On August 6, 2011, the USBC officially declared August as National Breastfeeding Month. Read the Proclamation.
​
​In recognition of National Breastfeeding Month (NBM), each August the U.S. Breastfeeding Committee hosts a social media advocacy and outreach campaign inviting member organizations, breastfeeding coalitions, partner organizations, and individuals to participate in online action and conversation about the policy and practice changes needed to build a landscape of support for babies and families. It's a time where we Learn, Connect, and Act together to build momentum that sustains our movement through the coming year!
How do you celebrate National Breastfeeding Month? Share with us so that we can amplify!

2024 NBM Theme: Nourish, Sustain, Thrive

The 2024 NBM theme, Nourish, Sustain, Thrive, shines a light on why protecting, promoting, and supporting lactation is so important for the human life cycle, honors the incredible work that organizations are doing to make the world a little more friendly for new parents and families, and highlights how individuals, funders, and policymakers can contribute to a strong and sustainable lactation field. 

The Nourish, Sustain, Thrive logo was created by Erin Fortuna, Senior Collective Impact Coordinator at the U.S. Breastfeeding Committee. She shares, "I was inspired to design this logo because of the challenges and victories related to my own breastfeeding journey. There is a special harmony and peace that aligns when a nursing dyad’s needs are met. All families with ​infants deserve nourishment, sustenance, and long-term support!" Read more about Erin's design in the Our Milky Way blog.​
To download this year's official logo, please carefully review the Terms of Use specified in the Image Gallery Access webpage and complete the form. Clicking the button below will direct you to the Image Gallery Access webpage. ​

From the Grassroots to the Treetops:
National Breastfeeding Month is a Time to Learn, Connect, and Act!

Global Observance

National Observances

Cultural Observances

Social Observances
The USBC brings stakeholders together under the Collective Impact model, a collaborative approach to addressing complex social issues by bringing together organizations from different sectors to work toward a common goal. These efforts recognize that we all must work together to create the population-level policy, system, and environmental changes that are needed to create a landscape of breastfeeding support for all families. 

Global Observance

Global observances are designated to raise awareness and mobilize action on key health issues worldwide. These events encourage awareness, collaboration, and action to address pressing health challenges.

World Breastfeeding Week

2024 Theme: Closing the Gap: Breastfeeding Support for All
​
World Breastfeeding Week was created in 1992 by the World Alliance for Breastfeeding Advocacy and is celebrated annually from August 1-7. Since 2016, WBW has been aligned with the United Nation's Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). In 2018, a World Health Assembly resolution endorsed WBW as an important breastfeeding promotion strategy.

National Observances

National observances are designed to direct attention and mobilize action on issues of national significance. These designations aim to inspire individual and organizational stakeholders to come together to celebrate, educate, and advance efforts to improve lives across the United States.

National Breastfeeding Month

2024 Theme: Nourish, Sustain, Thrive

Each August, the U.S. Breastfeeding Committee hosts the annual National Breastfeeding Month social media advocacy and outreach campaign to mobilize individuals and organizations to come together for online action and conversation about the policy and practice changes needed to build a landscape of support for babies and families.

National WIC Breastfeeding Week

National WIC Breastfeeding Week

Each year in the first week of August, National WIC Breastfeeding Week is hosted by the U.S. Department of Agriculture and celebrated in conjunction with World Breastfeeding Week to promote and support breastfeeding as the best source of nutrition for a baby. U.S. Department of Agriculture Secretary Thomas Vilsack issued a proclamation to declare August 1-7 National WIC Breastfeeding Week. The observance recognizes the 50 years of notable contributions of the WIC Program's breastfeeding promotion and support activities. ​

Cultural Observances

Cultural observances acknowledge and celebrate different communities, identities, and perspectives and the unique contributions, opportunities, and challenges facing individuals from those cultures. Cultural observances demonstrate why efforts led by and serving impacted communities is vital for advancing equity and reducing disparities. We all have the opportunity to learn and take action in solidarity to support a brighter future for all.

Indigenous Milk Medicine Week

2024 Theme: Mind. Body. Milk Medicine. 

Indigenous Milk Medicine Week was created in 2019 by the Indigenous Milk Medicine Collective and is celebrated annually from August 8-14. Formerly known as Native Breastfeeding Week, the observance was created to encourage and uplift the diversity of Native breast/chestfeeding experiences. ​

Asian American, Native Hawaiian, and Pacific Islander Breastfeeding Week

2024 Theme: Bridging the Gaps for AANHPI Families

Asian American, Native Hawaiian, and Pacific Islander Breastfeeding Week was created in 2021 by the Asian Pacific Islander Breastfeeding Task Force and is celebrated annually from August 15-21. The observance mission is to decrease inequities and normalize chest/breastfeeding in AANHPI communities by improving breast/chestfeeding education and support practices.

