Breast-Feeding in the United States

Differentiating excellent from less optimal mothering is not easy, once the child’s basic needs for food and protection are met. However, psychosocial development depends on responsive parent-infant relationships. Breast-feeding is one sign of intimacy between mother and infant, itself one aspect of parenting. In the United States, breast-feeding overall is increasing, but some women are more likely to breast-feed than others, as seen in this detailed breakdown for babies born in 2007.

Table : Provisional Breast-Feeding Rates by Sociodemographic Factors, Among Children Born in 2007
Ever breast-feeding Breast-feeding at 6 months Breast-feeding at 12 months
U.S. overall 75% 43% 22.40%
Race/ethnicity
 Native American 73.8 42.4 20.7
 Asian or Pacific Islander 83 56.4 32.8
 Hispanic or Latino 80.6 46 24.7
 African American (non-Hispanic) 59.7 27.9 12.9
 European (non-Hispanic) 77.7 45.1 23.6
Birth order
 First-born 74.5 44.1 23.7
 Not first-born 75.6 41.8 20.8
Mother’s age
 Less than 20 59.7 22.2 10.7
 20-29 69.7 33.4 16.1
 30+ 79.3 50.5 27.1
Mother’s education
 Less than high school 67 37 21.9
 High school graduate 66.1 31.4 15.1
 Some college 76.5 41 20.5
 College graduate 88.3 59.9 31.1
Mother’s marital status
 Married 81.7 51.6 27.5
 Unmarried* 61.3 25.5 11.9
“Unmarried includes never married, widowed, separated, and divorced.
Source: CDC National Immunization Survey, Department of Health and Human Services, 2013, based on 2007 data for detailed sociodemographic breakdown.