Breastfeeding
Among U.S. Children Born 1999—2005, CDC National Immunization Survey
These data reflect interviews conducted from July 2001 through December 2007 with caregivers of 19— to 35—month old U.S. children who were born from 1999—2005. Interviews with caregivers of children born in 2005 will continue through November 2008. Final data for children born in 2005 will be available in August 2009. See survey methods for information on study design.
National Breastfeeding Rates Fall Short of Healthy People 2010 Objectives for Breastfeeding Duration And Exclusivity
|
Percent of U.S. children who were breastfed, by birth year
|
Data
Percent of U.S. children who were breastfed, by birth year, National
Immunization Survey, United States (percent ±half 95% Confidence
Interval). Healthy People 2010 objectives for breastfeeding in early
postpartum period, at 6 months, and 12 months are 75%, 50%, and 25%,
respectively.
| 1999 | 2000 | 2001 | 2002 | 2003 | 2004 |
2005 (provisional) |
|
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 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 | 74.2±1.2 |
| 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 | 43.1±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 | 21.4±1.1 |
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Percent of U.S. children who were
|
Data
Rates of exclusive breastfeeding through 3 and 6 months of age by birth
year, National Immunization Survey, United States (percent +/- half 95%
Confidence Interval). Healthy People 2010 objectives for
exclusive breastfeeding through 3 and 6 months of age are 40% and 17%,
respectively.
| 2003 | 2004 |
2005 (provisional) |
|
|---|---|---|---|
| Through 3 months | 29.6±1.5 | 31.5±0.9 | 31.5±1.3 |
| Through 6 months | 10.3±1.0 | 12.1±0.7 | 11.9±0.9 |
Key Findings
- Breastfeeding rates have increased since 1999, but continue to fall short of Healthy People 2010 objectives regarding duration and exclusivity. Among children born in 2005, 74% initiated breastfeeding, whereas 43% were breastfeeding at 6 months and 21% at 12 months of age. Approximately 32% of infants born in 2005 were exclusively breastfed through 3 months of age, and 12% were exclusively breastfed for 6 months.
- Nearly half of U.S. states have achieved national Healthy People 2010 objectives for breastfeeding initiation, though fewer have achieved objectives for breastfeeding duration and exclusive breastfeeding:
| Health People 2010 Objectives |
Number of States Meeting Objective, children born in 2005 |
|---|---|
| Initiation and Duration of Breastfeeding* | |
| 75% of mothers initiating breastfeeding | 23 |
|
50% of mothers breastfeeding their infant at 6 months of age |
10 |
|
25% of mothers breastfeeding their infant at 12 months of age |
12 |
| Exclusive Breastfeeding** | |
|
40% of mothers exclusively breastfeeding their infant through 3 months of age |
10 |
|
17% of mothers exclusively breastfeeding their infant through 6 months of age |
8 |
|
*8 states achieved all three initiation and duration breastfeeding
objectives–Alaska, California, Hawaii, Idaho, Oregon, Utah,
Vermont, and Washington. ** The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) recommends that an infant be breastfed without supplemental foods or liquids for the first 6 months of age (known as exclusive breastfeeding). In 2007, Healthy People 2010 expanded its breastfeeding objectives to include targets for breastfeeding exclusivity (www.healthypeople.gov). |
|
- Disparities in breastfeeding continue to exist, with non-Hispanic black and socioeconomically disadvantaged groups having lower breastfeeding rates (see table links below).
One of Four Breastfed Infants Are Supplemented With Infant Formula Within 2 Days Of Birth
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Percent of U.S. breastfed children who consume
|
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). Formula 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).
| 2003 | 2004 |
2005 (provisional) |
|
|---|---|---|---|
| Before 2 days | 22.3±1.6 | 23.5±1.0 | 24.7±1.4 |
| Before 3 months | 38.1±2.2 | 37.4±1.3 | 38.3±1.8 |
| Before 6 months | 47.4±2.6 | 44.5±1.5 | 45.9±2.1 |
Key Finding
- Among infants born in 2005 who were breastfed, 25% were supplemented with 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 46%, respectively
Data Tables and Maps
Breastfeeding data are shown in the tables below by sociodemographic factors, geographic region, and child age (in months). Data tables and maps on breastfeeding at birth, 6 months, and 12 months are available for children born 2000—2005 whose caregivers were interviewed 2001—2007. The 1999 birth cohort was insufficient in size to present by sociodemographic or geographic characteristics. Tables and maps on exclusive breastfeeding and formula supplementation are available for children born 2004—2005 whose caregivers were interviewed after 2005. Data on exclusive breastfeeding and formula supplementation were available on too few of the children born in 2003 to enable presentation of the 2003 cohort by sociodemographic or geographic breakdowns. State-specific data are also displayed in the maps provided below.
Breastfeeding rates among children in a birth year are released when approximately 2/3rds of the children born in that year have been surveyed. The rates are labeled provisional until they are replaced the following year with final rates based on all children in the birth year.
| Tables | Birth Cohorts | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Any breastfeeding rates | ||||||
| by socio-demographic factors | 2005 | 2004 | 2003 | 2002 | 2001 | 2000 |
| by state and local areas | 2005 | 2004 | 2003 | 2002 | 2001 | 2000 |
| Exclusive breastfeeding rates | ||||||
| by socio-demographic factors | 2005 | 2004 | ||||
| by state and local areas | 2005 | 2004 | ||||
| Formula supplementation rates | ||||||
| by socio-demographic factors | 2005 | 2004 | ||||
| by state and local areas | 2005 | 2004 | ||||
| Breastfeeding rates | ||||||
| by child's age | 2005 | 2004 | 2003 | 2002 | 2001 | 2000 |
| Maps | ||||||
| Percent of children ever breastfed by state | 2005 | 2004 | 2003 | 2002 | 2001 | 2000 |
| Percent of children breastfed at 6 months of age by state | 2005 | 2004 | 2003 | 2002 | 2001 | 2000 |
| Percent of children breastfed at 12 months of age by state | 2005 | 2004 | 2003 | 2002 | 2001 | 2000 |
| Percent of children exclusively breastfed through 3 months | 2005 | 2004 | ||||
| Percent of children exclusively breastfed through 6 months | 2005 | 2004 | ||||
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Page last updated: July 28, 2008
Content Source: Division of Nutrition, Physical Activity and Obesity, National Center for Chronic Disease Prevention and Health Promotion