Official Statistics

Infant feeding survey 2024: summary of main findings

Published 4 June 2026

Applies to England

Introduction

The infant feeding survey (IFS) 2024 is a national longitudinal survey of mothers living in England. It looks at how they feed their infants during the first 10 months of life. The last infant feeding survey was in 2010.

The IFS 2024 was led by the Office for Health Improvement and Disparities, which is part of the Department of Health and Social Care. Ipsos conducted the survey.

Mothers were sampled from NHS England’s Maternity Services Data Set and sent postal invites encouraging them to take part online. We surveyed the same mothers at 3 timepoints, when their baby was aged:

• 2 to 5 months (phase 1)
• 4 to 7 months (phase 2)
• 8 to 10 months (phase 3)

The survey collects detailed information on:

• breastfeeding
• infant formula feeding
• the introduction of solid foods and other drinks
• the use of maternal and infant vitamin and mineral supplements
• the infant feeding support mothers received during pregnancy and after birth
• wider contextual information, such as a mother’s wellbeing and their return to work

We received responses from:

• 10,168 mothers at phase 1
• 5,064 mothers at phase 2
• 3,542 mothers at phase 3

Findings are based on mothers’ responses to self-completed questionnaires. Results are reported overall and by subgroups, including:

• maternal age
• ethnicity
• deprivation
• whether they have other children

All results are weighted to be representative of mothers giving birth in England during August and December 2023 (the sampled birth months). All subgroup differences reported are statistically significant.

Due to changes in methodology, IFS 2024 results are not directly comparable with IFS 2010.

Incidence, prevalence and duration of any breastfeeding

UK guidance recommends exclusive breastfeeding for around the first 6 months of life and continued breastfeeding alongside solid foods into the second year of life or beyond.

Incidence of any breastfeeding

The incidence of breastfeeding refers to the percentage of all babies who were breastfed initially. This includes all babies who had been given breast milk, or whose mothers put them to the breast at all, even if this was only once. It also includes babies who were given expressed breast milk. Results are presented here as mothers who initiated breastfeeding.

More than 4 in 5 mothers (86%) initiated breastfeeding, meaning they put their baby to the breast or gave expressed breast milk at least once.

Mothers aged 35 years and over (92%) were more likely to initiate breastfeeding compared with mothers aged 20 to 24 years (73%).

Mothers from all ethnic minority groups were more likely to initiate breastfeeding. This includes 99% of mothers from both a Black or Other ethnic group, 96% from an Asian ethnic group and 91% from Mixed or Multiple ethnic groups, compared with mothers from White ethnic groups (82%).

Nine in ten (90%) mothers living in the least deprived areas initiated breastfeeding, compared with 8 in 10 (80%) mothers living in the most deprived areas.

Prevalence of any breastfeeding

Prevalence of breastfeeding refers to the percentage of all babies who were being breastfed (including being given expressed breast milk) at specific ages, even if they were also receiving infant formula, solid food or other drinks.

The prevalence of babies being breastfed at different timepoints was:

• 80% at 2 weeks
• 71% at 6 weeks
• 58% at 6 months

At 6 months, prevalence of breastfeeding was lower among mothers aged 20 to 24 years (42%) compared with mothers aged 35 years and over (64%).

At all timepoints, prevalence of breastfeeding was higher among mothers from all ethnic minority groups compared with White mothers.

Prevalence of breastfeeding was lower among mothers living in the most deprived areas compared with the least deprived areas at all timepoints. 

At 6 months, prevalence of breastfeeding was 56% for first-time mothers and 60% for mothers who already had children.

Duration of any breastfeeding

The duration of breastfeeding refers to the length of time that mothers who started breastfeeding continue to breastfeed for. This includes mothers who were also giving their baby infant formula, other drinks and solid food.

Of all mothers who started breastfeeding:

• 94% were still breastfeeding after one week
• 82% were still breastfeeding at 6 weeks
• 68% continued to breastfeed for at least 6 months

Mothers who already had children tended to breastfeed for longer than first-time mothers.

Mothers aged 35 years and over were more likely than mothers aged 20 to 24 years to breastfeed for longer.

Higher proportions of White mothers and Asian mothers had shorter breastfeeding durations compared with mothers from all other ethnic groups.

A higher proportion of mothers living in the least deprived areas continued to breastfeed for longer compared with mothers living in the most deprived areas. The proportion of mothers who stopped breastfeeding at each timepoint was similar by area deprivation.

