- Baby Behavior
- Breastfeeding Coordinator's Resource Toolkit
- Breastfeeding Resources
- Breastfeeding Review
- Civil Rights Module
- Farmers Market Training Materials
- Multicultural Awareness Module
- Nutrition In-services
- Peer Counseling Program Training
- Talk Listen Connect
- WIC Connects
Baby Behavior
About Baby Behavior
Dr. Jane Heinig trained Washington WIC staff on the Secrets of Baby Behavior. Dr. Heinig was the lead researcher in the UC Davis FitWIC Baby Behavior study (PDF).
Dr. Heinig found that parents' first response to crying is to feed the baby. The California WIC Program, with the UC Davis Human Lactation Center, developed the Baby Behavior trainings to teach parents how to read their babies' cues. The FitWIC study found that when parents learn about normal infant behavior they feel more confident about meeting their infants' needs. This results in more mothers exclusively breastfeeding their children, and when formula is used there is less overfeeding.
Baby Behavior messaging is meant to enhance, rather than replace, the prenatal and early infancy education currently being offered to clients.
WIC staff can use the following materials to train new or existing staff and for facilitating client group education. These materials will help staff develop and strengthen their Baby Behavior skills and build their confidence through applying their Baby Behavior knowledge as it relates to baby cues, crying, and sleep.
For additional training on the Secrets of Baby Behavior, please go to Washington's Learning Management System (LMS). WIC staff in Washington state may receive access to the LMS by sending a request to WAWICTraining@doh.wa.gov.
Prenatal Education Materials
Early Infancy Education Materials
Staff Refresher Training Materials
Module 1 - Baby Cues
- Facilitator's Guide for Staff Training (PDF)
- Infant States/Cues - Birth to Six Months (PDF)
- Conversation Starters and Affirmations (PDF)
- Promoting Positive Interactions (PDF)
- Training Evaluation (PDF)
Module 2 - Crying
- Facilitator's Guide for Staff Training (PDF)
- Babies Cry (PDF)
- Mystery Door Game (PDF)
- Take Home Activity (PDF)
- Training Evaluation (PDF)
Module 3 - Sleeping
- Facilitator's Guide for Staff Training (PDF)
- Healthy Sleep for Babies (PDF)
- Babies and Sleep (PDF)
- Take Home Activity (PDF)
- Training Evaluation (PDF)
Energizers
These quarterly Energizers will give you an opportunity to refresh your skills and build your confidence talking about Baby Behavior messaging with your clients. They range in time from 15 minutes to a few hours and can be completed alone as well as in a 1-to-1 or group setting. Supporting documents mentioned in the Energizers are also listed below.
Breastfeeding Coordinator's Resource Toolkit
A new toolkit will be available in 2023.
The purpose of the Breastfeeding Coordinator's Resource Toolkit is to help familiarize new and experienced WIC breastfeeding coordinators with their role. This Toolkit contains information and resources for helping breastfeeding coordinators be successful in helping staff promote and support breastfeeding in WIC.
Breastfeeding Resources
The Breastfeeding Resources Spreadsheet (Excel) contains numerous links to valuable breastfeeding resources. Staff can refer to this spreadsheet while working with clients, during staff training, or on their own.
Note: We suggest bookmarking the link for quick reference and not printing because of the number of pages.
Breastfeeding Review
Civil Rights Module
These materials are designed to help local WIC agency staff fulfill their annual Civil Rights training requirements. The PowerPoint presentation can be used independently or together depending on the staff person's learning style. The materials can be reviewed independently or in a group setting. The learning assessment provides the opportunity to evaluate staff's knowledge about the information included in the PowerPoint. An answer key is provided.
- Protecting Our Clients' Rights Civil Rights PowerPoint Presentation (PDF)
- Learning Assessment Tool (PDF)
- Learning Assessment Tool Answer Key (PDF)
Multicultural Awareness Module
We are pleased to offer the Multicultural Awareness: Working with Diverse Participants (PDF) module. We encourage all staff to complete the module. Paraprofessional staff in training must complete this module and the post-test to meet the multicultural awareness competency.
Nutrition In-services
These learner centered nutrition in-services are no longer available. Staff training materials can be accessed through the Learning Management System (LMS). For questions contact WAWICTraining@doh.wa.gov.TLC breastfeeding session guides
Using your superpowers to move the dial
These TLC style session guides will help you use your breastfeeding superpowers to move the dial in the WIC clinic. These guides cover using empathy and compassion before offering education, using consistent client centered messages among all WIC staff, and assessing the message your environment is saying to clients.
- Session Guide 1: Using Empathy and Compassion (PDF)
- Session Guide 2: Being Consistent about Consistency (PDF) (includes consistency cards)
- Session Guide 3: Making Walls Talk (PDF)
Planning to be an awesome mom
These guides use Emotional Drivers to connect with clients about breastfeeding on a deeper level, and add another layer to WIC Connects skills. Tools (Gift Tags, Awesome Mom Letters, Simple Steps Posters, and Magnets) were carefully paired with the Roadmaps and Talk Listen Connect sessions. Print the TLC Session Guides from this webpage. Washington WIC staff can order tools from the Fulfillment Center.