Step 8 - mPINC™ Tool

At a glance

Learn which questions in CDC's Maternity Practices in Infant Nutrition and Care (mPINC) survey align to step 8 in the World Health Organization's Ten Steps to Successful Breastfeeding. Fillable versions of the tool are available to download at the bottom.

Step 8: Responsive feeding

Support mothers to recognize and respond to their infants’ cues for feeding.*

Ten Steps Competency1 mPINC Item mPINC Domain mPINC Data Element Ideal Response Hospital Response Did the Hospital Select the Ideal Response?
Support recognition and response to infant feeding cues Percent of breastfeeding mothers who are taught or shown how to:
  • recognize and respond to their newborn's feeding cues.
  • breastfeed as often and as long as their newborn wants.
Feeding Education E2_a1/E2_a5 Most to both items
Not ideal: Many, Some, or Few to either item
[Include response] [Yes or no]

Note:‎

This tool does not correspond to or replace Baby-Friendly USA's on-site assessments or Baby-Friendly designation.

*This step aligns with step 8 in the Ten Steps to Successful Breastfeeding. Although this tool assesses many aspects of each of the Ten Steps, it does not assess every aspect. Every aspect of each Step cannot be assessed using mPINC data alone.

Ideal responses are in bold.