BABY care services in Keighley have been given the stamp of approval by UNICEF.

The United Nations body has reaccredited the health visiting and family nurse partnership services provided by Bradford District Care NHS Foundation Trust.

The accreditation, which comes the national Baby Friendly Initiative, shows excellent practice across the district in protecting, promoting and supporting infant feeding and parent-infant relationships.

The trust’s team works in locations including Strong Close Children’s Centre in Keighley.

Kim Atkinson, the trust’s Breastfeeding Coordinator, said: “We are very proud that our services have been acknowledged as providing mothers with the help and support they need to successfully breastfeed if they choose to do so.”

The trust marked the occasion with a presentation earlier this month bringing together senior leaders from the organisation, breastfeeding champions, and mums and babies who have used the services.

The certificate was awarded by Alison Moore, Senior Manager with the Public Health Improvement team at Bradford Council.

She said: “We are really pleased that Bradford District Care Trust has achieved full UNICEF Baby Friendly status. It assures us that mums across the district are receiving the best advice about feeding their baby.

“The accreditation is recognition that the staff are giving clear and consistent messages, and supporting mums and babies to have the best start in life.”

The Baby Friendly Initiative is designed to provide parents with the best possible care to build close and loving relationships with their baby and to feed their baby in ways which will support the best health and development for them.

Kim Atkinson said a key part of the trust’s role was to strengthen parent-infant relationships, regardless of whether a baby was breastfed or not.

She added: “We do recognise that many mums need support and encouragement to help them to continue breastfeeding, particularly in areas with a culture of formula feeding.

“Breastfeeding is known to boost babies’ immune systems, protecting them from infections and childhood cancers, as well as protecting against obesity, diabetes, asthma and eczema.

“Mums who breastfeed are also less likely to get breast or ovarian cancer, osteoporosis, diabetes or become obese.”

The trust first received the UNICEF accreditation in 2015 when Kimberley Walsh, Bradford born pop star and mum, attended the event to present the certificate.