Scottish breastfeeding week 9-15 June 2025

Back to list 01/06/2025

What better way to celebrate the 20th anniversary of the introduction of the Breastfeeding Act (2005) than to explore how breastfeeding can support babies' growth and development.

Read more on our Breastfeeding week page.

In Scotland breastfeeding and bottle feeding are both protected by The Breastfeeding etc. (Scotland) Act 2005.

If a person deliberately prevents or stops someone from feeding a child under the age of two in a public place in Scotland they are committing a criminal offence. If a mother is asked to move to another part of the premises, or leave the premises completely this is also an offence. This applies to places that the mother and child has the legal right to be in.

This means that any person should be able to feed a child when required and in the most appropriate place for them, without the fear of interruption or criticism.

Parent Club - Getting out and about while breastfeeding

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Understanding how babies grow and develop

Breastfeeding can support babies through added closeness. New babies have a strong need to be close to their parents, as this helps them to feel secure and loved. When babies feel secure, they release a hormone called oxytocin. This acts like a fertiliser for their growing brain, helping them to be happy babies and more confident children and adults.

Holding, smiling and talking to your baby also releases oxytocin in you, which helps you and your baby to feel calm and happy.

Oxytocin is amazing. It is powerful and helps both parent and baby to feel calm and happy and helps boost baby’s brain development. This is what it can do:

Helps form a bond between mother and baby.
It is what mother & baby secrete when you cuddle your child, breastfeed and give birth.
It reduces stress levels.
It reduces pain sensitivity.
It has an effect on our general health by lowering our blood pressure and boosting our immune systems.
Breastfeeding stimulates the release of oxytocin into your system which will cause the muscles in your breast to contract allowing the let down of your milk to occur.

To make an informed choice about feeding your baby, read more on our feeding pages.