The Épifane study by Santé publique France, the French national public health agency, describes what babies in France actually eat during their first year. Its 2021 edition, published in July 2024, shows that breastfeeding lasts longer than in 2012 and that weaning almost always starts between 4 and 6 months. It also points to persistent gaps with the recommendations: eggs, fish, pulses and added fats come late, and cow’s milk too early for some babies.
What is the Épifane study?
Épifane stands for “Épidémiologie en France de l'alimentation et de l'état nutritionnel des enfants pendant leur première année de vie” (epidemiology of infant feeding and nutritional status in France during the first year of life). It is part of the Enquête nationale périnatale 2021, France’s national perinatal survey, which covered babies born during the week of 15 to 21 March 2021 in mainland France.
- 3,534 mothers were included and interviewed by phone when their child was 2 months old.
- Follow-up continued at 6 months (3,088 mothers) and at 12 months (2,814 mothers), by phone and online questionnaire.
- A first edition, in 2012, followed 3,368 children: it serves as the point of comparison.
The report is written by Benoît Salanave, Élodie Lebreton, Virginie Demiguel and Nolwenn Regnault, of Santé publique France. A third edition is planned for 2027.
Breastfeeding: longer than ten years ago
At the maternity unit, 77% of babies were receiving breast milk, compared with 74% in 2012. This rate exceeds the 75% target set by the 4th Programme national nutrition santé (PNNS), France’s national nutrition and health programme. Nearly 59% of mothers were breastfeeding exclusively and 18% were combination feeding.
| Child’s age | Children still breastfed (2021) |
|---|---|
| Maternity unit | 77% |
| 2 months | 54% (including 26% exclusively) |
| 6 months | 34% |
| 12 months | 18% |
The median duration of breastfeeding, exclusive or combined, rose from 15 to 20 weeks between 2012 and 2021. The median duration of exclusive or predominant breastfeeding doubled, from 3 to 6 weeks. More than a third of babies are still breastfed at 6 months, compared with less than a quarter in 2012.
Santé publique France cites several possible obstacles: maternity leave considered short, insufficient training for health professionals and employers, and contradictory information. Our article on breastfeeding in France and the WHO recommendations puts these figures in an international context.
Infant formula: widely used from the first month
Infant formula comes in early. According to the study, 41% of babies were already receiving it at the maternity unit, 70% at 2 months and more than 80% from 6 months. Among breastfed babies, the first bottle of formula is given at a median age of 10 days.
- At 2 months, almost all the milk consumed is first infant formula.
- At 6 months, a third of formula-fed babies have moved on to follow-on formula.
- At 12 months, 52% of these children drink growing-up milk.
- Bottles are almost always made up with bottled water; tap water stays below 10% up to 6 months, then reaches 17% at 12 months.
The value of growing-up milk is debated: our article on growing-up milk and the official advice sets out the facts. For the water in bottles, see which water to use for bottles according to the official texts.
At what age do babies in France start weaning?
According to the Épifane study, at a median age of 136 days, or four and a half months. Weaning starts between 4 and 6 months for 91% of children, compared with 80% in 2012. Only 4.5% of mothers start before 4 months, compared with 12.6% in 2012, and 4.4% after 6 months.
The median age is therefore slightly earlier than in 2012, when it was 152 days. But it is narrowing within the recommended window. It varies little with the length of breastfeeding: it is 143 days for babies breastfed for more than 4 months.
The order in which foods are introduced
- Fruit and vegetables: introduced by 94% of mothers before 6 months.
- Potatoes and starchy foods: 83% at 6 months.
- Dairy products (yoghurts, fromage frais): 50% at 6 months, 91% at 12 months.
- Meat, fish, eggs: 44% at 6 months, 95% at 12 months.
- Sweet foods: less than 5% at 6 months, but 74% at 12 months.
What still falls short of the recommendations
Current recommendations advise introducing all food groups between 4 and 6 months, allergens included. Our article on weaning according to Anses, the French food safety agency, details this timetable. The Épifane study shows that several foods are still introduced late, even though all of them have progressed since 2012.
| Food, at 12 months | 2012 | 2021 |
|---|---|---|
| Added fats | 53% | 67% |
| Eggs | 23% | 38% |
| Pulses | 17% | 33% |
| Cow’s milk (not recommended before 1 year) | 26% | 18% |
- Added fats, recommended from the start of weaning, are given to only 35% of babies at 6 months.
- Fish is introduced regularly in only about one child in four at 12 months.
- For pulses, the recommendation has changed: advised against before 15 months in 2012, they are now recommended like other foods.
- Among children who drink cow’s milk at 12 months, whole milk is in the minority: 6% of children drink it, compared with 8% for semi-skimmed and 9% for chocolate milk.
Introducing allergens is often a source of worry. Our article on cow’s milk protein allergy recaps what the figures say.
Water, fruit juice and herbal teas
The study also tracks drinks other than milk. At 2 months, 24% of babies had already drunk plain water; at 6 months, 89%. The median age for a first drink of water is 4 months, but 50 days for predominantly breastfed babies.
At 12 months, 44% of children had tasted fruit juice and 17% sugared water. Herbal teas remain rarer: 7% with fennel, 9% without fennel. In addition, between 60 and 70% of children used a dummy, depending on when the data were collected.
What these figures mean for parents
The study does not judge families: it measures the gap between practice and advice. For parents, it confirms that starting weaning at around 4 to 6 months is the norm. It is also a reminder that eggs, fish, pulses and a drizzle of oil or a little butter have their place from that point on, without waiting for the first birthday.
Letting your child handle and taste food is part of this learning. Our article on when babies feed themselves with a spoon describes the stages of this independence.
Key takeaways
- 77% of babies are breastfed at birth, and 34% still are at 6 months.
- The median duration of breastfeeding rose from 15 to 20 weeks between 2012 and 2021.
- Weaning starts between 4 and 6 months for 91% of children.
- Eggs, fish, pulses and added fats are still introduced too late.
- 18% of children drink cow’s milk at 1 year, compared with 26% in 2012.
Sources
- Santé publique France, Salanave B., Lebreton E., Demiguel V., Regnault N. and Epifane2021 Study Group, “Alimentation des nourrissons pendant leur première année de vie. Résultats de l'étude Épifane 2021”, Études et enquêtes, July 2024 (page updated on 11/07/2025).
- Santé publique France, press release “Alimentation des tout-petits : quelles évolutions depuis 10 ans ? Résultats de la 2e édition de l'étude Épifane”, July 2024.
