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Barbie Who?: 5 Black Doll Lines Taking the Toy Industry by Storm

by Zahida Sherman Edwoodzie on Fri., Feb.20, 2015

The topic of Black dolls is as much about battles with colorism in Black communities as it is about a racially exclusive toy industry. The topic was made famous by the US Supreme Court case Brown v. Board of Education, wherein Kenneth and Mamie Clark’s research on dolls and children’s self-esteem helped end racial segregation in American schools. The Clarks asked White and Black children a series of qualitative questions about a White and Black doll, and found that nearly all Black children preferred the White doll.

Though the results were troubling in Black communities, they weren’t surprising given the struggle for Black representation and longevity in the toy industry. Only a handful of Black dolls were mass-marketed to American children in the 20th century. Rather than spend money on producing ethnically accurate Black dolls that broke from the literal White mold—or from Black minstrel dolls that were popular in many White households—manufacturers chose to dip White dolls in brown dye instead. And when companies created more ethnically representative Black doll lines, most were mysteriously out of business by the 1990’s. Overall, Black children have had few options for dolls to play with that represented them accurately and favorably.

Fortunately, Black children’s doll preferences have expanded since the Clarks’ doll test. While some Black children still prefer lighter and Whiter dolls, many have demonstrated Black doll preferences. Social psychologists now claim that Black children’s doll selection is as much a reflection of the dominant racial ideology of the time (i.e. Black consciousness or multiculturalism), as a regurgitation of society’s views toward Blackness. In other words, it’s complicated.

With children of color now outnumbering White children in the US, the toy industry is taking notice. African American purchasing power is estimated to be over $1 trillion and as a result, several companies and entrepreneurs have created Black doll lines that are enjoying success in the market. We appear to be in the midst of the next wave of the Black doll movement.

While many are familiar with the Queens of Africa doll series, there’s still many other lines that consumers may not be aware of. For Harriet wanted to shed a spotlight on these dolls too, so here are 5 Black dolls that are changing the game.

Positively Perfect

Photo: Positively Perfect Dolls / Dr. Lisa Williams

When Positively Perfect debuted in Walmart stores 2012, only two dolls were offered. Once the multicultural dolls’ sales skyrocketed to over 100,000 units sold, the line expanded to 30 dolls in 300 stores over the next two years. Dr. Lisa Williams’ empire now includes a Latina Divah Collection and doll apparel. Her fashion doll line will debut this year.

The Black Panther

Photo: The Black Panther / Marvel

With its release slated for 2018, The Black Panther is set to be the first Black superhero lead to star in a Marvel Studios movie. Luckily, the action figure is available for purchase now. The Black Panther, or T’Challa, is based on the 1966 comic book character who is an Oxford-educated physicist, heir to the throne of a fictional tech-savvy African nation, and fights crime with his razor-sharp talons and smart phone.

Natural Girls United

Photo: Natural Girls United! / Karen Byrd

Natural Girls United launched in 2011 and features Black dolls with an assortment of natural hairstyles. Artist and natural hair blogger, Karen Byrd hand-customizes each doll’s hairstyle, which range from sisterlocks, to big afros, to micro braids, and everything in between. The line nearly sold out in 2013 after the press got wind and Byrd hopes to expand her staff to create even more styles.

Prettie Girls! by the One World Doll Project

Photo: Prettie Girls! via A Day in the Life of My Dolls

Doll designer Stacy McBride-Irby started The One World Doll Project in 2010 after leaving Mattel. Her Prettie Girls! line—which stands for Positive, Respectful, Enthusiastic, Talented, Truthful, Inspiring, Excellent—features African, African American, Native American, Southeast Asian, and Latina dolls in a range of hues. Dolls are available for purchase online at Sears, Wayfair, Walmart, Toys R Us, and Doll Genie. The doll collection is also now on Amazon, the world’s largest online retailer.

The Mia Doll

Photo: The Mia Doll

The 18-inch Mia Doll is based on actress and designer Betty Bynum’s I’m a Pretty Little Black Girl book series. In I’m a Pretty Little Black Girl, we meet Mia, who is initially displeased with her hair, but learns to love herself with the help of her dynamic friends of all shades. Bynum partnered with doll titan Madam Alexander to release the Mia Doll at the New York Toy Fair this February.

We hope that more toy companies will begin making a diverse range of Black dolls in the near future. There is immense power in seeing oneself represented, and our children deserve this experience.

Zahida Sherman Edwoodzie currently works as Assistant Director for the Office of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion at Kenyon College. She lives for all discussions about gender, education, race, and coming of age. You can visit her website

Here are another bunch of dolls:

10 Things We Should teach little black girls about themselves and the world

Life is hard. It can be extra hard for a Black girl who will one day become a Black woman. What do you tell her about this thing called life and how to navigate the twists and turns? What pearls, what gems, what lessons will help her along the way? Here are 10 powerful quotes by powerful Black women whose lives and accomplishments have been able to light a path for the rest of us. Teach Black girls about these Black women (and others of course), teach them these quotes, and the lessons within them.

“I am not tragically colored. There is no great sorrow dammed up in my soul, nor lurking behind my eyes. I do not mind at all.” —Zora Neale Hurston
Teach her that Black is beautiful. Her Black is beautiful. Period. Full stop. Exclamation point. No commas. No maybes. No ifs. No buts. Her Black, her beautiful is something to be celebrated and never ashamed of. Teach her that being a Black woman does not have to be accompanied with a ‘woe is me’ soundtrack or the idea that being Black and tragic are synonymous. It should not be treated as an albatross around her neck, something that she should want to shake off. It is an opportunity for her to be awesome, to rock out, to climb new heights, and make new discoveries about herself and the world around her. Teach her that she can defy the world’s expectations of the tragically colored; she can prove them wrong.
“If I didn’t define myself for myself, I would be crunched into other people’s fantasies for me and eaten alive.” —Audre Lorde
Teach her that Blackness is not just one thing. It’s not this way or that way because there’s not just one right way to be a Black woman. There are a million ways to be a Black woman and no one can tell her that she’s doing it wrong. And if they do? Teach her how to tell them, “Tough, deal with it.” Tell her that she doesn’t have to conform or contort herself into society’s views or fantasies of Black women. Teach her that only she can define who she is—her Blackness, her womanhood, and everything in between. Teach her the power in defining these things for herself. Encourage her to stand in them. Be proud of them. Nurture them. Love them. Share them with the world.

“Every great dream begins with a dreamer. Always remember, you have within you strength, the patience, and the passion to reach for the stars to change the world.” —Harriet Tubman
Teach her to dream. To dream big. To dream far. To dream wide. Tell her that she has the right, the permission to dream the life she wants for herself and then she can go have that life. She is entitled to it as much as anyone else. Tell her that she has the power within her to change the world—in the small quiet ways, and the large showy ones. This world belongs to her just as much as anyone else. Teach her that while there are powerful systems and structures that will try to hold her down and back, it doesn’t mean she can’t dream. Or shouldn’t dream, shouldn’t try, or won’t succeed. She can. She must never stop dreaming or working towards her dreams.

“Love is or it ain’t. Thin love ain’t love at all.” —Toni Morrison
Teach her about love. Not just romantic love, but all love. What it looks like and what it does not. How it should make her feel. That it should bring her joy and not pain. Teach her that yes, she is deserving of love: great love, true love, unconditional love, beautiful and fulfilling love. Teach her that, like the words of the great Isley Brothers, “at her best, she is love.” Teach her to first love herself because there is value and power in self-love, and how it then flows into loving others.

“Service is the rent we pay to be living. It is the very purpose of life and not something you do in your spare time.” —Marian Wright Edelman
Teach her the importance of looking beyond herself, her needs, and her interests so that she can see other people and help those in the best way she can. Teach her that being of service doesn’t make her weak or a punk or a pushover, but that she can be kind, giving, and helpful without being trampled on and without being taken advantage of. Teach her that to whom much is given, much is expected. Even if it doesn’t seem like she has a lot, there is someone in this world with less; someone in this world who needs help, a hand, a smile, a kind word, or a good deed. Teach her that she can be of service to others without compromising herself or relinquishing her dreams.

“Self-esteem means knowing you are the dream.” —Oprah Winfrey
Teach her that she, a free Black girl, is the dream of her ancestors. Teach her that she is valuable, precious. Teach her that she has worth and she should know it and make sure the world knows it too. Every time she steps outside her door. Teach her to hold her head up high and to look everyone in the eye. That she doesn’t need to bend or bow down or subject herself to anyone. Teach her to make good decisions that demonstrate she understands her value. She doesn’t have to sell herself short, or give a piece (or her entire self) up to anyone, especially if they are undeserving. Teach her to be proud of herself, her history, her ancestors, and her own story—all of it.

