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 to 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 2014-2021, 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 2014 to 2021.
Any breastfeeding percentage by birth year.
Breastfeeding duration 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018 2019 2020 2021
Ever breastfeeding 82.5 83.2 83.8 84.1 83.9 83.2 83.1 84.1
At 6 months 55.3 57.6 57.3 58.3 56.7 55.8 58.2 59.8
At 12 months 33.7 35.9 36.2 35.3 35.0 35.9 37.6 39.5

Exclusive breastfeeding

Line graph by birth year of the percentage of U.S. children exclusively breastfed from 2014 to 2021.
Exclusive breastfeeding percentage by birth year.
Data Table: Exclusive Breastfeeding
Breastfeeding duration 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018 2019 2020 2021
Exclusively through 3 months 46.6 46.9 47.5 46.9 46.3 45.3 45.3 46.5
Exclusively through 6 months 24.9 24.9 25.4 25.6 25.8 24.9 25.4 27.2

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 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018 2019 2020 2021
Ever breastfed 82.5±1.1 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
At 6 months 55.3±1.4 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
At 12 months 33.7±1.3 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
Exclusively through 3 months 46.6±1.4 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
Exclusively through 6 months 24.9±1.3 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
  1. Data from 2014 to 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 2014 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 Healthy People 2030 targets on breastfeeding.
  3. Exclusive breastfeeding is defined as ONLY breast milk—NO solids, water, or other liquids.

Breastfeeding rates by state and sociodemographics characteristics1

"Any" and "Exclusive" Breastfeeding Rates Birth Year
-by state 2021
-by sociodemographics 2021

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

View Larger
Data visualization by birth year of the percentage of U.S. children breastfed and supplemented with infant formula from 2014 to 2021
Supplemented breastfeeding with infant formula, by birth year, from 2014 to 2021, National Immunization Survey-Child, United States.A, B, F1,2,3

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 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018 2019 2020 2021
Before 2 days 15.5±1.0 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
Before 3 months 27.8±1.5 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
Before 6 months 33.8±1.7 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
  1. Data from 2014 to 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 2014 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 Healthy People 2030 targets 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 2021, NIS-Child, United States1,2,3

View Larger
Data visualization of the rates of any exclusive breastfeeding by age among children in 2021.
Rates of any and exclusive breastfeeding by age among children born in 2021, National Immunization Survey-Child, United States.B, C, D1,2,3

Data table

Child Age (months) Any Breastfeeding Exclusive Breastfeeding
0 84.1
0.25 83.3 62.4
1 80.8 57.5
2 76.2 51.6
3 71.9 46.5
4 66.1 39.6
5 62.1 32.3
6 59.8 27.2
7 52
8 49.4
9 46.3
10 43.3
11 41.1
12 39.5

Rates of any and exclusive breastfeeding by age among children born in 2021 (percentage +/- half 95% confidence interval)1,2

Child Age Breastfeeding (n=22,912) Exclusive BreastfeedingC (n=22,294)
At birth 84.1±0.9
7 days 83.3±0.9 62.4±1.1
14 days 82.7±0.9 60.2±1.1
21 days 81.6±0.9 58.6±1.1
28 days 81.0±0.9 57.9±1.1
1 month 80.8±0.9 57.5±1.1
2 months 76.2±1.0 51.6±1.2
3 months 71.9±1.0 46.5±1.2
4 months 66.1±1.1 39.6±1.1
5 months 62.1±1.1 32.3±1.0
6 months 59.8±1.1 27.2±1.0
7 months 52.0±1.1
8 months 49.4±1.1
9 months 46.3±1.1
10 months 43.3±1.1
11 months 41.1±1.1
12 months 39.5±1.1
18 months 17.7±0.9

1Data from U.S. territories are excluded from national breastfeeding estimates. This is to be consistent with the analytical methods for establishing Healthy People 2030 targets on breastfeeding.

2Exclusive breastfeeding is defined as ONLY breast milk—NO solids, water, or 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
CDC monitors breastfeeding progress over time and analyzes data to identify priority areas for study.
NIS-Child Survey Questions
Learn about breastfeeding rates survey questions.
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Content Source:
  • Data from 2014 to 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 2014 at Data, Trends, and Maps.
  • Data from U.S. territories are excluded from national breastfeeding estimates to be consistent with the analytical methods used to set Healthy People 2030 targets on breastfeeding.
  • Exclusive breastfeeding is defined as ONLY breast milk—NO solids, water, or other liquids.
  • Percentage ± half 95% confidence interval.
  • To access previous breastfeeding rates by state and sociodemographic, visit Data, Trends, and Maps.
  • 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.
  • The data point for exclusive breastfeeding begins at 7 days of life.