Thanks for publishing "Breastfeeding in Nonmaternity Settings" (January). Nurses need to be informed if they are to promote the Healthy People 2010 breastfeeding goals and objectives. Other useful resources include the recently updated American Academy of Pediatrics breastfeeding guidelines, 1 the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services ad campaign entitled Babies Were Born to Be Breastfed, and World Breastfeeding Week (August 1-7), sponsored by the World Alliance for Breastfeeding Action (http://www.waba.org.my) and La Leche League International (http://www.lalecheleague.org). I encourage nurses, regardless of specialty, to promote exclusive breastfeeding for the first six months of life and breastfeeding supplemented with other foods for at least one year or longer.

Hila J. Spear, PhD, RN, IBCLC

Lynchburg, VA

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