by 
Share On Social!
From breastfeeding to solid foods and vegetables, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) address childhood food issues in a new report, Early Childhood Nutrition.
The report covers:
- Breastfeeding
- Support for Infant Feeding
- First Solid Foods
- Healthy Eating
- Affordability of Nutritious Foods
Let’s dive deeper into the report and how it impacts families with children.
1. Most Infants Don’t Receive Full Health Benefits from Breast Milk
The CDC report found that only 2 in 5 infants born in 2022 were still being breastfed on their first birthday, meaning that most infants do not receive the full health benefits that breast milk can provide.
“Breastfeeding is the best source of nutrition for most infants. It helps protect babies and moms from some illnesses and diseases,” the report states.
It is recommended that infants are fed only breast milk for about the first 6 months and can be introduced to solid foods at about 6 months and can continue to be fed breast milk for 1 to 2 years, or longer.
However, many mothers stop breastfeeding earlier than they planned.
When looking state by state, Utah has the highest percentage of infants breastfed at 94.2% and West Virginia at the lowest percentage at 71.1%
“Breastfed infants who receive infant formula within 2 days of birth typically do not breastfeed for as long as those who do not. The table below provides data on breastfeeding rates,” according to the report.
2. 10 States Fully Met the Standard to Encourage and Support Breastfeeding
Ten states and the District of Columbia fully met and 38 states partially met the standard to encourage and support breastfeeding in their licensing regulations for early care and education centers in 2023, according to the CDC report.
States that fully met these standards include:
- California
- Delaware
- District of Columbia
- Georgia
- Illinois
- Louisiana
- Maryland
- Mississippi
- North Carolina
- Texas
This is important because “practices and policies can impact how infants and children are fed” in hospitals and early care and education (ECE) centers, the report states.
3. 1 in 10 Infants Received Other Foods Too Early
Data from the CDC report found that 1 in 10 infants born during 2019–2021 was given foods other than breast milk or infant formula before they were 4 months old, this being too early.
The state with the highest percentage of infants introduced to solid foods too early was Tennessee at 15.6%, the lowest percentage was 3.8% in Hawaii.
While solid foods provide important nutrients that support growth and development, it’s recommended that infants not be introduced to solid foods until they are 6 months.
“Introducing solid foods before 4 months of age is too early because children might not be developmentally ready, and it could increase their risk of overweight and obesity,” the report states.
4. Only 49% of Children Ate Vegetables At Least Once Daily
Once children start eating solid foods, they need a variety of foods from different food groups to meet their nutrient needs, including fruits and vegetables, the CDC report states.
This means eating vegetables every day.
However, only 49% of children ages 1–5 in 2022–2023 ate vegetables at least once daily.
Vermont had the highest percentage of children who ate vegetables at least once a day (62.6%), with the state of Mississippi having the lowest percentage (38.2%). Washington had the highest percentage of children that ate fruit at least once daily (81.1%), while Mississippi had the lowest percentage (50.1%).
Additionally, more than half of children ages 1–5 in 2022–2023 drank a sugary drink one or more times weekly.
“Sugary drinks are the greatest source of added sugars in this age group and are not needed,” according to the report.
Of the children who drank a sugary drink one or more times weekly, Mississippi was the state with the highest percentage (74.3%) and the state of New Hampshire had the lowest (35.2%).
While children 2 years and older should limit calories from added sugars, children younger than 2 years should avoid foods and beverages with added sugars all together.
5. 69% of Children Lived in Households Always Able to Afford Nutritious Foods
Access to healthy and nutritious food is crucial for Latinos and all families, not only so they can make healthier choices, but also to help them improve their overall health.
With this in mind, only 69% of children ages 1–5 lived in households that were always able to afford nutritious foods in 2022–2023.
The state with the highest percentage of children ages 1–5 living in households that were always able to afford nutritious foods was the District of Columbia at 87.2% and the lowest was Mississippi at 58.8%.
There can be many barriers to accessing healthy food, such as a lack of grocery stores, higher cost, lower income, and lack of transportation.
“When healthy foods are inaccessible or unaffordable, families might feed their children foods that are higher in calories and lower in important nutrients,” according to the report.
Percentages of all states and additional information regarding childhood nutrition can be found in the complete report, which can be accessed here.
Improve Health for All People in Your Community
What is the status of health in your community?
Find out by downloading a Salud America! Health Report Card for your town!
Enter your county name and get auto-generated local data with interactive maps and comparative gauges on several health indicators. This can help you visualize and explore local issues in education, housing, transportation, food, health, and more.
See how your county stacks up compared to the rest of your state and nation.
Then email the Report Card to local leaders to raise awareness, include the data in a presentation or grant proposal, or share it on social media to drive healthy changes in your community!
By The Numbers
142
Percent
Expected rise in Latino cancer cases in coming years
