Breast/Chest feeding Duration
Children in Spanish-speaking households and children whose parent/caregiver had less than a high school education were among the most likely to have exclusively breast/chest fed for at least 6 months.
In King County, 39.2% of children were breast/chest fed exclusively (i.e., no other foods, including formula) until at least six months of age in 2019 and 2021 combined. Breast/chest feeding a child for six months exclusively has health benefits for the infant, such as strengthening the immune system. It also has benefits for the parent’s health and wellbeing.
Language spoken at home: Children in Spanish-speaking households were more likely to have been exclusively breast/chest fed for six months, at 50.6%.
Parent/caregiver’s age: Parents and caregivers who were age 50 and older were less likely to have children that were breast/chest fed exclusively for 6 months.
Parent/caregiver’s education: Parents and caregivers who had not graduated from high school were more likely than average to breast/chest feed for at least six months, at 52.6%
Race/ethnicity: Rates of breast/chest feeding through six months of age did not differ by children’s or parent/caregiver’s race/ethnicity in King County. However, parents of color are more likely to face barriers to breastfeeding including lack of paid leave and supportive workplace and child care practices.
Notes & Sources
Source: Best Starts for Kids Health Survey, 2017 - 2021.
Survey about the health and well-being of King County children 5th grade and younger. To learn more about the survey, please go to www.kingcounty.gov/bskhealthsurvey
To learn more about the Best Starts for Kids Health Survey and view the data biography, click here.
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