receive support/training to use it.
- Breastfeeding support programmes – are in place on postnatal wards at Whiston Hospital and Liverpool Women’s Hospital.
- Knowsley’s Breastfeeding Buddy Programme – provides invaluable face-to-face and online support for Knowsley families, both antenatally and postnatally. Trained volunteer Breastfeeding Buddies, who have personal breastfeeding experience, offer support, information, and skill-building to help families successfully breastfeed. Weekly drop-in sessions are held at various locations across Knowsley.
Cllr Christine Bannon, Knowsley Council’s Cabinet Member for Health said:
“I’m delighted to see a further increase in breastfeeding rates in Knowsley. This is a testament to the work we are doing to strengthen the breastfeeding-friendly culture we have here in the borough.
“Breastfeeding, even for a short period, offers significant health advantages for both mother and baby, with benefits increasing the longer it continues. We have a whole range of expert and professional support available for new and expectant families in Knowsley and I would encourage all families to speak to our teams for advice and support with their breastfeeding journey.”
Support when you need it
There’s a range of support available for families in Knowsley and the Knowsley Start for Life website brings together everything to help you from your child’s conception through their early years of childhood.
You can also follow the Early Years Team on Facebook and Instagram to find out what’s happening at Children’s Centres in Knowsley.