Breastmilk benefits the health, growth,
immunity, and development of infants. Mothers
who breastfeed may have a decreased risk of breast and
ovarian cancers1
In 2005, 72.9 percent of infants were reported
to have ever been breastfed. Non-Hispanic Black
infants were the least likely to ever be breastfed
(55.4 percent), while Asian/Pacific Islanders were
the most likely (81.4 percent), followed by
Hispanics (79.0 percent). Infants born to
younger mothers, mothers with lower
educational attainment, mothers with low family
income, and mothers receiving WIC program
benefits were also less likely to be breastfed.
The American Academy of Pediatrics
recommends that infants be exclusively breastfed—
without supplemental solids or liquids—for
the first 6 months of life, based on evidence of
reduced risk of upper respiratory and other
common infections. However, only 13.9 percent
of infants were exclusively breastfed at 6 months
in 2005, and only 39.1 percent of infants were
fed any breastmilk at 6 months.
Younger mothers were less likely to breastfeed
than mothers in older age categories. In 2005,
50.0 percent of infants with mothers under age
20 were ever breastfed, compared to 68.4 percent
of infants born to mothers aged 20–29 years, and
77.7 percent of infants born to mothers aged
30 years and older. The percentage of infants who
were breastfed at 6 and 12 months also increased
with maternal age.
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Vertical Bar Chart: Infants Who Are Breastfed, by Race/Ethnicity and Duration, 2005
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Vertical Bar Chart: Infants Who Are Breastfed, by Maternal Age and Duration, 2005
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