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. | |
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. | |||||||
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Page last updated: August 3, 2009
Content Source: Division of Nutrition, Physical Activity and Obesity, National Center for Chronic Disease Prevention and Health Promotion