“It’s not the load that breaks you down, it’s the way you carry it.” —Lena Horne
Teach her that struggle, disappointments, and setbacks are a way of life. For everybody. Not just Black women. But what is she going to do with these upsets? How will she carry the pain and the burdens? Because they will come, and it’s how she carries them that matters. Even more, it’s what she chooses to carry vs. what she chooses to leave behind so she can keep moving that makes all of the difference. Teach her that she doesn’t have to carry every load, every burden, every mistake with her at all times, for the entire journey. She has permission to shake it off. To evolve. To grow. To drop some bags and keep moving towards a joy-filled life.

“Black women have always been friends. I mean, if you didn’t have each other you had nothing.” —Toni Morrison
Contrary to what reality television shows portray, Black women can and do get along. Teach her that Black women are the original girlfriends. Teach her the importance of having a crew—some homegirls of girlfriends who will have your back, but will also tell you when you done messed up. Homegirls who will lift you up and hold you down when necessary. Friends that you can laugh and cry with, have wild adventures with, tell your secrets to, and just go through this thing called life with. Friends who will always want her to do her best and encourage her to do better.

“I am so perfect so divine so ethereal so surreal. I cannot be comprehended except by my permission. I mean…I…can fly like a bird in the sky.” —Nikki Giovanni
Teach her how to ego trip. Shoot, teach her to recite Ego Trippin’. Teach her that she has a right and a reason to shimmy, shake, and shine. At all times. Teach her to never be ashamed of herself, her accomplishments, and her success. Teach her about her history, her ancestors, her folk, so she understands why she should ego trip. Teach her the greatness that was in the women who came before her can be found in her as well. She should always show that greatness to the world. Teach her that she is a light and should shine bright, and never dim or diminish for anybody. She should never play small, or like she is not enough. She is more than enough. So, ego trip girl, ego trip at all times and don’t trip if people trip about it.

“Only the Black woman can say, ‘when and where I enter, in the quiet, undisputed dignity of my womanhood, without violence and without suing or special patronage, then and there the whole Negro race enters with me.’” —Anna Julia Cooper
Teach her about her power. Make sure she knows she doesn’t have to carry the entire Black race on her back. Make sure she knows she has that power to say ‘when and where I enter’ and that people will follow. Teach her that she is a leader, that Black women have always been leaders and the backbone of our families, our communities, and on the frontlines of the battles for social justice. Teach her that Black women have always been the organizers, the planners, the brainstormers, the fearless freedom fighters, and the spark that got the movement started. Teach her that the torch has been passed along to her and she has the power within her to lead and to change the world.

Diana Veiga is a Spelman woman, a DC resident, and a freelance writer. Of course, she’s also on Twitter.

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Kanban vs. Scrum: What to Choose?

#Software Development
#High Tech
January 12, 2018 6 min read

Despite there are numerous methodologies for products creating in the world, these two are the most frequently mentioned leaders. Scrum and Kanban are the most used on IT projects, however, they also can be used in other areas. Not everyone understands the difference between these development methodologies but every detail in this business can increase productivity in building products. In this article, we will talk about the features of Kanban and Scrum that distinguish them from each other, and also why it makes no sense to choose only one of them.

General Notion

Both Scrum and Kanban provide an opportunity to make custom product development flexible and capable of supporting drastic changes in requirements without significant costs. Both of them involve the division of large projects into small atomic tasks with their consistent solution called user stories. The order of solving problems is determined directly by the team taking into account objective factors (priority, complexity, the importance of the following tasks). All user stories constitute a backlog, which is a set of all the tasks necessary for the project implementation.

In general, the team plays an important role in both methodologies (which does not contradict the Agile Manifesto). The main principle is free communication between specialists and general discussions. The team usually consist of up to 9 members without a formal leader and outside control of the workflow. That’s why it’s not possible to blame only one team member in the failure: in this case, the responsibility is borne by the whole team.

Scrum Software Product Development

Usually, Scrum is referred to as a more directive model due to the numerous prescriptions non-characteristic for Kanban. First of all, it envisages small multifunctional teams, in which all the specialists necessary for solving the tasks are present. Each member of the team should have a clearly defined role. Every day a meeting (so-called daily meeting) is held where the team discusses what they did yesterday and what will be done today. Scrum Master is engaged in the organization of these meetings and the work process as a whole.

The prescriptive nature of Scrum is also expressed in the fact that all the work in creating IT products is divided into sprints equal in duration. This is done to maintain a certain rhythm of work, which can be considered an inalienable part of Scrum. Typically, the length of one sprint does not exceed 1 month, but recently companies increasingly work with 2-weeks sprints. Each sprint has several consequent stages as follows:

At the planning stage, the team refers to the backlog and selects the highest-priority tasks for execution in the newsprint. Basically, when making a decision, the priorities (defined by the Product Owner) play a role, as well as the impact of some tasks on the ability to proceed to other ones with the higher priority. Each task is evaluated by the implementation time. Thus, it is possible to take exactly as many tasks as the team can perform in the allotted time for one sprint. You can not change the list of tasks for a sprint until it is completed.

In Scrum, all efforts are directed to ensure that team members work simultaneously. Developers write code, and at this time tests are already being prepared by testers and documentation is being written by technical writers.

At this stage, the team should present the software products: workable, useful, and more functional than it was before the sprint.

Since Scrum strives to improve the process of creating products all the time, a retrospective is needed to discuss the problems that arose in the last sprint. The team meets together to find and discuss ways to solve these problems so that they do not recur in the future.

The main indicator that is measured in Scrum is the weight of the tasks performed during the sprint, that is, the team’s performance. This helps determine when the project will be completed if the team’s performance is at a certain level.

Kanban: The Scrum’s Opposite When It Comes to Restrictions

The first thing you will feel when reading about the same stages in Kanban is freedom. The methodology is based on team communication and joint decision-making, discussions, and following common sense.

At the same time, it lacks such a valuable advantage as the ability to pinpoint when the project will be completed, which is typical of Scrum. However, it is advisable to apply Scrum not on all the projects, that’s why we need an alternative.

In Kanban, planning begins when the Kanban board is run out of tasks. Sprints are not strictly defined, all work is divided into iterations, which are defined by the team.

IT products development goes on continuously, regardless of the other stages: planning, release, and retrospective. If you look at the Kanban board, each task has the statuses “Open”, “To Do”, and “Done”, although other statuses are also possible if the team decides they are needed in this particular project. At the same time, the team should specify how many tasks can simultaneously have the same status. If there is any jam, the rest of the team helps to eliminate it – in Kanban, there are no specified team roles.

The release dates are also determined by the team. This can be either a specific date or a day of the week. Because of this, Kanban has more flexibility and resilience to changes, as new tasks are added at any time. If you need to do something urgently, the team does not wait for the next sprint and each task remains in the work for as long as necessary until the team finishes it.

Since there are no sprints in Kanban, the retrospective is held on demand. The team meetings also may or may not be held.

An important Kanban indicator is the average time for passing the task on the board. In this case, the efficiency of the team is measured by the speed of completing the task from start to finish.

Which One to Choose For Creating IT Products?

Your choice should be dictated by the features of the project itself, its requirements for the process flexibility. Despite this, the transition to flexible development methodologies is not always easy for teams. Therefore, it is recommended to start with Kanban: it is easier to implement due to fewer restrictions, you can add Scrum elements to it, if necessary. In addition, you can create cross-functional teams but still be divided into departments.

If you still can’t decide what is best for your project, do not puzzle. These methodologies can borrow certain features of each other while remaining equally effective for software building. If you like the certainty of Scrum, and at the same time the flexibility of Kanban, you can combine separate parts of the processes from both methodologies.

Remember: the task of methodologies is to optimize processes and not complicate them. Therefore, customize them the way it is convenient for you.

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Tag Archives: South Norwood

Horror author Woodward has been unleashed by lockdown

Haunted by the ghosts of South Norwood Country Park, horror and science fiction author Simon Paul Woodward now gets many of his better ideas for his books when out on a run near his Coulsdon home. PAUL SPALDING caught up … Continue reading

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Councillor claims: We can’t afford to reopen Arena stadium

Track where Olympic stars Donna Fraser, Martyn Rooney and Lawrence Okoye began their track and field careers is under threat after covid-19, as senior council figure claims it could cost £200,000 to reopen Oliver Lewis, the council cabinet member, last … Continue reading

Posted in Athletics, Croydon Council, Croydon FC, Croydon Harriers, Cycling, Football, Lawrence Okoye, Martyn Rooney, Oliver Lewis, Sport, Tony Newman, Uncategorized, Woodside | Tagged , , , , , , , , | 3 Comments

Shut Arena has Croydon trailing in national fitness campaign

With the government launching a £10million health awareness campaign to encourage the public to take more exercise and lead active and fitter lifestyles, it appears Croydon has made a false start. There’s mounting concern among some of the borough’s biggest … Continue reading

Posted in Athletics, Croydon Council, Croydon FC, Croydon Harriers, Cycling, Football, GLL - Better, Leisure services, South Norwood, Sport | Tagged , , , , , | Leave a comment

Croydon Youth Theatre: Act, Sing, Dance, Tech online courses

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Aid group in South Norwood thriving despite ‘funding roulette’

