Until relatively recently, ironically enough, the primary source for statistical information on breastfeeding rates for the United States was Ross Labs (Ross Products Division, Abbott Laboratories), one of the major infant formula manufacturers. This used to be essentially the only source for breastfeeding statistics – now we have good data on US breastfeeding rates from the CDC. Click here for more on US and worldwide breastfeeding rates.
Ross only collects information for babies up to 12 months old, since that is their primary sales market.
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Ross Labs data & graph (1970-2003)
According to information published by Ross Labs (Ross Products Division, Abbott Laboratories)…
From 1955 to 1971, there was a progressive decline in breastfeeding, followed by a resurgence in its incidence and duration through 1982.
Following is information that has been reported by Ross. Keep in mind that the rates here, unless othewise noted, are for any breastfeeding, rather than exclusive breastfeeding.
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| In Hospital (%) | At 6 mo (%) | At 12 mo (%) | ||||
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| 1970 | 26.5 |  |
— | — | ||
| 1971 | 24.7 | |
5.4 | |
— | |
| 1972 | 28.1 | |
5.0 | |
— | |
| 1973 | 28.9 | |
7.5 | |
— | |
| 1974 | 32.2 | |
6.5 | |
— | |
| 1975 | 35.5 | |
14.1 | |
— | |
| 1976 | 41.6 | |
17.0 | |
— | |
| 1977 | 44.7 | |
19.6 | |
— | |
| 1978 | 46.6 | |
18.9 | |
— | |
| 1979 | 51.0 | |
21.3 | |
— | |
| 1980 | 55.3 | |
23.2 | |
— | |
| 1981 | 57.6 | |
25.1 | |
— | |
| 1982 | 61.9 | |
27.1 | |
— | |
| 1983 | 58.4 | |
23.3 | |
— | |
| 1984 | 59.7 | |
23.8 | |
— | |
| 1985 | 58.0 | |
22.1 | |
— | |
| 1986 | 56.9 | |
21.6 | |
— | |
| 1987 | 55.5 | |
20.2 | |
— | |
| 1988 | 54.3 | |
19.5 | |
— | |
| 1989 | 52.2 | |
18.1 | |
— | |
| 1990 | 51.5 | |
17.6 | |
— | |
| 1991 | 53.3 | |
18.2 | |
— | |
| 1992 | 54.2 | |
18.9 | |
— | |
| 1993 | 55.9 | |
19.0 | |
— | |
| 1994 | 57.4 | |
19.7 | |
— | |
| 1995 | 59.7 | |
21.6 | |
— | |
| 1996 | 59.2 | |
21.7 | |
— | |
| 1997 | 62.4 | |
26.0 | |
14.5 | |
| 1998 | 64.3 | |
28.6 | |
16 | |
| 1999 | 67.2 46.3 |
 |
30.7 15.8 |
|
— 8.4 |
|
| 2000 | 68.4 46.0 |
|
31.4 16.0 |
|
17.6 9.6 |
|
| 2001 | 69.5 46.3 |
|
32.5 17.2 |
|
— 10.4 |
|
| 2002 | 70.1 46.1 |
|
33.2 17.4 |
|
19.7 11.0 |
|
| 2003 | 66 44 |
|
32.8 17.9 |
|
19.4 10.4 |
|
| Goal for 2010 (USA) |
75.0 |  |
50.0 | |
25.0 | |
|
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| = any breastfeeding = exclusive breastfeeding — = data not availableSources: Mothers Survey, Ross Products Division of Abbott. Breastfeeding Trends – 2003. Mothers Survey, Ross Products Division of Abbott. Mothers Survey, Ross Products Division of Abbott. Ryan AS, The Resurgence of Breastfeeding in the United States. Pediatrics. 1997; 99(4): p. e12 Ryan AS, Rush D, Krieger FW Recent declines in breast-feeding in the United States, 1984 through 1989. Pediatrics. 1991; 88:719-727 Mothers Survey, Ross Products Division of Abbott, 1997-2000. U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. HHS Blueprint for Action on Breastfeeding. Washington, D.C.: U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Office on Women’s Health, 2000. Ryan AS, Wenjun Z, Acosta A. Breastfeeding Continues to Increase Into the New Millennium. Pediatrics Vol. 110 No. 6 December 2002, pp. 1103-1109. News Story |
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