The free android app and website Burp - Breast-feeding's Ultimate Refuel Place - went live yesterday to promote breast-feeding-friendly facilities in Otago and Southland.
WellSouth Health Primary Network promotion co-ordinator Sophie Carty said the network and the Southern District Health Board had the software made to direct mothers to the nearest breast-feeding-friendly public place.
''It's to help mothers feel comfortable breast-feeding.''
More than 100 places had registered to be on the software, including cafes, restaurants, libraries and museums, and many more places would be uploaded soon on the ''ever-evolving'' software, Miss Carty said.
The program displayed the places on a map and included photos of the venue. It allowed users to place feedback and a star-rating on their experience.
The feature would help parents of young children, and not just breast-feeding mothers, to make good choices.
The registered places had supportive and welcoming staff who had been coached on how to make breast-feeding mothers comfortable.
A scenario included dealing with a customer who was uncomfortable sharing a space with a breast-feeding mother.
If the customer was really upset, the staff would tell them of its policy and could move the uncomfortable customer to another table, leaving the mother to feed, she said.
Breast-feeding ''anywhere, anytime'' was a human right, Miss Carty said.
''The Burp app provides an opportunity to create staff awareness at public venues which all contributes to normalising breast-feeding and to reinforce to mums that it's OK to feed your baby in public.''
Breast-feeding's UltimateRefuel Place
• Download Burp software for free on an android phone from the Google Play store or visit www.burpapp.co.nz for a version for iPhones.
• A public venue wanting to be included on Burp for free should contact Public Health South on 476 9800 or WellSouth Health on 477 1163.