Covid Mutual Aid groups have been working day-in, day-out throughout the pandemic emergency to support their communities with food, PPE and a variety of social care. South Norwood is one such operation that has seen a weekly community kitchen blossom … Continue reading

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East Croydon expansion plans are to go online from Monday

The latest stage of Network Rail’s consultation over the expansion of East Croydon Station, improvements at Norwood Junction, the rebuilding of Windmill Bridge and the unblocking of the railway bottleneck at the Selhurst junction, will be launched online on Monday. … Continue reading

Posted in Commuting, East Croydon, Norwood Junction, Selhurst, Transport | Tagged , , , , , | 7 Comments

Marathon gives £150,000 grant to new sports school for netball

Three schemes in Croydon have between them received nearly £200,000 in grants from the London Marathon’s charitable trust, it was announced today. The Socco Cheta Community Hub in South Norwood (£18,500) and Wheels For Wellbeing, which operates across several sites, … Continue reading

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Road closures make sense – now and when lockdown is over

CROYDON COMMENTARY: Road closures to motor vehicles during the coronavirus lockdown in an area around South Norwood have found approval with at least one cyclist as they travel to work. ROB CALLENDER, right, explains I work a second job part-time … Continue reading

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Pavements to be widened in South Norwood and Crystal Palace

Seven more Croydon roads, in Crystal Palace, South Norwood and Thornton Heath, are to undergo pavement widening measures next week as part of the council’s Streetspace scheme that aims to make it easier to walk or cycle during the coronavirus … Continue reading

Posted in Commuting, Croydon Council, Crystal Palace and Upper Norwood, Environment, Fairfield, Parking, South Norwood, Stephen Mann, Thornton Heath, Transport | Tagged , , , , , , , | 7 Comments

Sustrans charity is mapping the changes to London’s streets

Sustrans, the walking and cycling charity, has created a live online map allowing Londoners to share their views on emergency measures as councils and Transport for London rapidly prioritise walking and cycling on the capital’s streets to allow Londoners to … Continue reading

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Office Secretary

Performs routine clerical, secretarial and administrative work in answering telephones, receiving the public, providing customer assistance, and record-keeping. Provides general secretarial support with a variety of clerical activities and related tasks. Composes and types correspondence and translate written material.
You must have effective communication skills, both in Danish and English

  1. Communication proficiency
  2. Ethical Conduct
  3. Flexibility
  4. Initiative
  5. Time Management

You must have a pleasant and friendly attitude and demonstrate friendly behavior.
The job is flexible 3-5 hours per day (Monday – Friday), but possibility of full time in the future.
You can contact Nadeem Yousaf at 50349646 for more information or send CV by email

Consultant, Trainer or/and Speaker

InsightSpeaks provides a platform to qualified consultants, trainers and speakers in the field of Management and Human Resource Development.

All you need to develop marketable exciting and challenging projects that directly match with your profile.  It depends upon you whether you want to work with us as consultant, trainer or InsightSpeaker.

  • Have an in depth academic knowledge and link to the real business world
  • Ability to collect, interpret and analyze data
  • Ability to communicate effectively during the booked ‘InsightTalk’
  • Have consulting experience and make viable recommendations to the top management
  • Use specific tools to run training workshops
  • Have proven track record of managing successful projects
  • Possess the ability to engage yourself in large and complex organizations
  • Hold a minimum Master’s degree or equivalent
  • Must be fluent in Danish or/and English

After receiving your CV and a short outline of your project, we contact you for further discussion through Skype. You can send your details or if you have any question please feel free to contact us at contact(at)

This is not a traditional job rather a project based assignment. We market your project through our website, social media, brochure and flyer for which you will not be charged. You will be paid according to the agreed amount.

About the firm

InsightSpeaks is a newly established firm with a great mission and vision. Our mission is to be a part of the growth of learning organizations. Our vision is to be a trustworthy partner of organizations, internationally.


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Gourmet Couture Mid-Autumn, The 1st Ever Collaboration of Hilton & Fashion Designer Khoon Hoi

Wow what a great collaboration between Hilton and International Fashion Designer who designs the premium and elegant mooncake boxes.

HiltonXKhoonHooi 01

Boasting a pastiche of colors and a touch of opulence, make this year’s mooncake gifting a luxurious affair.

Brought to you by Hilton Kuala Lumpur; the ultimate lifestyle hotel and inspired by Malaysia’s leading international fashion designer, Khoon Hooi – gift an exclusive and elegant mooncake gift box in a sleek satchel shape for your loved ones.

HiltonXKhoonHooi 10

Enveloped in brocade fabric used in Khoon Hooi’s Fall collection, choose between the :

  1. limited-edition Midnight Bloom or
  2. the collector’s edition Blossom series box.

Present during the media review and reveal of the first ever collaboration between Hilton and a fashion designer for mooncake boxes at Chynna, Hilton Kuala Lumpur were Alex Cotterill, Director of Business Development Hilton Kuala Lumpur and designer Khoon Hooi himself.

Executive Chinese Chef, Chef Lam Hock Hin who is a known personality in the Malaysian fine dining scene and the man behind the creations of the mooncakes was also present and served Chynna’s signature dishes emphasizing quality and presentation. Joining them was hotel manager of Hilton Kuala Lumpur, Gagan Talwar.

During the reveal, two of the signature boxes were brought out highlighting the fashion collaboration.

Speaking on the collaboration Alex Cotterill said,

“Creative energy is always flowing through the hotel and that is how it has continued to stay relevant. Hotels and fashion are natural allies in this pursuit, and we believe that this partnership is a match made in heaven. There is no end to how we can collaborate with one another. Signature style needn’t be limited to fashion.”

Khoon Hooi applauded Hilton Kuala Lumpur for creatively aligning on a project like this and commented,

“Putting a spotlight on creative businesses through collaborations between fashion designers and a hospitality company is essential. Supporting talent to develop a successful working relationship is necessary. I applaud, Hilton Kuala Lumpur for taking these steps.”

Signature Handcrafted Perfection

Savour the unique tropical sensation, Dragon Blossom, this year’s signature snow-skin mooncake.

The vibrant blend of bright fuchsia and cobalt blue is a testament to the robust flavours of the red dragon fruit and pineapple, heightened by the contrasting texture from the buttery-crunch of macadamia nuts. This mooncake is a delicious masterpiece, one worth sharing with your closest and dearest.

Coveted Classics

Enjoy the season of merriment and tradition with our array of mouth-watering HALAL-baked mooncakes, a celebration best complemented with the company of loved ones and cups of hot Chinese tea.

• Baked White Lotus Paste-RM35
• Baked White Lotus Paste with Single Yolk-RM35
• Baked Lotus Paste with Single Yolk-RM35
• Baked Pandan Paste with Single Yolk-RM35
• Baked Red Bean Paste with Almond Flakes-RM35
• Traditional-Style with Five Nuts Mix-RM36

Much-Awaited Return

To the moon and back – that is the length we would go to bring back your favourites. Our renowned snow-skin flavours are making a comeback for a limited time this year.

• Musang King; Snow Skin with Pure Premium Musang King Durian-RM56 (Top seller)
• Blue Moon; Snow Skin Amaretto Lotus Paste with Blueberry Cheese Feuillantine-RM35
• Flower Drum; Snow Skin Lotus Paste with Soft Custard Egg Yolk-RM35

Gourmet Couture Series
• Khoon Hooi’s Midnight Bloom-RM198.00
• Khoon Hooi’s Blossom Series-RM178.00

Mid-Autumn Series
• Half Moon Premium RM148.00
• Half Moon Red-RM128.00
• Traditional Standard-RM128.00

Available for purchase at the hotel lobby from now until 24 September 2018, major shopping malls Pavilion Kuala Lumpur, Mid Valley Megamall, One Utama Shopping Centre and Avenue K Shopping Mall.

Alternatively, online at www.takehome.hiltonkl.com.

Come and experience our mooncake offerings at Hilton Kuala Lumpur, call 03 2264 2262 for more information.

#hiltonxkualalumpur #gourmetcouture

Begin your journey at www.hilton.com, and learn more by visiting newsroom.hilton.com/hhr or following us on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.


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Vana Nava Sky Infinity Brunch – Saturday 4th July 2020

Vana Nava Sky Infinity Brunch – Saturday 4th July 2020

Brunch is around the corner !
This week, we are moving our famous Infinity Brunch to Saturday, July 4, 2020.
Come and enjoy your favorite Brunch features a sumptuous 3-tier tower of Fresh Seafood, Charcuterie cold cuts and fine International Cheeses as being entertained by our live DJ and sky high view on your leisurely Saturday from 12pm to 3pm!

Spoil yourself this Saturday with an elegant and indulgent Infinity Brunch at Vana Nava Sky, 110 meters above the ground with stunning view of the Hua Hin skyline.

Browse our delicious a la carte Brunch menu and order any dish you like, as many times as you wish. Save room for the signature Vana Nava Sky Brunch dessert and fresh fruit platter.

