Two national surveys of representative samples were held in France in 1972 and 1976. They revealed an increase in the frequency of breast-feeding in the neonatal period (from 36.6 to 45.5%). This increase was observed in almost all regions and population subgroups. Breast-feeding remains influenced by ethnic group (more frequent in immigrants), social level, the quality of prevention and the size of maternity-hospitals. Classification of French women in 6 groups by education and care received (number of beds in the maternity-hospital) shows that the frequencies of breast-feeding range from 65% (university-educated women giving birth in large maternity-hospitals) to 28.5% (women with primary or secondary education, giving birth in small maternity-hospitals).