The Ross Products Division of Abbott Laboratories has been collecting information on infant
feeding and breastfeeding in the United States since 1955.1-8 Current survey design permits an
examination of infant feeding patterns during the first 12 months of life. Ryan described increases in the
hospital initiation and duration of breastfeeding between 1985 and 1995,8 and later for the 1996 to 20019
time frame. This update complements the published data and provides current breastfeeding information
through 2003.