New CDC Data on Breastfeeding

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention released updated data on breastfeeding rates from the National Immunization Survey. The National Immunization Survey is a random U.S. household survey and has included breastfeeding questions since 2001. Nationally, 83% of babies born in 2019 were ever breastfed and 56% were receiving breastmilk at 6 months. The socio-demographic data indicate that disparities in breastfeeding persist.

 Summary of NIS Breastfeeding Data, 2019 births:

Breastfeeding Rates (National)

• Among babies born in 2019, breastfeeding rates were as follows:
• Ever BF: 83.2%
• BF at 6 months: 55.8%
• BF at 12 months: 35.9%
• Exclusive BF at 3 months: 45.3%
• Exclusive BF at 6 months: 24.9%

 Supplementation Rates (National)

• Formula supplementation before 2 days was 19.2% among babies born in 2019
• Formula supplementation before 3 months was 31.2% and before 6 months was 35.3%
• While formula supplementation appears to be getting worse, this difference is not statistically significant. Do note that 1 in 5 breastfed babies is given formula before 2 days.

 Breastfeeding Rates by State

• There are 8 states with initiation rates over 90% for babies born in 2019 (Alaska, Colorado, Hawaii, Idaho, Minnesota, Utah, Vermont, Washington, and Wyoming)
• Alabama (71.1%), Louisiana (71.1%), Florida (71.0%), Mississippi (69.4%), and West Virginia (59.8%) had the lowest initiation rates
• Exclusive breastfeeding through 3 months ranged from 28% in West Virginia to 62.8% in Colorado
• HP2030 objective: Exclusive breastfeeding through 6 months ranged from 13.8% in West Virginia to 36.5% in Minnesota (and 36.2% in Vermont)
• HP2030 objective: Breastfeeding at 12 months ranged from 19.2% in West Virginia to 54.1% in Hawaii (54.0% in Vermont).

NOTE: We don’t recommend states look at individual state changes from year to year given the relatively small sample size and large confidence interval