As an optional bonus you can enjoy a free flow beverages during your entire brunch experience.
(per guest inclusive of tax and service charge):
• Free-flow Red/White Wine & Local Beers: THB 1,200/-
• Free-flow Prosecco & Sparkling Rose: THB 1,500/-
• 3 Crafted Cocktails : THB 990/-

Introductory special: THB 1,400/- per adult and THB 480/- for children between 6-12 years
*Special group discount available

For reservations call 032 809 949 to book or message us today

*To ensure yours and our safety, we encourage 24 hrs advance reservation

Vana Nava Sky Bar

A chic cocktail bar in the sky with panoramic views of the ocean and hills of Hua Hin

Vana Nava Sky Bar & Restaurant has taken the bar scene in Hua Hin to new heights.

Visit the highest bar in Hua Hin on the 27th floor of the Holiday Inn Vana Nava Hua Hin and take in stunning panoramic views.

The clean, modern and slick design by Ashley Sutton and cocktail menu by mixultant Joseph Boroski pair perfectly at this must-see destination in Hua Hin where the best of a city rooftop bar meets the best of the coast.

Perch yourself on one of the custom-designed comfy bar stools or sink back into one of the mother-of-pearl inspired booths and take in the atmosphere of the bar and the incredible view through floor-to-ceiling windows.

Step out to the glass Sky Deck that sweeps out from the bar for an exhilarating view out to the sea and down to Vana Nava Water Jungle and take some spectacular photos.

Order sharing platters of cheese, cured meats and seafood paired with quirky and creative cocktails that utilise local ingredients.

Start or end your week at Vana Nava Sky bar in Hua Hin, celebrate a special occasion, have a romantic pre-dinner drink, a girl’s night out, or a family sunset meal in the sky.

Holiday Inn Vana Nava Hua Hin
129/129 Petchkasem Road, NongGar Hua Hin,
Prachuabkirikhan 77110, Thailand
T. +66 32 809 999
F. +66 32 809 900
E. [email protected]

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Nina has worked for Inspire and Choice Group Asia since 2011 and loves to party when she can!

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august, 2020

01aug11:3030(aug 30)14:30Dim Sum All-You-Can-Eat at Hilton Hua Hin Resort and SpaDim Sum delicacies with a beautiful sea view at White Lotus Restaurant for THB 580 nett per person from 11:30 am – 2:30 pm .

01aug17:0023:30Vana Nava Sky Mixology Series: Black Tears EpisodeMaster mixologist Depp from Rabbit Hole, a very well-known bar in Bangkok, brings a higher level of cocktail culture to Vana Nava Sky

01aug17:3020:30Seafood BBQ Bonanza Night at Wave Pool, Vana Nava Water JungleServed you directly at the Wave Pool, Vana Nava Water Jungle! For our little guests, fun activities will be waiting for you at the Kids Corner.

02aug13:0021:00Ted’s Traditional Sunday RoastEnjoy a Traditional Sunday Roast each and every Sunday from 1pm for as little 295tb, with Roast Chicken, Lamb and Beef all available to choose from.

02aug19:0022:00Delicious Rhone wines and French dinner at The Villas Hua Hin ThailandDELICIOUS RHONE WINES AND FRENCH DINNER

04aug19:3022:00Trivia night is back at Sage Bar soi 102!Please join us with our lovely hostess Wendy Herbert as we again test our minds.

05aug20:0023:00The Bangkok Beatles at Father Ted’s Hua HinWe welcome back Thailand’s favourite and most successful show band “The Bangkok Beatles” to Father Ted’s

07aug(aug 7)16:0008(aug 8)22:30Hua Hin Food Festival 2020 : Pizza Paradise at Centara Grand Beach Resort & Villas Hua HinCentara Grand Beach Resort & Villas Hua Hin, together with Hua Hin Municipality and Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT), invites all food connoisseurs to the iconic Hua Hin beach for the best-ever Hua Hin Food Festival 2020

08aug18:0022:00Fisherman Village Seafood Market at Holiday Inn Resort Vana Nava Hua HinEnjoy a sumptuous selection of dishes and a splendid buffet highlighting Seafood, BBQ meats and much more plus a great kids’ selection for our Little Big Travellers who eat free when accompanied by a paying adult.

09aug11:3014:30Infinity À La Carte Brunch at Vana Nava SkySpoil yourself this Sunday with an elegant and indulgent Infinity à la carte Brunch at our stunning rooftop restaurant and bar, Vana Nava Sky

09aug13:0021:00Ted’s Traditional Sunday RoastEnjoy a Traditional Sunday Roast each and every Sunday from 1pm for as little 295tb, with Roast Chicken, Lamb and Beef all available to choose from.

12aug15:0016:00Online Talk Class: Ways to Improve Your Gut Health and Mood at Chiva-Som International Health ResortThis talk class will discuss ways women can improve gut health and mood with Chiva-Som’s Naturopathic expert.

12aug18:0022:00Mother’s Day Dinner at Amber Kitchen, Hua Hin Marriott Resort & SpaDiscover our amazing international buffet with an array of sumptuous dishes, including premium seafood, grilled meats and delicious desserts, accompanied by live music.

29aug(aug 29)08:0030(aug 30)20:00The Triskele Trophy 2020 at Black Mountain & Banyan Golf ClubTHB 8,600 per player

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Best Free VPN For Netflix (2020): Still Working As Of June 2020

Netflix has an ongoing battle with Virtual Private Networks, making it difficult to find a VPN which can unblock country-specific catalogs if you’re attempting to watch from outside that country. So far, Netflix has been victorious over the majority of free and paid VPNs, narrowing down your options to a select few. If you want to access Netflix content from regions outside your country, without worrying about your data being stolen, your best bet is to check out the free trial periods offered by ExpressVPN, NordVPN, Surfshark, CyberGhost VPN, and IPVanish.

Best Free VPN for Netflix Comparison Chart

NameExpressVPNNordVPNSurfsharkCyberGhost VPNIPVanish
ExpressVPN logoNordVPN logoSurfshark logoCyberGhost logoIPVanish logo
PriceCheck Price at ExpressVPN.comCheck Price at NordVPN.comCheck Price at Surfshark.comCheck Price at CyberGhostVPN.comCheck Price at
Money-Back Guarantee30 days30 days30 days45 days30 days
No. of Servers3,000+5,200+1,700+6,500+1,400+
Bandwidth UnlimitedUnlimitedUnlimitedUnlimitedUnlimited
Data CapUnlimitedUnlimitedUnlimitedUnlimitedUnlimited
Max Devices56Unlimited710
Streaming ServicesAmazon Prime Video, BBC iPlayer, Hulu, Netflix, YouTube TVAmazon Prime Video, BBC iPlayer, Disney+, HBO GO, Hulu, Netflix, YouTube TVBBC iPlayer, Hulu, Netflix, YouTube TVAmazon Prime Video, BBC iPlayer, Hulu, Netflix, YouTube TVAmazon Prime Video, Hulu, Netflix, YouTube TV
CompatibilityWindows, Mac, Linux, iOS, Android, Amazon Fire Stick, Roku, Nvidia Shield, Apple TV, PlayStation, Xbox, Smart TVsWindows, Mac, Linux, iOS, Android, Amazon Fire Stick, Roku, Apple TV, PlayStation, Xbox, Smart TVsWindows, Mac, Linux, iOS, Android, Amazon Fire Stick, Roku, Apple TV, PlayStation, Xbox, Smart TVsWindows, Mac, Linux, iOS, Android, Amazon Fire Stick, Roku, Apple TV, PlayStation, Xbox, Smart TVsWindows, Mac, Linux, iOS, Android, Amazon Fire Stick, Roku, Apple TV, PlayStation, Xbox, Smart TVs
Support24/7 Live Chat24/7 Live Chat24/7 Live Chat24/7 Live Chat24/7 Live Chat

Fast and reliable VPN for Netflix and other streaming services

Best Free VPN for Netflix - ExpressVPN

ExpressVPN is one of the most popular VPN services today. That’s thanks to its military-grade encryption, unlimited bandwidth, and 24/7 customer support. It’s also among the most reliable to unblock Netflix restrictions in the US, Canada, UK, Australia, and more. In addition, streaming speeds remain consistently fast while connected to an ExpressVPN server, letting you enjoy TV shows and movies on Netflix without annoying buffering or resolution downgrading.

READ  VPN Vulnerabilities (2020): Comparing Vulnerabilities of Popular VPNs

You can install ExpressVPN on a wide range of devices and connect up to 5 of them simultaneously. It’s pretty easy to get started, though you’d likely need help figuring out which of the 2,000+ servers can unblock Netflix. Thankfully, you can easily message their live chat to get near instant help. You’ll be able to use ExpressVPN for other streaming services as well, such as Hulu and BBC iPlayer. Plus, it can unblock Netflix on devices that don’t normally support VPNs, like smart TVs and gaming consoles.

