Pregnancy, births and maternity: infant feeding and breastfeeding 

The benefits to both mother and baby of breastfeeding are well established (NHS). 

The following data are drawn from the Infant Feeding Statistics Scotland report 2022/23: 

• 66% of babies born in Scotland were breastfed for at least some time after birth. 
• The overall proportion of babies receiving any breastfeeding at around 10-14 days of age has increased from 44% in 2002/03 to 57% in 2022/23.
• 47% of babies were still being breastfed by the time of their 6-8 week review: 28% were being exclusively breastfed and 19% were receiving mixed breast and formula feeding. 

• 83% of babies had been introduced to solid food at six months of age or older. 

Inequalities in breastfeeding

• Breastfeeding is more common among older mothers and those from less deprived areas. However, the increases in breastfeeding in the most deprived areas over the last decade have contributed to a narrowing in the inequality in breastfeeding.

• Babies from minority ethnic groups are more likely to be breastfed than White Scottish babies: 90% of babies of Black, Caribbean or African ethnicity were breastfed (exclusive or mixed) at the time of their 6-8 week review, compared to 39% of White Scottish babies. 

Note: Breastfeeding rates from self-report surveys are usually higher than those reported above (taken from the health visitor child health review). This may be because surveys tend to over-represent older and less deprived mothers.  

The ScotPHO health and wellbeing profiles include an indicator showing trends in the proportion of babies exclusively breastfed at their 6-8 week health visitor review, from national to intermediate zone level (see online profiles).