Results: Breastfeeding Rates
National Immunization Survey (NIS)
Breastfeeding Among U.S. Children Born 2009–2015, CDC National Immunization Survey
1Data from the U.S. territories are excluded from the national breastfeeding estimates to be consistent with the analytical methods for the establishment of Healthy People 2020 targetsExternal on breastfeeding.
2Exclusive breastfeeding is defined as ONLY breast milk — NO solids, water, or other liquids. See wording of the breastfeeding questions for details.
| Percentage of U.S. Children Who Were Breastfed, by Birth Year, National Immunization Survey, United States (Percentage ± half 95% Confidence Interval)1,2 |
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|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Birth Year | |||||||
| 2009 | 2010 | 2011 | 2012 | 2013 | 2014 | 2015 | |
| Ever Breastfed | 76.1±1.0 | 76.7±1.2 | 79.2±1.2 | 80.0±1.2 | 81.1±1.1 | 82.5±1.1 | 83.2±1.0 |
| At 6 months | 46.6±1.2 | 47.5±1.4 | 49.4±1.5 | 51.4±1.5 | 51.8±1.4 | 55.3±1.4 | 57.6±1.4 |
| At 12 months | 24.6±1.0 | 25.3±1.3 | 26.7±1.3 | 29.2±1.4 | 30.7±1.3 | 33.7±1.3 | 35.9±1.3 |
| Exclusively through 3 months | 35.9±1.1 | 37.1±1.4 | 40.7±1.5 | 43.3±1.6 | 44.4±1.4 | 46.6±1.4 | 46.9±1.4 |
| Exclusively through 6 months | 15.6±0.9 | 17.2±1.2 | 18.8±1.2 | 21.9±1.4 | 22.3±1.1 | 24.9±1.3 | 24.9±1.2 |
| 1Data from the U.S. territories are excluded from the national breastfeeding estimates to be consistent with the analytical methods for the establishment of Healthy People 2020 targetsExternal on breastfeeding.
2Exclusive breastfeeding is defined as ONLY breast milk — NO solids, water, or other liquids. See wording of the breastfeeding questions for details. |
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1Data from the U.S. territories are excluded from the national breastfeeding estimates to be consistent with the analytical methods for the establishment of Healthy People 2020 targetsExternal on breastfeeding.
2Formula 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 wording of the breastfeeding questions 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 |
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|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Birth Year | |||||||
| 2009 | 2010 | 2011 | 2012 | 2013 | 2014 | 2015 | |
| Before 2 days | 23.3±1.1 | 22.8±1.4 | 19.4±1.3 | 19.1±1.3 | 17.1±1.2 | 15.5±1.0 | 17.2±1.2 |
| Before 3 months | 35.9±1.5 | 35.4±1.8 | 31.5±1.8 | 29.3±1.8 | 29.2±1.6 | 27.8±1.5 | 28.8±1.5 |
| Before 6 months | 43.4±1.7 | 42.8±2.2 | 37.9±2.0 | 35.4±2.1 | 34.9±1.8 | 33.8±1.7 | 34.5±1.7 |
|
1Data from the U.S. territories are excluded from the national breastfeeding estimates to be consistent with the analytical methods for the establishment of Healthy People 2020External targets on breastfeeding. 2Formula 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 wording of the breastfeeding questions for details. |
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1 Data from the U.S. territories are excluded from the national breastfeeding estimates to be consistent with the analytical methods for the establishment of Healthy People 2020 targetsExternal on breastfeeding.
2Exclusive breastfeeding is defined as ONLY breast milk — NO solids, water, or other liquids. See wording of the breastfeeding questions for details.
| Rates of Any and Exclusive Breastfeeding by Age Among Children Born in 2015 (Percentage +/- half 95% Confidence Interval)1,2 |
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|---|---|---|
| U.S. National Breastfeeding Rates, 2015 Births | ||
| Child Age | Breastfeeding (n=17673) |
Exclusive Breastfeeding (n=17102) |
| At birth | 83.2±1.0 | |
| 7 days | 82.4±1.0 | 64.7±1.3 |
| 14 days | 81.5±1.1 | 62.5±1.3 |
| 21 days | 80.0±1.1 | 60.4±1.4 |
| 28 days | 79.3±1.1 | 59.4±1.4 |
| 1 month | 79.0±1.1 | 59.1±1.4 |
| 2 month | 74.4±1.2 | 52.2±1.4 |
| 3 month | 70.3±1.2 | 46.9±1.4 |
| 4 month | 64.7±1.3 | 38.9±1.3 |
| 5 month | 60.0±1.4 | 30.9±1.3 |
| 6 month | 57.6±1.4 | 24.9±1.2 |
| 7 month | 49.4±1.4 | |
| 8 month | 46.9±1.4 | |
| 9 month | 43.5±1.4 | |
| 10 month | 40.3±1.3 | |
| 11 month | 37.9±1.3 | |
| 12 month | 35.9±1.3 | |
| 18 month | 15.5±1.0 | |
1Data from the U.S. territories are excluded from the national breastfeeding estimates to be consistent with the analytical methods for the establishment of Healthy People 2020 targetsExternal on breastfeeding.
2Exclusive breastfeeding is defined as ONLY breast milk — NO solids, water, or other liquids. See wording of the breastfeeding questions for details.
