The Big Latch On: Coming Back to Cowtown
Monday, 6/19/2017
Just picture it: a lawn full of mothers and children, all breastfeeding at the same time, supporting and encouraging each other. It may sound like a scene out of your imagination, but it’s a real event that happens every year right here in Fort Worth. This public celebration of breastfeeding and families is called The Big Latch On.
Fort Worth is one of hundreds of cities to join the global initiative when mothers around the world will gather to breastfeed together. The goal is to latch all participating children at the same time for one minute. It happens annually during World Breastfeeding Week in August. The Fort Worth event takes place in conjunction with a free Family Expo from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Saturday, August 5 at Fort Worth Botanic Garden.
Participating moms and children will head out to the Botanic Garden lawn at 10:30 a.m. to breastfeed together for one minute. During the 2016 event, 277 children latched at the same time. This year, more than 40 vendors and activities, including a silent auction, photo booth and photo buttons will be located indoors in Redbud and Oak Hall.
“I am excited to see the Family Expo & Big Latch On continue to grow in its sixth year. The event highlights the reality that our community really does support breastfeeding for all families,” Amanda Alvarez, chair of Tarrant County Breastfeeding Coalition, said. “We have had great success in improving breastfeeding education, advocacy and resource development in Tarrant County, but our work is not done. Families still struggle to reach their breastfeeding goals so we continue our efforts to build a supportive and knowledgeable network within the community. When families, businesses and community organizations come together to celebrate breastfeeding, everyone wins!”
The 6th Annual Family Expo & Big Latch On is hosted by Tarrant County Breastfeeding Coalition, Mothers’ Milk Bank of North Texas and JPS Health Network. Be sure to RSVP to the event by clicking here to receive event updates and reminders. Participants in the Big Latch On should register on the global website here.