As a trusted VPN provider, ExpressVPN doesn’t keep any logs about your devices or your Internet activities. You can get 30 days of full free access with their money-back guarantee, which should be plenty of time to decide whether you’re satisfied enough to continue with your subscription.

Secure and stable VPN you can quickly connect to

Best Free VPN for Netflix - NordVPN

With more than 5,200 servers in 59 countries, NordVPN can ensure fast VPN connections and more locations to unblock Netflix from. Its Quick Connect feature helps you find the best server for the region you’re interested in, flying past the geoblocks in place. Once connected, you’re guaranteed buffering-free streaming on Netflix, Hulu, BBC iPlayer, Amazon Prime Video, and more.

NordVPN employs next-gen encryption, kill switch, and a strict no-logs policy to protect your privacy on the Internet. You’ll also be able to mask your IP or change it twice for extra security. The additional features really make NordVPN a premium choice, though you can use their free 3-day trial to test the waters. A 30-day money-back guarantee lets you binge, er, test even longer, which should give you enough time to watch entire seasons and dozens of movies.

READ  Best VPN for Zoom (2020): Comparing the VPNs That Can Protect You Online

You’ll be able to count on NordVPN’s support team to help you access new films and TV shows and get assistance on other things you can take advantage of with their secure VPN connections. You can connect up to 6 devices at once, including mobile devices.

Unblocks the most Netflix libraries

Best Free VPN for Netflix - Surfshark

If you’re purely after accessing as many Netflix libraries as possible, Surfshark has the most unblocked geo-restrictions for the popular streaming service. It lets you access content from up to 14 specific countries, including South Korea, France, Italy, Japan, and Australia. Moreover, you also unlock BBC iPlayer, Hulu, and YouTube TV.

Surfshark has apps for a variety of devices, including gaming consoles such as the PlayStation and Xbox, smart TV platforms like the FireTV and Apple TV, as well as phones and tablets. The user interface is easy to navigate though some find it too basic for power users. However, Surfshark has strong encryption, kill switch, malware and phishing protection, as well as an ad blocker. These combine into ensuring tough security for your private online connection.

If you’re convinced on continuing Surfshark after the 30-day grace period, you can take advantage of some of the lowest monthly pricing for VPNs today. Even better, Surfshark allows an unlimited number of devices connecting to their servers, letting you share Netflix access and more to your entire household.

CyberGhost VPN

The most servers in the most countries

Best Free VPN for Netflix - CyberGhost VPN

CyberGhost VPN has a strong focus on enabling streaming without limitations for its users. It has the largest number of servers located in the most number of countries (90+), letting you unblock numerous Netflix regions along with other streaming services. With so many servers, you’ll be able to connect to uncrowded ones easily and enjoy buffering-free entertainment.

READ  VPN vs Remote Desktop (RDP) (2020): What's the Difference?

Despite this reach, CyberGhost has one of the lower long-term pricing in this list as well as the longest money-back guarantee. You can freely try its services for 45 days and still get a full refund in case you want to try something else.

However, that might prove enough time to convince you to stick with CyberGhost, thanks to its strict security, no logs policy, unlimited bandwidth, and round-the-clock support.

Top all-rounder VPN

Best Free VPN for Netflix - IPVanish

IPVanish frequently makes the list of top VPNs due to its excellent speed, unlimited traffic, and highly reliable security features. It doesn’t actively promote its Netflix unblocking capabilities but it has proven itself in lifting geo-restrictions for its users.

Aside from Netflix, you’ll be able to use IPVanish to stream videos via Amazon Prime Video, Hulu, YouTube TV, and more. It might have one of the smallest server counts but it has more than 40,000 shared IPs to provide true anonymity while connecting to the open Internet. You can connect up to 10 devices simultaneously to IPVanish servers so you can share with your family (or not).

There are plenty more features that IPVanish offers aside from streaming-related ones, making it a solid choice if you want a VPN subscription that lets you do more. These include SugarSync, an encrypted storage and backup service, plus additional privacy tools.

ExpressVPN and Surfshark are our top VPN recommendations for Netflix.

Best VPN for streaming Netflix

ExpressVPN logo

Most affordable VPN pricing

Surfshark logo

For those looking for the fastest VPN connections with as wide a reach as possible, ExpressVPN can outperform other services handily. However, it’s not exactly cheap if you do continue after the free 30-day period. Surfshark beats the rest on cheap VPN plans that matches the speed and accessibility of the others, while letting you browse the most Netflix libraries, too.

Note that we intentionally left out the purely free VPN services since all of them will either throttle your bandwidth, cap your traffic, have questionable security, or keep logs of your information and activities.


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Shopify Monthly Cost (2020): How Much Does Shopify Really Cost Every Month?

Through Shopify’s user-friendly interface and a wide array of third-party applications, even non-tech-savvy merchants can set up an e-commerce shop in a matter of hours. Shopify offers five monthly plans to choose from, but the most common options are the Basic, Shopify, and Advanced Shopify plans. While it may be tempting to opt for the lowest-tier Basic plan to lower your Shopify monthly cost, choosing the perfect Shopify plan for your business is not as straightforward.

It requires taking a closer look at your business, its current processes, and where you see your business going as there are certain factors to consider that can significantly affect your overall monthly costs. These include choosing your payment provider, Shopify’s credit card rates per transaction, and shipping rates, to name a few. We break down the different Shopify plans and their features to help you choose the pricing plan that best fits your business needs.

Shopify Monthly Cost Comparison Chart

NameBasic Shopify Plan Shopify Plan Advanced Shopify Plan
PriceTry Shopify for FreeTry Shopify for FreeTry Shopify for Free
Best For New BusinessesGrowing businesses, especially those who use third-party payment providersBusiness owners looking to scale further
Online Credit Card Rates per Transaction2.9% + 30¢2.6% + 30¢2.4% + 30¢
In-Person Credit Card Rates per transaction2.7% + 0¢2.5% + 0¢2.4% + 0¢
Third-party Payment Provider Transaction Fee2.0%1.0%.5%
Shopify Shipping DiscountsUp to 64%Up to 72%Up to 74%
Third-Party Shipping Calculated RatesNoNoYes
Unlimited ProductsYesYesYes
Digital ProductsYesYesYes
Gift CardsYesYesYes
Staff Accounts2515
Inventory LocationsUp to 4Up to 5Up to 8

Source: Shopify

Shopify Basic Plan

This costs $29 USD/month and is perfect for sellers who want to dip their toes into e-commerce

For items coming from the US, e-commerce retailers can enjoy Shopify Shipping discounted rates from DHL, UPS, and USPS

The Basic Shopify plan is an excellent entry platform into the world of e-commerce. At $29 USD/month, you can upload unlimited physical products, and offer digital products and gift cards to your customers. It gives you access to built-in Shopify features that make setting up your selling process less tedious, such as Shopify Shipping, fraud protection, SSL certificate (for keeping your customers’ data safe), abandoned cart recovery, among others.  If you sign up for an annual plan, the $29/month gets reduced to $26.10/month as Shopify offers a 10% discount for a one-year plan and 20% for a two-year plan.

If your business is still small and you only need up to two staff accounts, the Basic Shopify plan is sufficient for your online store. Even with its slightly higher credit card and third-party payment transaction fees, its monthly Shopify cost will most likely still be lower than if you subscribe to the higher-tier plans. However, if you see yourself growing your business and hiring more help, perhaps the standard Shopify plan is the best for you.

Standard Shopify Plan

This plan costs $79USD/month and is the most in-demand Shopify plan that offers the best value

Shopify Monthly Cost standard shopify Plan
The standard Shopify plan strikes the best balance between reasonable monthly fees and features

For businesses with 3 to 5 staff members, the standard Shopify plan is the clear option for your e-commerce store. With this plan, you’ll get every feature available in the Basic plan and more. Much more. At a glance, it may seem like the standard Shopify plan’s monthly cost of $79USD is a big jump from the Basic plan’s $29USD. However, if you consider its better credit card, transaction, and shipping rates, the Shopify plan is worth the upgrade. The savings you’ll get from this mid-tier pricing plan considerably increases if you’re not using Shopify Payments as your store’s payment gateway.

If you’re using a third-party payment provider, Shopify charges 2% for every transaction on the Basic Shopify plan while for the standard Shopify plan, you’ll only be charged 1% for every transaction. Compute the difference in rates, and you’ll see how the Basic plan may actually end up increasing your Shopify monthly costs. On top of that, using Shopify Shipping with the standard Shopify plan lets you take advantage of lower shipping rates, something your customers will appreciate.

Shopify Advanced Plan

This plan costs $299USD/month and offers the best rates for third-party transactions, credit cards, and shipping

Larger businesses will benefit from the Advanced Shopify plan’s customizable report builder and third-party calculated shipping rates

With the Advanced Shopify plan, you’ll get access to more extensive features that will help better streamline your business. Its advanced report builder lets you customize your monthly reports to your heart’s content. If your e-commerce store has an integrated third-party shipping software, this is the only Shopify plan that displays the calculated shipping rates for your customers when they check out. Another major deciding factor that requires an upgrade to the Advanced Shopify plan is the number of staff members you have. This plan allows up to 15 staff members to access your Shopify dashboard.

