The Guidelines and Evaluation Criteria

BFUSA’s Guidelines and Evaluation Criteria give meaning and specific definition to each of the Ten Steps. It is the most important tool hospitals will use to guide their work through the Baby-Friendly designation process. As indicated by its title, this document includes both the Guidelines facilities would need to follow to achieve full Baby-Friendly status and Evaluation Criteria that clearly spell out the minimum standards that a facility must achieve in order to become Baby-Friendly designated.

  • GUIDELINES (Implementation Guidance): These are the evidence-based practices facilities should implement.
  • EVALUATION CRITERIA:  These are the minimum standards that a facility must achieve to become Baby-Friendly designated.

In 2021, BFUSA released the updated Guidelines and Evaluation Criteria (GEC), 6th edition, for the United States, which now applies to all Baby-Friendly designation assessments. It is available for download in the box to the right.

BFUSA Guidelines & Evaluation Criteria, 6th Edition

Supporting Materials

Here are some additional materials to help implement the Guidelines:

Check-Off Tool for Selecting and Analyzing Images/Content/Context for BFHI Compliant Education Materials — provides guidance for the use of imagery and content in educational materials.

Training Program Performance Indicator Checklist — a step-by-step tool to help you verify the current knowledge and skills of staff/providers and offer training to fill in identified gaps.