First Baby Café in New Jersey set to open at Camden County Library System’s Ferry Avenue Branch
October 25
The New Jersey Healthy Communities Network, supported by NJ SNAP-Ed and The Department of Family and Community Health Sciences, Rutgers Cooperative Extension, is excited to announce the grand opening of New Jersey’s first “Baby Café”, a dedicated space where breastfeeding parents can gather for support, education, and connection in a welcoming environment. Located at the Ferry Avenue Branch of the Camden County Library System, the Cooper-Camden Baby Café (CCBC) will provide free, one-on-one feeding support with services led by international board-certified lactation consultant Sindy Ferreira, MPH, IBCLC. The Baby Cafe is an initiative of Cooper Medical School of Rowan University (CMSRU).
The Baby Café model, known nationally for its success in supporting breastfeeding parents, offers free, professional lactation services in a relaxed, coffee-shop-like atmosphere. It aims to promote breastfeeding by reducing barriers and creating a community for parents to connect. Services will be available on a drop-in basis during designated hours, which will be announced soon.
“The CCBC is a collaborative effort to improve maternal and child health and reduce breastfeeding disparities. All breastfeeding families in Camden County as well as the surrounding areas are welcome to attend,” said Sindy Ferreira, MPH, IBCLC, founder of CCBC and lead facilitator.
“Launching an official Baby Café in Camden is a dream come true. This will not only be the first Baby Café in NJ, but also one of the first models to involve state supported funding to a medical school so that the café will become a site for medical student service learning. The Camden community will benefit from the bilingual expertise and support of Sindy Ferreira, MPH, IBCLC, and students and residents will assist while learning breastfeeding medicine,” said Dr. Lori Feldman-Winter, professor of pediatrics at CMSRU and co-founder of CCBC. Dr. Feldman-Winter is also the immediate past chair of The American Academy of Pediatrics - Section on Breastfeeding. “We are grateful for the partnership of the Camden County Library System, Rutgers Cooperative Extension FCHS, NJ SNAP-Ed, New Jersey Healthy Communities Network, and especially CMSRU for anchoring this important effort,” she added.
“The CMSRU Office of Diversity and Community Affairs is thrilled to support the launch of New Jersey’s first Baby Café site in Camden. This initiative will not only increase breastfeeding rates locally, but also to educate future healthcare providers on the critical benefits of breastfeeding for both babies and mothers,” said Dr. Guy Hewlett, assistant dean for diversity and community affairs and, and professor of obstetrics and gynecology at CMSRU.
About Baby Cafe USA
Baby Café USA is a non-profit organization that coordinates a network of free breastfeeding drop-in centers and other types of breastfeeding support. The first Baby Café in the United States was founded in 2006 by Lucia Jenkins, RN, IBCLC. Since Baby Café USA was launched in 2012, the effort has expanded to 150 licensed Baby Cafés currently operating in 26 states.
Baby Cafés are staffed by licensed lactation consultants and provide a relaxed environment where pregnant and breastfeeding mothers can also meet and learn from each other. These cafés offer a range of services, including:
- One-on-one support from licensed Lactation Consultants
- Peer support from other breastfeeding mothers
- Comfortable seating for feeding and changing babies
- Refreshments and a welcoming atmosphere
- Access to a variety of breastfeeding resources and information
Sara Elnakib, PhD, MPH, RD, project director for the New Jersey Healthy Communities Network, expressed her excitement for the opening: “We are thrilled to open the first Baby Café in New Jersey. This initiative will provide parents with expert support and create a community where families can feel empowered and encouraged in their breastfeeding journey.”
The Baby Café will be a vital resource for Camden residents and is expected to improve health outcomes for breastfeeding parents and their infants. Breastfeeding is the best source of nutrition for most infants. It can also reduce the risk of short- and long-term health conditions for infants and mothers. Payal Arora, MS, RD, CLC, SNAP-Ed program manager, New Jersey Department of Health, emphasized the importance of this effort: “Supporting breastfeeding parents is essential for public health, and we’re proud to collaborate and bring this service to Camden County. By providing resources like the Baby Café, we aim to reduce barriers to breastfeeding and promote healthier outcomes for New Jersey families.”
As the New Jersey State breastfeeding coordinator, Ellen Maughan, JD, IBCLC, highlighted the importance of breastfeeding and the crucial need for in-person, local lactation support: “Breastfeeding offers countless benefits for both mothers and babies, from reducing the risk of chronic diseases to fostering strong parent-child bonds. The Baby Café model supplies the community-based, skilled and social lactation support that so many mothers seek to overcome the breastfeeding barriers they encounter after leaving the hospital.”
The Ferry Avenue Branch of the Camden County Library System will be the primary location, with Baby Café hours to be determined. Parents, caregivers, and community members are encouraged to attend to take advantage of the professional, compassionate care offered by the Baby Café's lactation consultant.
The Baby Café represents a collaborative effort between Cooper Medical School of Rowan University, Camden County Library System, New Jersey Healthy Communities Network, New Jersey SNAP-Ed, and Rutgers Cooperative Extension FCHS to support mothers and promote healthy beginnings for children in New Jersey.
For more information about the Baby Café, please contact [babycafe@rowan.edu].
Other resources include:
NJDOH https://nj.gov/health/fhs/wic/nutrition-breastfeeding/
RUTGERS COOPERATIVE EXTENSION DEPARTMENT OF FAMILY AND COMMUNITY HEALTH SCIENCES
The Department of Family and Community Health Sciences (FCHS), part of Rutgers Cooperative Extension, promotes health and wellness through education, research, collaboration, and outreach in food, nutrition, and healthy lifestyles. FCHS is the managing backbone of NJHCN.
FCHS faculty and staff work in your neighborhood to promote healthy families, schools, and communities. Through leadership, collaborative efforts, research, and science-based education, we foster a culture of health and wellness for New Jersey residents of all ages.
NEW JERSEY DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH SNAP-ED
NJ SNAP-Ed, part of the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), is a nutrition and physical activity program that aims to teach NJ residents how to make healthy, budget-friendly food choices and lead more active lives.
NEW JERSEY HEALTHY COMMUNITIES NETWORK
New Jersey Healthy Communities Network fosters collaboration among local, regional, and state leaders to promote healthier communities across New Jersey.