Abstract
The Baby-Friendly Hospital Initiative (BFHI) has the potential to improve the health of women and infants through the promotion, protection and support for breastfeeding. Practices based on the Ten Steps to Successful Breastfeeding provide an evidence-based foundation for enhancing the health care environment in order to improve breastfeeding. However, it is often difficult to implement change in practice. This paper discusses the challenges and barriers to change and suggests a framework for implementing change based on the public health benefits of breastfeeding and the process of practice development. Steps and strategies for developing a plan for implementing the BFHI in health facilities are provided.