Breastfeeding

Breastfeeding Among U.S. Children Born 1999—2006, CDC National Immunization Survey

Percent of U.S. children who were breastfed, by birth year¹

¹Healthy People objectives for breastfeeding in early postpartum period, at 6 months, and 12 months are 75%, 50%, and 25%, respectively. Healthy People 2010 objectives for exclusive breastfeeding through 3 and 6 months of age are 40% and 17%, respectively. National data on exclusive breastfeeding are available only from respondents interviewed after 2005 and thus are not available for children born prior to 2003.

Percent of U.S. children who were breastfed, by birth year¹

Exclusing breastfeeding. For data, see below.

¹Healthy People objectives for breastfeeding in early postpartum period, at 6 months, and 12 months are 75%, 50%, and 25%, respectively. Healthy People 2010 objectives for exclusive breastfeeding through 3 and 6 months of age are 40% and 17%, respectively. National data on exclusive breastfeeding are available only from respondents interviewed after 2005 and thus are not available for children born prior to 2003.

Data
Percent of U.S. children who were breastfed, by birth year, National Immunization Survey, United States (percent ±half 95% Confidence Interval).

	1999	2000	2001	2002	2003	2004	2005	2006 (provisional¹)
Early postpartum	68.3±2.9	70.9±1.9	71.6±1.0	71.4±0.9	72.6±0.9	73.1±0.8	74.1±1.0	73.9±1.1
At 6 months	32.6±2.9	34.2±2.0	36.9±1.2	37.6±1.0	39.1±0.9	42.1±0.9	42.9±1.1	43.4±1.3
At 12 months	15.0±2.1	15.7±1.5	18.2±0.9	19.0±0.8	19.6±0.8	21.4±0.8	21.5±0.9	22.7±1.1
Exclusively through 3 months					29.6±1.5	31.5±0.9	32.1±1.0	33.1±1.2
Exclusively through 6 months					10.3±1.0	12.1±0.7	12.3±0.7	13.6±0.9
¹Interviews with caregivers of children born in 2006 will continue through November 2009; final estimates for children born in 2006 will be available in August 2010. See survey methods for details on study design.

Percent of U.S. breastfed children who are supplemented with infant formula, by birth year¹

¹Formula supplementation is defined as supplementation of breast milk with formula (with or without other supplementary liquids or solids) among infants breastfed at the age specified (2 days, 3, months, or 6 months). National data on formula supplementation are available only from respondents interviewed after 2005 and thus are not available for children born prior to 2003.

Data
Percent of U.S. Breastfed infants who are supplemented with infant formula, by birth year, National Immunization Survey, United States (percent +/- half 95% Confidence Interval).

	2003	2004	2005	2006 (provisional¹)
Before 2 days	22.3±1.6	23.5±1.0	24.9±1.1	25.6±1.4
Before 3 months	38.1±2.2	37.4±1.3	38.1±1.4	37.9±1.7
Before 6 months	47.4±2.6	44.5±1.	45.9±1.7	44.7±2.0
1Interviews with caregivers of children born in 2006 will continue through November 2009; final estimates for children born in 2006 will be available in August 2010. See survey methods for details on study design.

Key Findings

Breastfeeding rates have improved since 1999, but fall short of Healthy People 2010 objectives regarding duration and exclusivity. Among children born in 2006, 74% initiated breastfeeding, whereas 43% were breastfeeding at 6 months and 23% at 12 months of age. Approximately 33% of infants born in 2006 were exclusively breastfed through 3 months of age, and 14% were exclusively breastfed for 6 months.
Several U.S. States have achieved the national Healthy People 2010 objectives for breastfeeding initiation, duration and exclusivity (www.healthypeople.gov):

Health People 2010 Objectives	# of States Meeting Objective, children born 2006
75% of mothers initiating breastfeeding	28
50% of mothers breastfeeding their infant at 6 months of age	13
25% of mothers breastfeeding their infant at 12 months of age	20
40% of mothers exclusively breastfeeding their infant through 3 months of age	13
17% of mothers exclusively breastfeeding their infant through 6 months of age	13

10 states – California, Colorado, Hawaii, Idaho, Montana, New Hampshire, Oregon, Utah, Vermont, and Washington – achieved all five Healthy People 2010 breastfeeding objectives (see map links below).
One in four breastfed infants are supplemented with infant formula within 2 days of birth. The corresponding rates of formula supplementation among infants who breastfed at least 3 and 6 months were 38% and 45%, respectively
Disparities in breastfeeding continue to exist, with non-Hispanic black and socioeconomically disadvantaged groups having lower breastfeeding rates (see table links below).

Data Tables and Maps

Breastfeeding data are shown below by sociodemographic and geographic characteristics.

Tables	Birth Cohorts
Any breastfeeding rates
by socio-demographic factors	2006	2005	2004	2003	2002	2001	2000
by state and local areas	2006	2005	2004	2003	2002	2001	2000
Exclusive breastfeeding rates
by socio-demographic factors	2006	2005	2004
by state and local areas	2006	2005	2004
Formula supplementation rates
by socio-demographic factors	2006	2005	2004
by state and local areas	2006	2005	2004
Breastfeeding rates
by child's age	2006	2005	2004	2003	2002	2001	2000
Maps
Percent of children ever breastfed by state	2006	2005	2004	2003	2002	2001	2000
Percent of children breastfed at 6 months of age by state	2006	2005	2004	2003	2002	2001	2000
Percent of children breastfed at 12 months of age by state	2006	2005	2004	2003	2002	2001	2000
Percent of children exclusively breastfed through 3 months	2006	2005	2004
Percent of children exclusively breastfed through 6 months	2006	2005	2004
Note: The sample size was insufficient to present estimates by sociodemographic or geographic characteristics for the 1999 births. Similarly, data on exclusive breastfeeding and formula supplementation were available on too few of children born in 2003 to enable sociodemographic or geographic breakdowns. See Survey Methods for details on study design.