Breastfeeding Icon Design Finalists
October 30, 2006 by Angela White, J.D., breastfeeding counselor
Filed under activism
When Mothering magazine ran a contest to design an international breastfeeding icon, over 500 entries poured in from the design and natural family living communities. The contest was inspired by the image of a baby bottle on a sign indicating the location of the parents’ lounge in an airport. 
Why not develop an icon to denote that a place is breastfeeding-friendly? Symbols for “no smoking,” for handicapped parking and for the women’s restroom are widely recognized. There’s a “breastfeeding-friendly” symbol already in use in Canada (see right) but no internationally recognized icon.
Mothering magazine chose 13 finalists and invited readers to vote for their favorites. Now the magazine asks readers to decide the winner in a run-off of the top three entries. Voting starts today and runs for one week on the Mothering magazine website.
What do you think of the choices? Did you vote? Watch for the winner to be announced in the Jan/Feb issue of the magazine, and spread the word! The winning image will be copyright-free as a public domain image.
I liked the choices and voted for #3. I do feel it is sad, though, that there is a need a sign that says we are “allowed” to do something we already have the right to do. I feel the same as I do about the ERA — it seems redundant to ask our government to write a new law to assert rights they should already be enforcing under the constitution. I do think the sign is a good step, though, if it raises awareness and encourages more women to feel supported in their right to breastfeed in public.
Jill, I voted for number 3 also. I think the icon is a good idea – it’s hard to find a quiet place to nurse. You’re right though, it would be nice if nursing in public were universally accepted and women felt comfortable everywhere.