NIS-Child Data Results

At a glance

Review the breastfeeding rates from the National Immunization Survey-Child (NIS-Child) for U.S. households with children aged 19 through 35 months.

A woman is on a hospital bed holding her baby in her arms and trying to help her baby breastfeed.

Breastfeeding among U.S. children born 2015-2022, CDC NIS-Child

Percentage of U.S. children who were breastfed, by birth year1,2,3

Any breastfeeding

Line graph by birth year of the percentage of U.S. children receiving any breastfeeding from 2015 to 2022.
Any breastfeeding percentage by birth year.

Exclusive breastfeeding

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Line graph by birth year of the percentage of U.S. children exclusively breastfed from 2014 to 2021.
Exclusive breastfeeding percentage by birth year.

Percentage of U.S. children who were breastfed, by birth year, NIS-Child, United States (percentage ± half 95% confidence interval)1,2, 3

Breastfeeding duration 2015 2016 2017 2018 2019 2020 2021 2022
Ever breastfed 83.2±1.0 83.8±1.2 84.1±1.0 83.9±0.9 83.2±1.0 83.1±1.0 84.1±0.9 85.7±0.9
At 6 months 57.6±1.4 57.3±1.6 58.3±1.4 56.7±1.2 55.8±1.3 58.2±1.2 59.8±1.1 62.1±1.1
At 12 months 35.9±1.3 36.2±1.5 35.3±1.4 35.0±1.1 35.9±1.2 37.6±1.2 39.5±1.1 40.8±1.1
Exclusively through 3 months 46.9±1.4 47.5±1.6 46.9±1.4 46.3±1.2 45.3±1.3 45.3±1.2 46.5±1.2 47.6±1.2
Exclusively through 6 months 24.9±1.2 25.4±1.3 25.6±1.2 25.8±1.0 24.9±1.1 25.4±1.1 27.2±1.0 27.9±1.0
  1. Data from 2015 births were based on landline and cellular telephone sampling, and data for 2016 births and onward were based on cellular telephone sampling only. See Survey Methods for details and data prior to 2015 at Data, Trends, and Maps.
  2. Data from U.S. territories are excluded from national breastfeeding estimates to be consistent with the analytical methods for the establishment of on breastfeeding.
  3. Exclusive breastfeeding is defined as ONLY breast milk—no solids, no water, and no other liquids.

Breastfeeding rates by state and sociodemographic characteristics1

"Any" and "Exclusive" Breastfeeding Rates Birth Year
-by state 2022
-by sociodemographics 2022

1To access previous breastfeeding rates by state and sociodemographics, visit Data, Trends, and Maps.

Percentage of breastfed children who were supplemented with infant formula, by birth year, NIS-Child, United States1,2,3

Data visualization by birth year of the percentage of U.S. children breastfed and supplemented with infant formula from 2015 to 2022
Supplemented breastfeeding with infant formula, by birth year, from 2015 to 2022, National Immunization Survey-Child, United States.

Percentage of U.S. breastfed infants who were supplemented with infant formula, by birth year, NIS-Child, United States (percentage +/- half 95% confidence interval)1,2,3

Formula supplementation 2015 2016 2017 2018 2019 2020 2021 2022
Before 2 days 17.2±1.2 16.9±1.3 19.2±1.3 19.4±1.2 19.2±1.1 20.8±1.1 20.5±1.0 22.9±1.1
Before 3 months 28.8±1.5 29.1±1.7 30.9±1.6 31.3±1.4 31.2±1.4 33.3±1.4 32.1±1.2 33.9±1.3
Before 6 months 34.5±1.7 33.5±1.9 36.2±1.8 35.8±1.5 35.3±1.5 37.3±1.5 37.2±1.4 38.0±1.4
  1. Data from 2015 births were based on landline and cellular telephone sampling. Data for 2016 births and later were based on cellular telephone sampling only. See Survey Methods for details and data prior to 2015 at Data, Trends, and Maps.
  2. Data from U.S. territories are excluded from national breastfeeding estimates. This is to be consistent with the analytical methods for establishing on breastfeeding.
  3. 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.

Rates of any and exclusive breastfeeding by age among children born in 2022, NIS-Child, United States1,2,3

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Data visualization of the rates of any exclusive breastfeeding by age among children in 2022.
Rates of any and exclusive breastfeeding by age among children born in 2022, National Immunization Survey-Child, United States.

Rates of any and exclusive breastfeeding by age among children born in 2022 (percentage +/- half 95% confidence interval)1,2

Child Age Breastfeeding (n=19,309) Exclusive Breastfeeding3 (n=18,839)
At birth 85.7±0.9
7 days 85.0±0.9 62.4±1.1
14 days 84.3±0.9 60.3±1.2
21 days 83.2±0.9 58.3±1.2
1 month 82.4±0.9 57.5±1.2
2 months 78.5±1.0 52.0±1.2
3 months 74.5±1.0 47.6±1.2
4 months 68.8±1.1 40.9±1.1
5 months 64.5±1.1 33.7±1.1
6 months 62.1±1.1 27.9±1.0
7 months 54.1±1.2
8 months 51.5±1.2
9 months 47.9±1.2
10 months 44.9±1.1
11 months 42.6±1.1
12 months 40.8±1.1
18 months 19.2±0.9

1Data from U.S. territories are excluded from national breastfeeding estimates. This is to be consistent with the analytical methods for establishing on breastfeeding.

2Exclusive breastfeeding is defined as ONLY breast milk—no solids, no water, and no other liquids.

3The data point for exclusive breastfeeding begins at 7 days of life.

Links

NIS-Child Methodology
Learn more about the National Immunization Survey-Child (NIS-Child) methodology.
NIS-Child Data Analysis
Learn more about NIS-Child and how CDC determines breastfeeding rates.
NIS-Child Survey Questions
Learn about breastfeeding rates survey questions.
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Content Source:
National Center for Chronic Disease Prevention and Health Promotion (NCCDPHP)