Results: Breastfeeding Rates

National Immunization Survey (NIS)

Breastfeeding Among U.S. Children Born 2010–2017, CDC National Immunization Survey

Data from 2010 to 2015 births were based on landline and cellular telephone sampling and data for 2016 births and onwards were based on cellular telephone sampling only. See Survey Methods for details and data prior to 2010 at Data, Trends, and Maps.
Data from U.S. territories are excluded from national breastfeeding estimates to be consistent with the analytical methods for the establishment of Healthy People 2020 targetsexternal icon on breastfeeding.
Exclusive breastfeeding is defined as ONLY breast milk—NO solids, water, or other liquids.

Percentage of U.S. Children Who Were Breastfed, by Birth Year, National Immunization Survey, United States (Percentage ± half 95% Confidence Interval)^{1,2, 3}
	Birth Year
	2010	2011	2012	2013	2014	2015	2016	2017
Ever Breastfed	76.7±1.2	79.2±1.2	80.0±1.2	81.1±1.1	82.5±1.1	83.2±1.0	83.8±1.2	84.1±1.0
At 6 months	47.5±1.4	49.4±1.5	51.4±1.5	51.8±1.4	55.3±1.4	57.6±1.4	57.3±1.6	58.3±1.4
At 12 months	25.3±1.3	26.7±1.3	29.2±1.4	30.7±1.3	33.7±1.3	35.9±1.3	36.2±1.5	35.3±1.4
Exclusively through 3 months	37.1±1.4	40.7±1.5	43.3±1.6	44.4±1.4	46.6±1.4	46.9±1.4	47.5±1.6	46.9±1.4
Exclusively through 6 months	17.2±1.2	18.8±1.2	21.9±1.4	22.3±1.1	24.9±1.3	24.9±1.2	25.4±1.3	25.6±1.2
Data from 2010 to 2015 births were based on landline and cellular telephone sampling and data for 2016 births and onwards were based on cellular telephone sampling only. See Survey Methods for details and data prior to 2010 at Data, Trends, and Maps. Data from U.S. territories are excluded from national breastfeeding estimates to be consistent with the analytical methods for the establishment of Healthy People 2020 targetsexternal icon on breastfeeding. Exclusive breastfeeding is defined as ONLY breast milk—NO solids, water, or other liquids.

Breastfeeding Rates by State and Socio-demographics ¹
“Any” and “Exclusive” Breastfeeding Rates	Birth Year
-by States	2017	2016	2015	2014	2013	2012	2011	2010
-by Sociodemographics	2017	2016	2015	2014	2013	2012	2011	2010
Because of changes in the sampling frame in 2011 and in 2018 (See survey methods for details) and small sample sizes, states should use caution when comparing prevalence estimates from year to year.

Data from 2010 to 2015 births were based on landline and cellular telephone sampling and data for 2016 births and onwards were based on cellular telephone sampling only. See Survey Methods for details and data prior to 2010 at Data, Trends, and Maps.
Data from U.S. territories are excluded from national breastfeeding estimates to be consistent with the analytical methods for the establishment of Healthy People 2020external icon targets on breastfeeding.
Formula supplementation is defined as supplementation of breast milk with formula (with or without other supplementary liquids or solids) among infants breastfed before the age specified (2 days, 3 months, or 6 months). See survey methods for details.

Percentage of U.S. Breastfed Infants Who Were Supplemented with Infant Formula, by Birth Year, National Immunization Survey, United States (Percentage +/- half 95% Confidence Interval)^1,2,3
	Birth Year
	2010	2011	2012	2013	2014	2015	2016	2017
Before 2 days	22.8±1.4	19.4±1.3	19.1±1.3	17.1±1.2	15.5±1.0	17.2±1.2	16.9±1.3	19.2±1.3
Before 3 months	35.4±1.8	31.5±1.8	29.3±1.8	29.2±1.6	27.8±1.5	28.8±1.5	29.1±1.7	30.9±1.6
Before 6 months	42.8±2.2	37.9±2.0	35.4±2.1	34.9±1.8	33.8±1.7	34.5±1.7	33.5±1.9	36.2±1.8
Data from 2010 to 2015 births were based on landline and cellular telephone sampling and data for 2016 births and onwards were based on cellular telephone sampling only. See Survey Methods for details and data prior to 2010 at Data, Trends, and Maps. Data from U.S. territories are excluded from national breastfeeding estimates to be consistent with the analytical methods for the establishment of Healthy People 2020 targetsexternal icon on breastfeeding. Formula supplementation is defined as supplementation of breast milk with formula (with or without other supplementary liquids or solids) among infants breastfed before the age specified (2 days, 3 months, or 6 months). See survey methods for details.

Data from U.S. territories are excluded from national breastfeeding estimates to be consistent with the analytical methods for the establishment of Healthy People 2020external icon targets on breastfeeding.
Exclusive breastfeeding is defined as ONLY breast milk—NO solids, water, or other liquids.
The data point for exclusive breastfeeding begins at 7 days of life.

U.S. National Breastfeeding Rates, 2017 Births
Child Age	Breastfeeding (n=20016)	Exclusive Breastfeeding (n=19417)
At birth	84.1±1.0
7 days	83.3±1.0	63.6±1.4
14 days	82.5±1.1	61.8±1.4
21 days	81.3±1.1	59.7±1.4
28 days	80.5±1.1	58.9±1.4
1 month	80.1±1.1	58.5±1.4
2 months	75.9±1.2	52.5±1.4
3 months	71.2±1.2	46.9±1.4
4 months	65.2±1.3	39.6±1.4
5 months	60.6±1.4	31.4±1.3
6 months	58.3±1.4	25.6±1.2
7 months	49.5±1.4
8 months	46.7±1.4
9 months	43.3±1.4
10 months	39.9±1.4
11 months	37.5±1.4
12 months	35.3±1.4
18 months	14.6±1.0
Data from U.S. territories are excluded from national breastfeeding estimates to be consistent with the analytical methods for the establishment of Healthy People 2020 targetsexternal icon on breastfeeding. Exclusive breastfeeding is defined as ONLY breast milk—NO solids, water, or other liquids.

Page last reviewed: December 10, 2020