LGBTQ+ Parents and Infant Feeding: An Analysis of the Household Pulse Survey Dataset

Abstract

Purpose: Human milk is the optimal food for newborns; however, infant feeding practices of parents who are lesbian, gay, bisexual, trans, queer, or sexual and gender minorities (LGBTQ+) are largely unknown. The purpose of this study was to describe infant feeding practices in LGBTQ+ families and compare to heterosexual or cisgender families. Methods: Secondary analyses of parents with an infant less than 12 months from the Household Pulse Survey (April–July 2024) were conducted. Demographic characteristics to include sexual orientation and gender identification were extracted. Infant feeding practices were classified as: (1) human milk only; (2) a mix of human milk and formula; or (3) formula only. The chi square test and multinomial regression were used in these analyses. Results: Data from 1,598 parents were analyzed, 7.63% identified as not heterosexual and 1.4% as gender diverse. There were no significant differences in feeding practices between cisgender and gender-diverse parents: human milk only 41.7% versus 47.8% ( p = 0.71), mixed feeding 25.0% versus 26.1% ( p = 1.0), formula only 33.3% versus 26.7% ( p = 0.61). Nor any significant differences in heterosexual parents compared to lesbian, gay, and bisexual parents: human milk only 42.3% vs 36.1% ( p = 0.22), mixed feeding 24.8% versus 27.1% ( p = 0.66), formula only 32.9% versus 36.9% ( p = 0.43). Results remained nonsignificant using regression models and controlling for covariates, along with analyses of men and women separately. Conclusion: These data provide preliminary insight into infant feeding practices of LGBTQ+ parents, demonstrating no differences compared to heterosexual or cisgender parents. Clinicians should continue to support human milk as the optimal choice for all families.