2026 National Breastfeeding Month

For National Breastfeeding Month 2026, the California Department of Public Health/Women, Infants and Children Division (CDPH/WIC) has released a social media toolkit to help WIC local agencies and program partners highlight WIC's breastfeeding services throughout August and September.

This year's toolkit highlights the updated Breastfeeding and Returning to Work or School (PDF) resource and connects families to WIC Breastfeeding Peer Counselor support available at local WIC offices.

WIC supports all ways of feeding babies with human milk, including breastfeeding, chestfeeding, and exclusive pumping. Whether families are planning ahead, currently feeding, or looking for ways to continue after returning to work or school, WIC services and resources are available for all families.

Breastfeeding observances in August and September:

World Breastfeeding Week (August 1–7)
Indigenous Milk Medicine Week (August 8–14)
Asian American, Native Hawaiian, and Pacific Islander (AANHPI) Breastfeeding Week (August 15–21)
Military Lactation Celebration Week (August 22–24)
Black Breastfeeding Week (August 25–31)
Workplace Lactation Week (September 1–7)
Semana de La Lactancia Latina (September 8–14)
Deaf and Hard of Hearing Breastfeeding Week (September 16–22)

Additional Resources

Breastfeeding and Returning to Work or School English (PDF) | Spanish (PDF)
California Breastfeeding Coalition
U.S. Breastfeeding Committee
U.S. Department of Agriculture: WIC Breastfeeding Support
U.S. Department of Agriculture: WIC Works Resources
World Alliance for Breastfeeding Action (WABA)

Toolkit Contents

Copy and paste the text to share on social media platforms. To use associated images, click on the “Image" button to enlarge the image, then right click and "save as."

Spanish will be available soon. To request a toolkit in Chinese (Mandarin) or Vietnamese, please email WICOutreach@cdph.ca.gov.

Option One - It is National Breastfeeding Month!

August is the start of National Breastfeeding Month. WIC helps families feed their babies with support they can count on. WIC serves participants and their families from many cultures and communities. Parents can get support from peer counselors and lactation experts. Throughout August and September, WIC celebrates the support that makes breastfeeding and chestfeeding possible.

Find your local WIC office for more breastfeeding tips and support at MyFamily.WIC.ca.gov.

#CaliforniaWIC #WIC #Breastfeeding #NBM26 #WorldBreastfeedingWeek #WBW2026

Image: Getty

Image description (Alt Text): A smiling parent breastfeeding their baby. The text header reads, “It is National Breastfeeding Month!" followed by a schedule of 2026 observances:

World Breastfeeding Week (August 1-7)

Indigenous Milk Medicine Week (August 8-14)

Asian American, Native Hawaiian, and Pacific Islander Breastfeeding Week (August 15-21)

Military Lactation Celebration (August 22-24)

Black Breastfeeding Week (August 25-31)

Workplace Lactation Week (September 1-7)

Semana de La Lactancia Latina (September 8-14)

Deaf & Hard of Hearing Breastfeeding Week (September 16-22)

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Option Two - Going Back to Work or School

Your breastmilk helps protect your baby from getting sick. WIC offers practical tips and support to parents who want to keep breastfeeding when they return to work or school.

With a little planning and support, you can go back to work and keep breastfeeding your baby. The “Breastfeeding and Returning to Work or School" handout has even more tips. To read our handout and find a WIC office, visit MyFamily.WIC.ca.gov.

Link in Bio or to share: https://docs.wic.ca.gov/Content/Documents/NutritionHealth/Breastfeeding/Breastfeeding-and-Returning-to-Work.pdf

#CaliforniaWIC #WIC #NBM26 #Breastfeeding

Image: Getty

Image description (Alt Text): A parent sits at a table with a laptop as they breastfeed. Text reads “Going back to work or school? Keep your baby healthy with breastmilk."

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Option Three - WIC Breastfeeding Counselors

New to breastfeeding and have questions or need help? WIC breastfeeding peer counselors are parents who breastfed their babies. They will listen to you, answer your questions, and encourage you.

Ask if your local WIC office has breastfeeding peer counselors. WIC also has nutrition counselors and registered dietitians to support you and your family through your child's 5th birthday.

Find your local WIC office at MyFamily.WIC.ca.gov.

Link in Bio or to share: https://docs.wic.ca.gov/Flyers/Ed/Breastfeeding-Peer-Counselors.pdf

#CaliforniaWIC #WIC #NBM26 #BreastfeedingSupport

Image: Getty

Image description (Alt Text): Two parents sit together smiling and clapping with a happy toddler between them. Text reads “WIC breastfeeding peer counselors are parents like you."

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Option Four - Graphic 1 - Going Back to Work?

Your breastmilk helps protect your baby from getting sick. You can take these steps to keep feeding breastmilk when you return to work or school.

Begin pumping and storing your breastmilk about 2 weeks before you go back to work.
Talk to your manager about a schedule so you can pump or breastfeed your baby during your breaks.
Practice leaving your baby with your childcare provider before you start back to work to get your baby used to feeding when you are not around.

The “Breastfeeding and Returning to Work or School" handout has even more tips. To read our handout and find a WIC office, visit MyFamily.WIC.ca.gov.

Link in Bio or to share: https://docs.wic.ca.gov/Content/Documents/NutritionHealth/Breastfeeding/Breastfeeding-and-Returning-to-Work.pdf

#CaliforniaWIC #WIC #NBM26 #Breastfeeding

Image: Getty

Image description (Alt Text): A smiling person wearing an apron talks on a phone while working. Below are three photos showing a person pumping breastmilk, a person talking to a colleague, and a child playing. Text reads “Going back to work? Take these steps to keep feeding breastmilk."

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