CERTIFIED BREASTFEEDING COUNSELOR EXAM
COMPREHENSIVE STUDY GUIDE 2026
LACTATION SUPPORT AND INFANT FEEDING
PRINCIPLES
◉ Breastfeeding.
Answer: Baby receives human milk, as well as other foods or fluids,
including formula.
◉ Complementary Feeding.
Answer: Process starts when BM alone or infant formula alone is no
longer sufficient to meet nutritional requirements of infants,
therefore other foods or liquids are introduced. Typically child is
between 6-23 months
◉ 3 strategies for increasing BF initiation and duration.
Answer: Promotion, Protection, Support
◉ Promotion.
Answer: Focuses on advantages of BF on a personal, community,
country, or global level. BF to the community.
,◉ Protection.
Answer: Focuses on government, manufacturer, and social
responsibility to assure BF ability to compete with commercial
interests.
Includes state, local, an national laws regarding BF.
◉ International Code of Marketing of Breast-milk Subsitutes.
Answer: Addresses improper marketing practices by formula
companies. It is not currently a law in the US.
◉ What does the International Code Prohibit?.
Answer: Distributing free formula
Giving coupons for formula
◉ What did the AAP resolution state in regards to the International
Code?.
Answer: No distributing formula, discharge bags, industry written
handouts.
◉ Support.
Answer: Focuses on interaction of helpers with family, as well as
program development and implementation.
,◉ 10 steps to successful BF.
Answer: 1. Written BF policy. Skin to Skin immediately after birth.
2. Train healthcare staff
3. Inform pregnant women about benefits and management of BF
4. Help all mothers initiate BF within 1 hour after birth
5. Show mother's how to BF and maintain lactation
6. Exclusive breast milk only
7. Practice rooming in 24 hours a day
8. Encourage BF on demand
9. No artificial teats or pacifiers
10. Establishment of BF support groups
◉ Healthcare staff responsibility for working with lactating mothers
include what?.
Answer: 1. Training
2. Minimum of 20 hours of training
3. 3 hours of competency verification
◉ What are the indications for providing supplementation other
than breast milk?.
Answer: 1. Medical condition
2. Parents request after being informed of consequences
, ◉ Protocol for calculating Baby's daily needs.
Answer: Baby's weight x 2.5 (2.7 or 3.0 if Baby needs to catch up
weight) = daily ounces. PCP decides what the multiplier is!!!
◉ What should be assessed 3-5 days after birth by PCP?.
Answer: Hydration (elimination patterns)
Body weight (no more than 7% loss)
Observe Feeding
Maternal or infant issues
◉ What is a CLC?.
Answer: Nationally recognized designation awarded by the ALPP.
Practice parameters are designated by professional scope of
practice.
◉ How many stools per day should a breast fed newborn have?.
Answer: 4, some yellow by day 4.
◉ When should a baby be back to birth weight?.
Answer: 12-14 days post birth
COMPREHENSIVE STUDY GUIDE 2026
LACTATION SUPPORT AND INFANT FEEDING
PRINCIPLES
◉ Breastfeeding.
Answer: Baby receives human milk, as well as other foods or fluids,
including formula.
◉ Complementary Feeding.
Answer: Process starts when BM alone or infant formula alone is no
longer sufficient to meet nutritional requirements of infants,
therefore other foods or liquids are introduced. Typically child is
between 6-23 months
◉ 3 strategies for increasing BF initiation and duration.
Answer: Promotion, Protection, Support
◉ Promotion.
Answer: Focuses on advantages of BF on a personal, community,
country, or global level. BF to the community.
,◉ Protection.
Answer: Focuses on government, manufacturer, and social
responsibility to assure BF ability to compete with commercial
interests.
Includes state, local, an national laws regarding BF.
◉ International Code of Marketing of Breast-milk Subsitutes.
Answer: Addresses improper marketing practices by formula
companies. It is not currently a law in the US.
◉ What does the International Code Prohibit?.
Answer: Distributing free formula
Giving coupons for formula
◉ What did the AAP resolution state in regards to the International
Code?.
Answer: No distributing formula, discharge bags, industry written
handouts.
◉ Support.
Answer: Focuses on interaction of helpers with family, as well as
program development and implementation.
,◉ 10 steps to successful BF.
Answer: 1. Written BF policy. Skin to Skin immediately after birth.
2. Train healthcare staff
3. Inform pregnant women about benefits and management of BF
4. Help all mothers initiate BF within 1 hour after birth
5. Show mother's how to BF and maintain lactation
6. Exclusive breast milk only
7. Practice rooming in 24 hours a day
8. Encourage BF on demand
9. No artificial teats or pacifiers
10. Establishment of BF support groups
◉ Healthcare staff responsibility for working with lactating mothers
include what?.
Answer: 1. Training
2. Minimum of 20 hours of training
3. 3 hours of competency verification
◉ What are the indications for providing supplementation other
than breast milk?.
Answer: 1. Medical condition
2. Parents request after being informed of consequences
, ◉ Protocol for calculating Baby's daily needs.
Answer: Baby's weight x 2.5 (2.7 or 3.0 if Baby needs to catch up
weight) = daily ounces. PCP decides what the multiplier is!!!
◉ What should be assessed 3-5 days after birth by PCP?.
Answer: Hydration (elimination patterns)
Body weight (no more than 7% loss)
Observe Feeding
Maternal or infant issues
◉ What is a CLC?.
Answer: Nationally recognized designation awarded by the ALPP.
Practice parameters are designated by professional scope of
practice.
◉ How many stools per day should a breast fed newborn have?.
Answer: 4, some yellow by day 4.
◉ When should a baby be back to birth weight?.
Answer: 12-14 days post birth