Exclusive breastfeeding

Prevalence of exclusive breastfeeding refers to the proportion of all babies who were being exclusively breastfed at specific ages. This means that they had only ever been given breast milk up to that specific age. These babies had never been given formula milk, solid foods or any other liquids. Results are presented here as mothers exclusively breastfeeding.

Of all mothers:

• 56% were exclusively breastfeeding at one week
• 47% were exclusively breastfeeding at 6 weeks
• 26% were exclusively breastfeeding at 6 months

At all timepoints, mothers with other children were more likely to be exclusively breastfeeding than first-time mothers.

At 6 months, Black mothers (39%) were more likely to be exclusively breastfeeding than White mothers (25%), Asian mothers (23%) and mothers from Mixed or Multiple ethnic groups (22%).

Early feeding experience

Feeding intentions before birth

Mothers’ plans about feeding before their baby was born were: 

• 55% planned to feed their baby only breast milk
• 23% planned to use both breast milk and infant formula
• 14% planned to use only infant formula
• 9% were undecided

Feeding after leaving hospital, birth centre or unit

When mothers left the hospital, birth centre or unit:

• 54% were feeding their baby only breast milk
• 25% were feeding both breast milk and infant formula
• 22% were feeding their baby only infant formula

Attitudes and experiences of breastfeeding

Three-quarters of mothers (75%) were aware of health benefits of breastfeeding for the mother or the baby.

Mothers living in the most deprived areas were less likely to be aware of the health benefits of breastfeeding (19% were not aware), compared with mothers living in the least deprived areas (8% were not aware).

Around three-quarters of mothers (73%) who had ever breastfed their baby experienced at least one breastfeeding difficulty. The most common difficulties mothers experienced were:

• engorgement (very full and tender breasts) (42%)
• difficulty with latching on  or sucking (25%)
• concerns about milk supply (25%)

More than half of mothers (56%) who had ever fed their baby breast milk had experienced pain (sore nipples and/or painful breasts) as a result of breastfeeding.

Around 7 in 10 mothers (72%) who stopped breastfeeding by the time their baby was 4 to 6 months old said they would have liked to breastfeed for longer.

The top 3 reasons for stopping breastfeeding were:

• their baby not latching on or rejecting the breast (45%)
• mothers feeling they did not have enough milk (44%)
• painful breasts or nipples (25%)

Of the mothers who had given their baby breast milk, 74% had given their baby expressed breast milk.

 What would have helped mothers breastfeed for longer

Of the mothers who would have liked to breastfeed for longer, the most frequently reported factor that would have helped them was if their baby could have latched on to the breast more easily (53%).

Three in ten mothers (30%) said more support from hospital staff would have helped them breastfeed for longer.

More than a quarter of mothers (28%) said breastfeeding being less painful would have helped them continue.

Around 1 in 5 mothers (21%) said more support from community midwifery teams would have helped them breastfeed for longer.

Support  during pregnancy and after birth

Antenatal and postnatal support with infant feeding

Nearly all mothers (99%) had attended antenatal appointments.

More than 4 in 5 mothers (84%) had discussed infant feeding during their antenatal check-ups.

In the first few days after their baby was born:

• 55% of mothers  received in-person help with putting their baby to the breast
• 10% of mothers did not get any help with putting their baby to the breast
• 21% of mothers felt they did not need any help with putting their baby to the breast
• 13% of mothers did not want to breastfeed their baby

Of the mothers who gave birth in hospital or who were in hospital shortly after birth, almost 7 in 10 (68%) felt they received enough help with feeding their baby while in hospital.

Support at home

Almost all mothers (99%) had contact with a health visitor after birth.

The most common source of help or information for mothers who experienced feeding difficulties at home was a health professional (midwife, health visitor or GP). Almost three-quarters of mothers (73%) got help or information this way.

Almost 1 in 10 mothers (9%) with feeding difficulties at home did not get any help or information about these difficulties.

Breastfeeding in public

Around 1 in 10 mothers (12%) who had breastfed in a public place reported having been stopped or made to feel uncomfortable when breastfeeding in public. 

More than half of mothers (56%) were aware of legislation protecting their right to breastfeed in public.

Introducing solid foods and use of commercial baby foods

UK guidance on introducing solid foods recommends that a wide variety of solid foods, including iron-containing foods, should be introduced in an age-appropriate form from around 6 months of age. Babies under 12 months do not need snacks. If babies are hungry between meals, they should be offered extra milk feeds.

