Dr Joyce Marshall

ALT • Almost two-thirds (66%) of babies born in Scotland in 2020/21 were breastfed for at least some time after their birth. • More than half (55%) of babies were being breastfed at 10-14 days of age in 2020/21. This has increased from 44% in 2002/03. • The percentage of babies being breastfed at 6-8 weeks of age has increased from 36% of babies in 2002/03 to 45% in 2020/21. • In 2020/21, 21% of toddlers were still being breastfed at 13-15 months of age. • There are marked inequalities in breastfeeding, with babies born to mothers in more deprived areas, younger mothers, and those of White Scottish ethnicity least likely to be breastfed. However, the gap is reducing, as the most substantial increases in breastfeeding at 6-8 weeks over recent years have been seen among babies born to mothers in the most deprived areas. • In 2020/21, 79% of babies had been introduced to solid food at six months of age or older. Less than 1% had been started on solids at less than four months of age.