As part of World Breastfeeding Week, the Big Latch On will be held at Andes Baby at 10:00am, today. The Big Latch On is a worldwide synchronized breastfeeding event.
World Breastfeeding Week, August 1-7, is organized by the World Alliance for Breastfeeding Action and raises awareness to the benefits of breastfeeding and the need for global support. It is celebrated in 120 countries and marks the signing of the WHO/UNICEF Innocenti Declaration document. The first Big Latch On took place in Aotearoa, New Zealand in 2005. It was introduced in Portland, Oregon in 2010, taking off globally afterward. The Big Latch On provides breastfeeding women the opportunity to get together in their local communities and gather opportunities for on-going support. Breastfeeding contributes to the normal growth and development of babies.
This year, the Global Big Latch On event hopes to break their attendance records. The current records show 14,889 children being breastfed, 15,336 women breastfeeding, and 36,502 total people in attendance at the event. The long-term vision for the Global Big Latch On is that it will become a one-day event, held within walking distance of every family worldwide.