2010 Australian National Infant Feeding Survey

The 2010 National Infant Feeding Survey has found rates of exclusive breast feeding decline sharply after birth, with only 39% of infants being exclusively breast fed to 3 months ( less than 4 months). The survey, released by the Australian Institute of Health and Welfare provides baseline data on how infants are fed in Australia, together with mothers/carers attitudes and behaviours towards breast feeding and infant formula.

The survey found a high rate of initiation of breast feeding at birth with 96% of children aged 0-2 years having been fed breast milk at birth. However, while 60% of infants were still some receiving breast milk at 6 months only 15% were exlusively breast fed to 5 months ( less than 6 months), indicating that many mums had switched to infant formula or were combining breast feeding with formula feeding and/or were introducing solids. At 1 month of age about 40% of infants had recieved some infant formula.  Mothers who were successful breast feeders were older ( >35 years), highly educated and on higher incomes, did not give their baby a dummy and  knew breast feeding was the healthiest and most convenient way of feeding. Mothers who chose not to breast feed did so because  of poor prior experience with breastfeeding, wanting their partner to help with feeding and believed infant formula was just as good as breast milk.

35% of infants were given solids by 4 months with  92% having solids by 6 months.

The results of the survey will provide data to help in the promotion of breast feeding.