Results: Breastfeeding Rates
National Immunization Survey (NIS)
Breastfeeding Among U.S. Children Born 2010–2017, CDC National Immunization Survey
Percentage of U.S. Children Who Were Breastfed, by Birth Year1,2,3
- 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.
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 |
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“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 |
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Percentage of Breastfed Children Who Were Supplemented with Infant Formula, by Birth Year, National Immunization Survey, United States1,2,3
- 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.
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 |
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Rates of Any and Exclusive Breastfeeding by Age Among Children Born in 2017, National Immunization Survey, United States1,2,3
- 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.
Rates of Any and Exclusive Breastfeeding by Age Among Children Born in 2017 (Percentage +/- half 95% Confidence Interval)1,2
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 | |
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Page last reviewed: December 10, 2020