Breastfeeding rates in the U.S. 2011-2015, by ethnicity

Breastfeeding initiation was determined based on response to the question, “Was [child] ever breastfed or fed breast milk?” Breastfeeding duration was assessed by asking, “How old was [child’s name] when [child’s name] completely stopped breastfeeding or being fed breast milk?” Exclusive breastfeeding was defined as only breast milk (no solids, no water, and no other liquids). To assess the duration of exclusive breastfeeding participants were asked two questions about age: 1) “How old was [child’s name] when they were first fed formula?” and 2) “How old was [child’s name] when they were first fed anything other than breast milk or formula?” (including juice, cow’s milk, sugar water, baby food, or anything else that [child] might have been given, even water). Breastfeeding duration and exclusivity rates are estimated among all infants included in the survey and not only infants whose mothers started breastfeeding.