Black Breastfeeding Week

2024 Theme: Listen Up! Reclaiming Our Narrative & Centering Our Stories for Breastfeeding Justice
​
Black Breastfeeding Week was created in 2014 by a collective of Black leaders from the breastfeeding field and is celebrated annually from August 25-31. The observance was developed as a response to the high black infant mortality rate, the lack of diversity in the lactation field, and unique cultural barriers among Black women, and shines a light on efforts and initiatives that support breastfeeding among Black families. ​

Semana de la Lactancia Latina

2024 Tema: Reclamando Nuestra Cultura Por Medio de la Lactancia
2024 Theme: Reclaiming Culture Through Lactation

Semana de La Lactancia Latina was created in 2023 by the Union de Lideres de Lactancia Latino (Latinx Lactation Collective) and is celebrated annually on the first Tuesday following Labor Day to the following Monday, this year September 3-9. The observance aims to uplift voices from the Latino/x community, and celebrate the diverse cultures and resilience of Latino communities. The collective also strives to bring awareness to the unique barriers faced by these communities and advocates for language justice.

Social Observances

Social observances shine a lot on specific social institutions and norms that shape and surround our lives. Focusing on the societal systems that impact our collective lived experiences and influence population health helps draw attention to solutions for improving outcomes.

Military Lactation Celebration

2024 Theme: Inclusive Lactation Support

The Military Lactation Celebration was launched in 2023 by the Global Military Lactation Community, taking place annually from August 22-24. The observance aims to inspire and empower military families in their lactation goals and provide a positive impact on the landscape of support among servicemembers and their families.

Workplace Lactation Week

2024 Theme: Policy to Practice: Making Lactation Support a Reality

​Workplace Lactation Week was created in 2023 and is celebrated annually from September 1-7. The observance celebrates the contributions of nursing mothers and parents in the workplace and aligns with Labor Day, highlighting the vital role working and pumping parents play in the workforce.​​

USBC Resources

Proclamation Toolkit

Official Merchandise

Graphics for Sharing

E-Newsletter Special Editions

National Breastfeeding Month Proclamations

You can take the lead on urging your governor to proclaim August as Breastfeeding Month in your state or territory! ​Please share a link to your published proclamation with us so we can amplify and celebrate them here. Please note that access to the NBM Proclamation Toolkit has now closed.
National Proclamations State Proclamations
Local (County & City Proclamations)

Official 2024 National Breastfeeding Month Merchandise

Shop the collection of official 2024 NBM merchandise on the USBC Bonfire store!  Celebrate in style with these limited edition offerings featuring a wide variety of colors, styles, and sizes.​ Your National Breastfeeding Month purchases and donations support U.S. Breastfeeding Committee efforts promoting, protecting, and supporting breastfeeding and human milk feeding and furthering our vision of thriving families and communities.

Inspiration Guide & Graphics

Access the USBC shared OneDrive for downloadable action graphics, shareable data points, and tools to help spread the word about National Breastfeeding Month. View the Inspiration Guide created and maintained by 1,000 Days, which provides an open-source, unbranded library of content for a community of organizations using social media to promote, protect and support breastfeeding year-round.

Special Editions of Staying Abreast: Weekly Wire

Access the Staying Abreast: Weekly Wire e-newsletter editions with special sections highlighting activities and events (local, national, and beyond!) related to National Breastfeeding Month 2024.

Previous NBM Campaign Themes

  • 2023: This Is Our Why
  • 2022: Together We Do Great Things!
  • 2021: Every Step of the Way
  • 2020: Many Voices United
  • 2019: Support Changes Everything
  • 2018: #NBM18
  • 2017: Charting the Course Together
  • 2016: SGCTA to Support Breastfeeding at Five Years: Reflecting Back...Looking Forward
  • 2015: #NBM15
Copyright U.S. Breastfeeding Committee.  All Rights Reserved.
1629 K Street NW, Suite 300 | Washington, DC 20006
Phone: (773) 359-1549 | [email protected] | sitemap
QuestionPro's survey software plays a major role in helping us keep in touch with our alumni, volunteers, donors, employees, and other affiliates. Surveying them has helped strengthen our relationship.