Garden State Times

On Thursday, Commissioner Virginia Betteridge, Mayor Victor Carstarphen, Library Director Linda Devlin, and members of Cooper Medical School inaugurated New Jersey's first baby café at the Riletta L. Cream branch of the Camden County Library System. The café offers a space for breastfeeding parents to gather every Thursday from 12 p.m. to 2 p.m., providing support, education, and connection.

“The journey of parenthood and breast feeding can often feel isolating, but spaces such as these let new mothers know that they are not alone and that they have access to a system of support,” said Commissioner Virginia Betteridge. She emphasized the café's role in creating a community gathering space that addresses health disparities.

The Cooper-Camden Baby Café (CCBC) is designed to promote breastfeeding by reducing barriers and fostering community connections among parents. It provides essential breastfeeding information, peer support from other families, access to a digital scale for weighing babies, and nutritional snacks.

“Today marks a pivotal moment for our community as we launch New Jersey’s very first baby café," stated Annette C. Reboli, MD, dean of Cooper Medical School of Rowan University (CMSRU). "This initiative embodies our commitment to fostering a supportive environment where families can connect, learn, and thrive.”

Sindy Ferreira will lead free one-on-one feeding support sessions as an international board-certified lactation consultant. “The Cooper Camden Baby Cafe is a collaborative effort to eliminate disparities in breastfeeding support," Ferreira explained.

Drop-in hours occur every Thursday from 12 p.m. to 2 p.m., with story time segments conducted by a designated librarian for accompanying younger children.

“It’s wonderful to be able to open the first baby cafe in New Jersey right here in Camden,” said Mayor Victor Carstarphen. He expressed confidence that this effort would become a model throughout New Jersey.

Baby Café USA coordinates similar cafes nationwide aiming to reduce health disparities and help mothers achieve breastfeeding goals since its founding in 2012. There are currently 150 licensed baby cafés across 26 states targeting underserved areas with low breastfeeding rates.

“The baby cafe is another example of the continued efforts to improve quality of life across our city,” noted Camden City Council President Angel Fuentes.

The Camden Baby Café is one of the first models involving state-supported funding linked with a medical school. It serves as an educational platform for medical students acquiring skills related to leading support groups and addressing common breastfeeding concerns.

Library Director Linda Devlin highlighted how the baby café aligns with the library’s mission: “The library is excited to provide a welcoming and supportive environment for new parents at the baby café."