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Children's services

BabyFest brings hundreds of Walsall families together for World Breastfeeding Week

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More than 100 families enjoyed a day of activities, expert advice and family-focused support at Walsall's annual BabyFest event, held as part of World Breastfeeding Week.

Collage of photos from BabyFest 2026
Families enjoying BabyFest 2026

Organised by Walsall Council's Family Hubs team, the free event on Tuesday 4 August welcomed parents, carers and young children to The New Art Gallery Walsall for a fun-filled day of activities, information and opportunities to connect with local services.

The event aimed to support families at every stage of the parenting journey, from pregnancy through to childhood. Families enjoyed sensory sessions with Baby & Us, The Tiger Who Came to Tea-themed arts and crafts, interactive play activities, and an Introduction to Solids talk. Every child who attended also received a free book to take home.

Throughout the day, families had the opportunity to meet professionals from more than 15 local organisations. Representatives from health, council and voluntary sector services were on hand to provide guidance on infant feeding, vaccinations, child development, family wellbeing and community activities

The event was well-enjoyed by families, with one parent saying, "I had a lovely morning. There were lots of opportunities to speak to helpful professionals."

Another parent commented, "It was excellent, a great support network. There was a variety of fun activities to keep children entertained, and lots of freebies!"

“ Supporting families with infant feeding is about much more than nutrition. It's about creating a strong support network that gives parents and carers the confidence, knowledge and reassurance they need during the early stages of their child's life.

BabyFest is a fantastic example of organisations across Walsall working together to give parents and carers everything they need to give children the best possible start in life, especially from those early days. It was wonderful to see so many parents, carers and children enjoying the activities, accessing expert advice and meeting others at similar stages of their parenting journey.

There is a wealth of support available through our Family Hubs and partner organisations, and I would encourage families to explore the services on offer and get involved. “

Councillor Lisa Jones, Portfolio Holder for Children, Education and Skills at Walsall Council

National research shows that many parents experience challenges with breastfeeding, including concerns around latching, milk supply, engorgement and discomfort. BabyFest helped families find out more about the advice available locally, including community-based support through Family Hubs and weekly breastfeeding peer support groups.

The event formed part of Walsall's programme for World Breastfeeding Week (1–7 August 2026), celebrating the importance of breastfeeding support and raising awareness of the services available to local families.

Activities continue throughout the week with breastfeeding peer support groups taking place across Walsall’s four Family Hubs. Families can also access support through the Walsall Welcomes Breastfeeding Scheme, which now includes more than 60 breastfeeding-friendly venues across the borough.

Details of local support groups, breastfeeding-friendly venues and infant feeding advice can be found on the Walsall Family Hubs website: https://family-hubs.walsall.gov.uk/ 

BabyFest is one of many events which support Walsall’s wider vision to be a child-friendly borough by 2040, and ensure all children and young people can thrive, be happy, and reach their full potential.

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