The most common reasons given by mothers for why they had started giving their baby solid foods were because:

• they thought it was the right time (66%)
• their baby was able to sit up and hold food (57%)
• they were following NHS guidance (43%)

Around two-thirds of mothers (67%) introduced solid foods when their baby was 6 months (26 weeks) or older.

Around 1 in 5 mothers (19%) had introduced solid foods by the time their baby was 5 months old (22 weeks). A further 12% of mothers had introduced solid foods when their baby was between 5 and 6 months old.

Around 7 in 10 mothers (69%) made their baby’s first solid food at home and 30% gave their baby food bought from a shop.

The most common first solid food was:

• vegetables (39%)
• a mixture of vegetables and fruit (24%)
• baby rice (19%)
• fruit (12%)

When babies were between 8 and 10 months old, 61% were eating vegetables daily and 60% were eating fruit daily.

When babies were between 8 and 10 months old:

• 17% had shop-bought baby meals every day
• 63% had them at least weekly
• 22% never had them

When babies were between 8 and 10 months old:

• 20% had shop-bought baby snacks every day
• 74% had them at least weekly
• 18% never had them

Most mothers (86%) never added salt to their baby’s food.

Drinks other than breast milk or infant formula

UK guidance advises that babies under 12 months do not need drinks other than their usual milk feeds and water.

When babies were between 8 and 10 months old, water was the most common drink given in the last 7 days (90%), apart from breast milk or infant formula.

Fewer than 1 in 10 babies had been given the following drinks in the last 7 days:

• fruit juice (8%)
• squash (5%)
• herbal drink (1%)

Most babies (66%) were introduced to drinks other than breast milk or infant formula when they were between 26 and 30 weeks old.

Potentially allergenic foods

UK guidance on introducing foods that could trigger an allergic reaction advises that these foods can be introduced from around 6 months as part of a baby’s diet, just like any other foods.

When babies were between 8 and 10 months:

• 84% of babies had been given eggs
• 51% had been given nuts
• 39% had been given sesame

Babies were usually aged 6 to 8 months when they first had these common potentially allergenic foods, although 9% of babies had eggs before they were 6 months old.

Healthy Start scheme

The Healthy Start scheme helps to encourage a healthy diet for pregnant women, babies and young children 3 years and under from very low income households. Families who qualify for the scheme can apply for a prepaid card to buy specific items.

Around half of mothers (52%) were aware of the Healthy Start scheme.

Mothers living in the most deprived areas were more likely to have said they were aware of Healthy Start (59%), compared with mothers living in the least deprived areas (46%). 

Among mothers who believed they were eligible for Healthy Start, 56% had registered for the scheme and 38% had not.

When babies were 2 to 5 months old, the most common foods bought with the prepaid card were:

• infant formula based on cows’ milk (66%)
• fruit (50%)
• vegetables (48%)

When babies were 8 to 10 months old, the most common foods bought were:

• fruit (72%)
• vegetables (69%)
• infant formula based on cows’ milk (59%)

Supplements

UK guidance on folic acid supplements and pregnancy is that women should take 400 micrograms of folic acid per day. They should start before they are pregnant, or as soon as they find out they are pregnant. They should continue until the end of their first trimester (12 weeks).

Around 2 in 5 mothers (41%) took folic acid supplements before they were pregnant, which increased to around 7 in 10 mothers (72%) during the first 3 months of pregnancy.

UK guidance on vitamins for children recommends that infants who are being breastfed should be given a daily vitamin D supplement from birth, whether the mother is taking a supplement containing vitamin D or not.

When babies were between 2 to 5 months old, around half of breastfeeding mothers (54%) gave their baby vitamin D drops.

Return to work

When babies were 8 to 10 months old:

• 21% of mothers were in paid work
• 40% were on paid maternity or shared parental leave
• 12% were on unpaid maternity or shared parental leave

More than half of mothers (56%) who had returned to work did so when their baby was aged 6 to 9 months.

Of mothers currently in paid work, 62% did not think that returning to paid work had affected how they fed their baby.

When babies were between 8 and 10 months old, around a third (36%) of mothers who intended to start or return to work in the next year planned to stop or reduce breastfeeding when they returned to work.

Drinking alcohol

Around 1 in 7 mothers (15%) drank alcohol after becoming pregnant but before they knew they were pregnant, and 5% of mothers drank alcohol after learning they were pregnant.

More than half of mothers (57%) received information about drinking alcohol during pregnancy, most commonly from a midwife.