World Breastfeeding Week 2026

World Breastfeeding Week (WBW) is celebrated globally from 1 to 7 August. In 2026, the theme is Breastfeeding for a sustainable start in life: Strengthen what works - a reminder that when communities support breastfeeding, families and future generations benefit.

Breastfeeding is a sustainable first food that supports infant nutrition, public health, family budgets, food security, emergency resilience and environmental sustainability.

This World Breastfeeding Week, ABA is strengthening what works - providing trusted, practical support through the National Breastfeeding Helpline, LiveChat, local groups and evidence-based resources.

Ninety-six per cent of Australian mothers start out breastfeeding their baby, one of the highest initiation rates in the world. But by six months, only around a third are still exclusively breastfeeding. ABA says this gap between intention and outcome shows that Australian families do not lack motivation — they need stronger support systems and better protection from the commercial pressures that can undermine breastfeeding confidence.

ABA supports mums earlier and more equitably and protect parents’ infant feeding decisions from inappropriate formula marketing. Learn more about our Free 2 Feed campaign and write to your local MP Free 2 feed | Australian Breastfeeding Association

This World Breastfeeding Week, ABA is calling on:

1) parents and families to connect with trusted breastfeeding information and support through ABA

2) health professionals to refer families to ABA’s National Breastfeeding Helpline, LiveChat, local groups and evidence-based resources

3) policymakers to support stronger regulation of infant formula marketing that reflects the full scope of the WHO Code and protects families from commercial influence. Read more here

Read the media release here .

What makes breastfeeding sustainable?

Nutrition

Breastmilk is a biologically adaptive first food. It changes from the first days after birth and as babies grow, providing nutrients, immune and growth factors, protective proteins and oligosaccharides that support infant nutrition, gut health and immune development.

Food security

Where breastfeeding is possible and supported, it can reduce avoidable household costs because families do not need to keep buying formula, bottles or feeding equipment.

Public Health - reduced disease burden

Breastfeeding-sensitive conditions include maternal type 2 diabetes, breast cancer and ovarian cancer, and child diarrhoea, pneumonia or respiratory infections, ear infections and childhood obesity. Reducing early cessation can help reduce preventable illness and associated health-system costs

ABA's support transforms lives

Fotini,

Mum to 6-month-old and 4.5-year-old

“The first 2-3 weeks were really difficult. I had latching problems and the ABA helped me which was great. I also found the ABA classes were really good, especially the amount of information and type of information that was presented to help prepare mums. ABA has so many avenues to get support.”

Maddie

Mum to an 18-month-old

"In the early days we had trouble latching so I found a lot of information on the ABA website. I also called the Helpline. It is amazing to have this service available. Attending a local group also helped me."

Other resources

TIS on the Breastfeeding Helpline

If you need an interpreter, please call the Translating and Interpreting Service (TIS National) on 131 450 and ask them to phone the National Breastfeeding Helpline on 1800 686 268.

https://www.tisnational.gov.au/Non-English-speakers

Free mini eBook in community languages

Our mini eBook, 'Breastfeeding confidence' is available in 13 community languages and is free to download.

https://www.breastfeeding.asn.au/resources/breastfeeding-confidence-booklet