In a nutshell, the Advanced Shopify plan is the best for bigger businesses that are generating higher revenues. With its lower transaction fees for third-party payment transactions, credit card rates, and shipping rates, the Advanced Shopify plan makes it worth the higher monthly cost.

Shopify Lite & Shopify Plus

The Shopify Lite plan is best for smaller business owners with existing selling platforms while the Shopify Plus best fits bigger global businesses

Shopify Monthly Cost shopify lite and shopify plus
You can use Shopify’s “Buy Now” button through the Shopify Lite plan

Certain types of businesses may find that the Shopify Lite or Shopify Plus plan is best for their company. With a monthly fee of only $9USD/month, the Shopify Lite plan is for online retailers who want to sell on other platforms such as their blog, Facebook page, and similar sites. The Shopify Lite plan is the most attractive option for sellers who don’t need all the bells and whistles of the more comprehensive plans.

Meanwhile, the Shopify Plus plan starts at $2000USD/month and is designed to address larger businesses’ more complex needs. You’ll get even better transaction fees, credit card rates, and discounted shipping rates through this plan as well. If you have more than 15 staff members in your team, the Shopify Plus plan is the clear choice for your business as it doesn’t limit the number of people that can access your dashboard. Shopify further boasts a conversion rate increase of up to 18%. Its checkout optimization features include one-tap accelerated check-outs and better credit card authorization rates.

Additional Shopify Monthly Costs

Among the extra monthly costs you need to take into account are the transaction fees, domain name, e-mail hosting, and paid apps

Shopify Monthly Cost (1)
The Shopify app store carries a wide array of applications for different business needs

Once you have decided which Shopify plan you’ll get, it is important to factor in additional Shopify monthly costs you will incur so you can keep your e-commerce store up and running smoothly. Here are some of the additional costs you should prepare for:

  • Monthly transaction fees: as mentioned earlier, the transaction fees vary depending on your plan. The higher your pricing plan, the lower the transaction fees (see the comparison chart above).
  • Domain name: your shop’s domain name is not included in any of the plans. The monthly/annual cost of the domain name depends on your custom domain and registrar. You can get your domain name on Shopify or other domain registrars such as GoDaddy or Namecheap.
  • Third-party apps: there are a number of third-party apps that are free, but the most reliable ones typically require a monthly fee. Adding third-party apps for upselling, marketing, reputation-building, and similar purposes is crucial to giving your customers a top-notch shopping experience.
  • Email hosting: none of the Shopify plans include email hosting, so you will need to configure your business email yourself

The standard Shopify plan offers the best value and can address the needs of a wide range of businesses while the Basic Shopify plan is a great start for newer businesses.

Standard Shopify Plan

Overall best monthly Shopify plan for small to medium-sized businesses

Basic Shopify Plan

Best entry-level plan for brand new small businesses

It’s no surprise that the standard Shopify plan is the most popular of all the monthly pricing plans. The small price jump from the Basic Shopify plan becomes almost insignificant if you consider the lower transaction fees and better shipping rates on the standard Shopify plan. The savings on your Shopify monthly cost becomes more noticeable when you start processing more transactions, especially you’re using a third-party payment gateway instead of Shopify Payments.

Meanwhile, those who are only starting their business and getting some traction will find the Basic Shopify plan and its features more than sufficient. You’ll get all the Shopify essentials and start uploading and selling your products for a lower monthly cost through this plan. Shopify offers a 14-day free trial so you can get a feel for its platform and services.

Something that many retailers don’t like about Shopify is its transaction fees which we have extensively mentioned in this article. If you prefer to skip paying transaction fees, you may want to consider setting up your online store through other e-commerce platforms such as BigCommerce or Wix.  BigCommerce offers a 30-day free-trial while Wix lets you try the Premium plan for free for 14 days.

READ  Shopify vs WordPress (2020): Where Should You Build Your Online Store?


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Are the doctors of the future ready to support breastfeeding? A cross-sectional study in the UK

Currently there is no published data on the inclusion of breastfeeding education within the UK medical school curriculum. This study aims to address this knowledge gap and explore students’ perceptions of their readiness to support breastfeeding.

An online survey was used to collect data from 32 UK undergraduate medical schools and their students. All students in their final two years of study at the 30 universities offering a 5- or 6-year medicine course, were eligible.

Curriculum data was obtained from 26 (81%) institutions. Compulsory breastfeeding education was provided by 85% (N = 22) institutions with 81% (n = 21) providing lecture-based teaching and 19% (n = 5) offering formal clinical education. Overall, 411 students from 22 institutions participated. A moderate ability to identify the benefits of breastfeeding was observed; however, self-rated confidence in practical skills was poor. Assisting with latching was the least confident skill, with confidence in only 3% (14/411) students. Most students (93%) viewed doctors as playing an important role in breastfeeding, with those interested in either women’s health, paediatrics or general practice perceiving the role of doctors as more important. Overall, 93% (381/411) students requested further breastfeeding education.

This study suggests UK medical schools are not adequately preparing students to support breastfeeding patients. Further studies should explore the competency of doctors to meet the needs of lactating women, and design optimal training for UK medical students.

Over the course of human evolution, breastfeeding has played a pivotal role, with established benefits for the short- and long-term health of the mother and child [1, 2]. Far from simple nutrition, breastmilk is a complex bioactive fluid and developmental patterning tool, affecting cognition, immune maturation and physiology [3]. The World Health Organization recommendations are that infants should be exclusively breastfed for around 6 months, continuing for two years and beyond, as long as mother and baby wish. In the UK, less than 1% of mothers are breastfeeding by the time their baby is one year [4].

The Unicef Baby Friendly Initiative is a global endeavour that seeks to entrench breastfeeding as a public health target, explicitly stating that all healthcare staff should be trained in the necessary skills to support breastfeeding [5].

Clinicians can be highly influential figures when parents are making decisions about infant feeding; however international data from a Cochrane review suggests that doctors rarely receive appropriate training to support and manage issues related to breastfeeding [6, 7]. In the UK, there is no standardised breastfeeding education for clinicians [8, 9]. This lack of education is also reflected overseas with less than 10% of general practitioners (GP) in an Irish study [10], and less than 50% of GP trainees in Australia receiving formal breastfeeding training [11].

There are several examples in the literature of where poor knowledge and training around infant feeding has been shown to have negative impacts. In a Norwegian survey of GPs, only 26% could identify the differences between infant formula and human milk, which consequently affected their confidence in counselling patients [12]. Furthermore, approximately half of GPs and paediatricians surveyed in the UK advised parents to introduce solids before the WHO/UNICEF recommendation of around 6 months [13]. Mothers who were inappropriately recommended by paediatricians to supplement with infant formula are more likely to have discontinued breastfeeding by 12 weeks [14].

Medical school builds the foundation for all doctors’ clinical practice and is a perfect opportunity to educate future clinicians with the essential skills and knowledge to support their patients [15, 16]. Furthermore, it could be argued that regardless of which specialty pathway the medical graduate follows, they are likely to have contact with breastfeeding patients during their hospital and community training. Currently there is no published data on infant feeding education provided within undergraduate medicine courses in the UK. International surveys suggest that medical students are not well enough equipped with the counselling skills and knowledge to support breastfeeding mothers [17,18,19].

This study aimed to collect data on the inclusion of breastfeeding education within the undergraduate curriculum at UK medical schools and to explore student perceptions of their role as future doctors in supporting breastfeeding.

Study design

A cross-sectional study was conducted to collect data on the delivery of teaching around breastfeeding within the undergraduate medical school curriculum and explore medical student perceptions on breastfeeding education using two separate online survey tools.

Medical school recruitment

Within the UK, 34 medical schools provide undergraduate teaching. Two medical schools are exclusively for postgraduate students and were excluded from our study. Of the 32 remaining, 30 provide a 5- or 6-year complete curriculum. The remaining two provide only 2 years of preclinical teaching. All 32 medical schools were invited through email to partake in an online survey on the inclusion of breastfeeding education within their undergraduate curriculum. Medical school curriculum support staff were emailed with a brief background, inviting them to participate in an online questionnaire. Consent was confirmed by participation and the right to withdraw was explained. Data for the student surveys was analysed only for the 30 medical schools with a full 5 or 6 year curriculum.

Medical student recruitment

All undergraduate students in their final 2 years of study at the 30 UK medical schools offering a 5- or 6-year medicine course were eligible for participation in an online medical student survey. Gatekeeper approval was sought from each eligible medical school to gain consent before students were contacted. A standardised message was sent to university staff and internal ethics applications were made depending on the framework of the medical school.

