Natural breastfeeding during the first 6 months has short-term and long-term positive effects on kids. One would thus expect breastfeeding to be a natural activity. On the opposite, breastfeeding is socially patterned, with highly educated or migrant women more likely to naturally breastfeed. Within this last group, it has been shown that tend to lower their likelihood of breastfeeding, the longer they live in the host country.

Taken together, both culture and education explain natural breastfeeding rates.

This paper aims to contribute to the literature on breastfeeding determinants by analysing representative Italian data. We understand breastfeeding as an healthy food consumption habit, which allows us to investigate it under a twofold perspective, which relies on the debate on acculturation and stratification.

Preliminary results confirm our expectation.

Among native women, a stratification effect based on educational gradient explains breastfeeding rates. The higher the educational level, the higher the likelihood of breastfeeding.

Among non-native Italian women, a cultural effect based on migration background explains their higher likelihood of breastfeed, when compared to native Italian women. A cultural effect confirmed by the existence of a decreasing likelihood of breastfeeding, the longer the period of stay.