BFF Express Center for New Moms at Solano County Fair

July 27, 2012

New moms will have a cool, comfortable location to breastfeed or express milk at the 2012 Solano County Fair at the "Breastfeeding Friendly (BFF) Express Center." 

The BFF Express, an Airstream trailer owned by First 5 Fresno, has been made available from 11 a.m. to 8 pm for the full run of the Solano County Fair – Wednesday, Aug. 1 through Sunday, Aug. 5. 

“The Solano County Fair is a family event, and we want to find ways to make the Fair experience a fun, positive one for our families,” said Solano County Fair General Manager Mike Paluszak.  He endorses the addition of the Breastfeeding Friendly Express to the list of services available at the Fair. “The Express is one way of bringing an additional service to families.  It's a win for everyone.”

First 5 Solano is underwriting the rental cost of the BFF Express. Co-hosts Solano County Health and Social Services and Solano Breastfeeding Coalition are helping to coordinate volunteers to staff the site, and to provide educational materials on Solano programs and services to young families.

“Breastfeeding has many positive impacts on a child’s development,” said Dana Dean, First 5 Solano Children and Families Commission Chair. “First 5 Solano works to support all parents of young children, but breastfeeding moms could use a little extra help sometimes, particularly on these warm summer days, and the BFF Express offers just that.” 

The Solano County Board of Supervisors praised the BFF Express at the Fair project at their meeting Tuesday, approving a resolution to recognize World Breastfeeding Week from Aug. 1 to Aug. 7.  The resolution noted that breastfeeding provides the maximum amount of nutrition to babies, results in reduced risk of obesity later in life, improves the baby’s developing immune system, increases babies’ cognitive functioning, promotes mother/child attachment and bonding, improves mothers’ health and reduces days of absence from work for employed parents.