A standardised message, participant information statement and link to the online survey was either sent via student email system or advertised on the relevant intranet site of the university depending on the institution’s policy (Additional File 1). Students were provided with the aims of the research and information regarding their voluntary participation, right to withdraw and the anonymity of the results. By participating, the students consented to the study.

Two online questionnaires were designed, one for assessing breastfeeding education provided within the curriculum and the other to determine their students’ knowledge and perceptions (Additional File 2). Data was collected from curriculum staff relating to the type of education offered and in which year groups and modules this was delivered. Student questionnaires collected data on demographics, their confidence in supporting breastfeeding mothers, the perceived role of doctors in breastfeeding support, career aspirations, and interest in receiving additional teaching on breastfeeding. Questions included multiple choice, ranked answers and Likert scales.

Data analysis

Microsoft Excel was used for the collation of basic percentage data. IBM SPSS 24 statistical software was used for all other statistical analysis. For categorical data Pearson’s Chi-squared test was used to determine significant differences between groups. For non-parametric data, the Mann-Whitney U Test was used. P-values < 0.05 were considered significant. Histograms were used to determine the data distribution.

In total, 26 out of 32 eligible medical schools completed the initial online curriculum survey between March 2017 and September 2017. 25 out of 30 eligible medical schools consented for their students to be surveyed, with participation from medical students at 22 out of 25 consented universities. Overall, 411 medical students in their penultimate and final years of study participated in the online survey between March 2017 and March 2018. There was a median of 13 (3.25, 27) student participants per medical school.

Medical school education

Curriculum data on 81% (26/32) of the eligible UK undergraduate medical schools was collected with regards to breastfeeding education (Table 1). 85% (22/26) of participating medical schools provided compulsory breastfeeding teaching (with the requirement that all students attend), three provided optional teaching and one did not include any breastfeeding education in their curriculum. Over three-quarters (81%) of the medical schools provided lectures on breastfeeding, with around two-fifths (46%) delivering seminars or small group teaching. Lectures were often provided in a pre-clinical context focusing on lactation physiology, whereas clinical exposure was usually with the postnatal midwifery team. Often this was unstructured and delivered on an ad hoc basis. Formal clinical teaching on breastfeeding is provided at five (19%) medical schools as part of general practice, paediatrics and obstetric modules. Details of the different teaching methods are available in the supplementary materials (Additional File 3).

Table 1 Medical school curriculum

Medical student characteristics

Table 2 presents the demographic data from the 411 student participants in our online survey. Over two-thirds of the students were female (72%, n = 295) and 82% (n = 336) were interested in a career in either obstetrics and gynaecology, paediatrics or general practice. 84% (n = 347) of our medical student responders were aged between 21 and 25 years old.

Table 2 Medical student characteristics (n = 411)

Breastfeeding knowledge of medical students

In order to assess knowledge of the benefits of breastfeeding, medical students were asked to select from a list of given statements (Additional File 4). Overall, 92% were able to successfully recognise that breastmilk contains antibodies and hormones. Other correct options identified from the list included: emotional attachment (97%), reduced infantile infections (90%), reduced maternal risk of breast and ovarian cancer (78%), reduced risk of obesity and type II diabetes mellitus in adulthood (77%), reduced risk of necrotising enterocolitis (69%) and reduced environmental impact (62%).

Medical student clinical confidence

Students were asked to self-assess their confidence in performing breastfeeding related clinical skills (Fig. 1). Across the three skills, a minority of medical students assessed themselves as confident. 16% (n = 66) felt confident at recognising and managing mastitis and nipple thrush, 13% (n = 53) were confident they could advise on medical reasons for supplementing breastfed infants with formula, and only 3% (n = 14) were confident in assisting with latching. Receiving compulsory breastfeeding teaching was not significantly associated with students’ self-rated skills performance, however students who had received formal clinical teaching (p = 0.04) or small group teaching (p < 0.01) had significantly more confidence at diagnosing and managing nipple problems (Additional File 5).

Fig. 1

Medical student clinical confidence in performing breastfeeding related skills. Latching; confidence in helping a mother with latching problems; Nipple Rx: confidence in recognising and managing mastitis and nipple thrush; Infant formula use: confidence on advising on medical reasons for supplementing breastfed infants with formula

Doctors’ role in breastfeeding

Medical students were asked to rank six categories of influencer with respect to how influential they are upon infant feeding decisions of mothers (Table 3). Partners were ranked as most influential with the doctor ranked fourth out of six. Student career aspirations had no effect upon the mean ranked score (Additional File 6). Overall, 44% thought doctors played a very important role in breastfeeding support, 49% viewed it as quite important, and only 7% thought it was not within the remit of the doctor. Medical students who had a career interest in either obstetrics and gynaecology, paediatrics or general practice perceived the doctors’ role in breastfeeding support as more important (p = 0.01; Additional File 7). Student gender and teaching received at medical school were not statistically associated with their perceived importance of supporting breastfeeding as a clinician.

Table 3 Medical students’ ranked perceptions of which figure is most influential upon a mother’s infant feeding decisions

Medical student attitudes towards further breastfeeding education

Overall, 93% (381/411) of students surveyed stated they would like more training on breastfeeding within the undergraduate medical school curriculum. 9% (n = 26) required lecture-based teaching, 19% (n = 78) preferred practical skills training, whereas the most favoured teaching approach was a combined approach (65%, n = 267).

There were no statistical differences in student desire to receive further breastfeeding education with regards to their self-assessed skill confidence. However, of the students requesting teaching by combined methods, there was lower confidence in nipple management (p < 0.01) and formula use (p = 0.01, Additional File 8).

The medical school curriculum

This is the first study to date looking at the inclusion of breastfeeding education within the undergraduate medical school curriculum in the UK. Currently, there is no standardised approach to the content and structure of the teaching provided, with 15% of the participating institutions providing no compulsory breastfeeding education. These findings were also reflected in the USA [20, 21]. An in-depth analysis of the curriculum at the United States Medical Institution revealed training deficits in both knowledge and skills-based competencies, which was reflected in their students’ self-rated breastfeeding knowledge and counselling abilities [22]. Furthermore, insufficient inclusion of breastfeeding within the undergraduate curricula has also been reported in Korea, with a lack of interactive learning opportunities and clinical exposure [23].

The Academy of Breastfeeding Medicine (ABM), a global organisation of physicians, produced an education statement on the learning objectives related to human lactation [24]. In line with the Baby Friendly Initiative, medical schools should aim to educate their students in both the theory and practice of breastfeeding. According to ABM, it is recommended that all students receive clinical training in the management of breastfeeding. Relevant skills to be covered included safe prescribing for breastfeeding, the facilitation of latching, counselling mothers and managing common problems [24]. Our study found that only 19% of institutions provided formal clinical exposure or training on breastfeeding.

Are medical students ready to support breastfeeding?

In this study, we collected data on the preparation of medical students for supporting breastfeeding mothers. When provided with a list of true/false statements, students performed well at identifying the benefits of breastfeeding (Additional File 4). This was often covered in the lecture-based teaching, provided by most medical schools. Although students felt prepared to identify benefits of breastfeeding, their confidence to perform breastfeeding skills was low.. This is concordant with a systematic review of healthcare students demonstrating insufficient breastfeeding knowledge regarding assessment and management of breastfeeding-related issues [25]. A study in the USA found 100% nursing students were able to identify breastmilk as the optimum feeding choice, however 65% were unable to identify cracked nipples as a potential indication poor latching, with 62% believing cracked nipples are managed by expressing milk and refraining from breastfeeding for 24 h [26].

The General Medical Council’s ‘Outcomes for Graduates’ states that new doctors must be competent in providing explanation, advice and support to address their patients’ needs [27]. The students in our study recognised the role of the doctor in supporting breastfeeding. This was particularly the case in students with a career interest in either obstetrics and gynaecology, GP or paediatrics. However, according to the Educational Objectives and Skills for the Physician with Respect to Breastfeeding, outlined by ABM, “All physicians, regardless of discipline, should have basic knowledge and skills in breastfeeding maintenance, diagnosis, and treatment of related problems” [24].

Although students did not perceive the doctor to be the most influential figure in infant feeding decisions, their role in promoting breastfeeding was recognised. This view is supported in a study by Odom et al., with women naming the infant’s father, the maternal grandmother, and doctor as important figures [28]. Despite this, healthcare professionals may often underestimate their impact on such decisions. In a Scottish study, NHS staff felt their contribution to breastfeeding support were diminished due to external factors, with family members playing a much greater role, than the professional, in infant feeding decisions [29].

Improving breastfeeding education

The majority (93%) of the students participating in our study stated they would like more teaching on breastfeeding at medical school. The perceived value of including undergraduate breastfeeding education is not a new viewpoint. A survey from the 1970s suggesting half of paediatricians and obstetricians would have benefited from a specific breastfeeding curriculum whilst at medical school [30]. This view is still relevant today with 85% Norwegian GPs believing that infant feeding should be taught before gaining their registration [12]. Additionally, doctors who reported lower confidence in breastfeeding clinical skills were less likely to engage with further training, suggesting the need to incorporate breastfeeding into a core curriculum [13].

