The cost of not breastfeeding: a commentary

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Updated: Aug 3, 2026

A Common Marmoset Model of Mother-Infant Intervention for Breastfeeding Disorders in the Presence of Paternal Inhibition and Maternal Neglect
05:04

A Common Marmoset Model of Mother-Infant Intervention for Breastfeeding Disorders in the Presence of Paternal Inhibition and Maternal Neglect

Published on: September 22, 2023

J M Riordan1

  • 1School of Nursing, Wichita State University, Kansas, USA.

Journal of Human Lactation : Official Journal of International Lactation Consultant Association
|June 1, 1997
PubMed

Insights

Breastfeeding significantly reduces infant healthcare costs, preventing diseases like diarrhea and otitis media. Supporting breastfeeding offers incalculable societal benefits, including enhanced child development.

Area of Science:

  • Public Health
  • Pediatrics
  • Health Economics

Background:

  • Breastfeeding is a natural method promoting infant and child health.
  • It offers significant healthcare cost savings by preventing common infant illnesses.
  • Managed care models incentivize preventative health strategies like breastfeeding.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To quantify the additional healthcare costs associated with non-breastfed infants.
  • To estimate the economic impact of specific infant medical conditions linked to not breastfeeding.
  • To evaluate the financial implications for federal programs like WIC and for families.

Main Methods:

  • Estimation of annual national healthcare costs for four specific medical conditions in non-breastfed infants.
  • Calculation of additional federal funds required by WIC to supply formula.
  • Comparison of formula costs versus breastfeeding support costs for families.

Main Results:

  • Non-breastfed infants incur over $1 billion annually in extra healthcare costs for diarrhea, RSV, diabetes, and otitis media.
  • The WIC program requires an additional $2.6 million yearly for infant formula for non-breastfeeding mothers.
  • Formula costs for families are double the cost of supplemental foods for breastfeeding mothers.

Conclusions:

  • Breastfeeding provides substantial economic benefits through disease prevention and reduced healthcare expenditures.
  • Enhanced breastfeeding education and support are crucial components of healthcare, particularly within managed care systems.
  • Societal benefits, such as improved child intellectual development, are significant though not easily quantifiable.

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