The introduction of breastfeeding education is well-received by staff and students [31]. A medical school in New Mexico developed a module to include interactive teaching and patient visits, delivered via a multi-specialty approach [21]. In another example, 88% of medical students in India showed awareness of the BFI ‘ten steps of successful breastfeeding’ which was taught as part of the core curriculum and demonstrated successful integration into medical education [19]. A study of Brazilian healthcare students and professors have however identified the potential impracticalities of integrating breastfeeding into the already full-time undergraduate curriculum, with particular stress on the requirement for more practical classes on breastfeeding [32].

The medical students in our sample desired an integrated learning approach to include both theoretical knowledge and practical skills. The value of this teaching style is emphasised in the Carnegie Foundation for the Advancement of Teaching report [33]. A breastfeeding toolkit was developed with theoretical material for nursing students, however there was no statistical improvement in knowledge [34]. In addition, Taiwanese nursing students felt their theoretical training insufficiently prepared them to support mothers [35].

A recent Indonesian study demonstrated greater knowledge and counselling skills in final year students who had participated in an integrated module including hands-on teaching [18]. The successful implementation of breastfeeding roleplay intervention for healthcare volunteers was also demonstrated in Iran, with greater persisting knowledge and transfer of emotional experiences when compared to lecture-based education [36]. Our results support this finding with students who had received formal clinical teaching and/or small group sessions describing greater confidence in managing nipple pathology.

In the USA, a high-fidelity lactation simulation model was developed for educating healthcare professionals. During a development trial, physician residents reported benefits of being able to practice comfortable hand positioning during the breast assessment. Breastfeeding medicine physicians and midwifery students evaluated the final model as having realistic representations of lactation-related pathology and an effective breast pump mechanism to simulate hand expressing [37].

A recent scoping review of application-based breastfeeding education for nurses and physicians demonstrated a variety of teaching methods using real patients and roleplay, but found no standardised method of educational intervention or evaluation [38]. Several teaching methods have been suggested to provide an integrated breastfeeding education for the undergraduate medical student. These include online components, problem-based learning (PBL) and Objective Structured Clinical Examinations (OSCEs) [23]. A case-study in Lebanon has also identified the role of social networking in breastfeeding education to promote medical students self-efficacy and knowledge [39].

As there is a clear association between examinations and students’ learning, the ABM guidance stresses the additional importance of including breastfeeding in examinations to ensure students dedicate their efforts at learning the relevant material [40, 41].

The main limitation of this study was the inability to collect data from all UK undergraduate medical schools due to institutional permissions. The curriculum survey was completed by an allocated member of university staff; however, the response given may have varied depending on their role within the university. The majority of medical student respondents were female (Table 2, 72%), however this does reflect the national 3:2 ratio of female to male students in UK medical schools [42]. A recent study of GP registrars found that males doctors presumed that women with BF problems would want to see a female GP [11], which may infer that there is a perception among male trainees that this field is not relevant to them. Given the potential for all doctors to encounter breastfeeding mothers and influence infant feeding decisions, further work is needed to ensure skills that support the establishment and maintenance of breastfeeding engage all trainees.

The current level of breastfeeding education within the curriculum at UK undergraduate medical schools is insufficient, with few able to ensure that their students gain adequate clinical exposure. This may be related to either lack of time or lack of priority in the curriculum. From this study and the literature, doctors play an important role in supporting breastfeeding, but medical students in their penultimate years of study do not feel adequately prepared to fulfil this role. Further studies should explore the competency of doctors to meet the needs of lactating women, and design optimal training for UK medical students. Our results and the existing literature suggest that an integrated core curriculum to include practical training is both necessary and imperative. With the advent of relatively cheap breastfeeding simulation for teaching systems this should now be feasible in most medical schools.

Availability of data and materials

All data generated or analysed during this study are included in this published article [and its supplementary information files].

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Notes on contributors

Dr. Kirsty Biggs is an Academic Foundation Year One Doctor at University Hospital North Midlands. She developed an interest in breastfeeding during her BSc in Reproductive and Developmental Science at Imperial College London and strives to improve breastfeeding education within the UK medical school curriculum.

Dr. Katy Fidler is a Consultant Paediatrician and Senior Lecturer in Paediatrics at Brighton and Sussex Medical School and Lead for the undergraduate paediatric curriculum at BSMS. She supports a diverse range of teaching in paediatrics and recognizes the importance of breastfeeding education as part of this.

Dr. Natalie Shenker is a UKRI Future Leaders Fellow and cofounder of the Human Milk Foundation, which supports more families to feed their babies with human milk. The charity is enhancing access to screened donor milk when breastfeeding is impossible or delayed.

Miss Heather Brown is a Consultant Obstetrician Gynaecologist and Senior Clinical Lecturer in Obstetrics and Gynaecology at Brighton and Sussex Medical School and Deputy Medical Director for Brighton and Sussex University Hospitals Trust. She has an active role in developing and delivering the undergraduate curriculum and in postgraduate teaching.

No external funding source supported this study.

Author information

KB, KF and HB conceived and designed the study; KB and NS analysed and interpreted the data and prepared figures and tables; all authors contributed to the writing of the manuscript. The author(s) read and approved the final manuscript.

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Kirsty V. Biggs.

Ethics declarations

Ethics approval and consent to participate

Ethical approval was gained via the Brighton and Sussex Medical School Research Governance & Ethics Committee (Ref no. 17/020/BRO) on 06/03/2017.

Consent for publication

Not applicable.

Competing interests

NS is funded by a UKRI Future Leaders Fellowship at Imperial College London and is a non-remunerated Trustee of the Human Milk Foundation.

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Supplementary information

Additional file 1.

Patient Information Sheet. Word document.

Additional file 2.

Survey questions on SurveyMonkey. Word document.

Additional file 3.

Medical school curriculum details. Word document.

Additional file 4.

Table of medical students’ ability to correctly identify the benefits of breastfeeding (Table). Word document.

Additional file 5.

Medical students self-rated confidence in clinical skills in relation to teaching provided by medical school (Table). Word document.

Additional file 6.

Ranking of influential figures according to interest in obstetrics and gynaecology/paediatrics/general practice (Table). Word document.

Additional file 7.

Influences upon medical students’ perceived importance of the doctor’s role in Breastfeeding support (Table). Word document.

Additional file 8.

Interest in further teaching in medical schools according to medical students’ confidence at performing breastfeeding-related skills (Table). Word document.

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Biggs, K.V., Fidler, K.J., Shenker, N.S. et al. Are the doctors of the future ready to support breastfeeding? A cross-sectional study in the UK. Int Breastfeed J 15, 46 (2020).

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David N. Duncan
Visiting Assistant Professor of Fine Arts
Phone: (860) 297-5232 Office Location: Hallden
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M.Arch., Harvard Univ. (1983)
B.A., Trinity College (1979)

David Duncan, founder of Needham Duncan Architecture LLC, has over thirty years experience in residential, commercial and institutional architecture.  For eight years, David practiced in Washington, DC with two nationally-renowned architectural firms.  He founded Needham Duncan Architecture in Connecticut in September of 1991 where he has designed over 170 residential, small commercial and institutional projects.  In addition to his client work, he has been very involved in his communities, assisting groups such as Habitat for Humanity, local building committees and historic districts in an advisory capacity, the Lyme Art Association and the Children’s Museum of South-eastern Connecticut.

Architectural drawing and design is a means of communicating abstract thought.  Courses will be taught using basic drawing tools for hand drawn assignments.  With the immediacy of putting pencil to paper, in essence students will be learning a new language as an introduction to the practice of architecture and its related fields.


text: 1. This book sets out the framework of South Pacific legal systems and also describes the substantive law on a broad range of topics. Including a discussion of recent changes in the law, this new edition is a useful and up-to-date resource for all those interested in the law of the region.


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Mickey Rourke Will Do Power Armor Wrestling In Iron Man 2

Illustration for article titled Mickey Rourke Will Do Power Armor Wrestling In Iron Man 2

Mickey Rourke, who is riding on the shoulders of delighted critics for his kick-ass performance in The Wrestler, is joining the cast of Iron Man 2 along with the always-great Sam Rockwell.

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The Hollywood Reporter says they've heard rumors that Rourke could also be up for the role of Whiplash, but many entertainment sites are standing by the Dynamo reporting.

Sam Rockwell is rumored to be portraying Justin Hammer, the bazillionaire rival of Tony Stark. Similar to Stark, Hammer is a genius and has his fingers in hundreds of gadgety pies. So he's smart, rich and well equipped, just like Tony, but he makes his money from criminals.

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I hate/detest having multiple villains in a movie. Especially if they're unconnected. Some movie makers feel they have to throw everything in at the expense of character development and then it just becomes a mindless slugfest. (NB Batman Returns/Forever/and Robin also SpiderMan 3)

Give me one good solid villain or at the very least a team of villains who are already thematically connected.