The objective of this study was to analyze the feeding practices in infants aged 0-12 months, attending the four School Health Centers of the city of São Paulo (Brazil). A sample of 317 infants was studied. The information about diet was obtained by interviewing the mothers. Among the infants aged 0 to 3 months, 42.2% were exclusively breast fed. Among those aged 3 to 6 months the prevalence of exclusive breast feeding was of 14.8%. For those infants who were not exclusively breast fed, the introduction, in the infant's diet, of other kinds of milk and foods other than milk was verified. The frequency of consumption of foods that provide iron and vitamin C, nutrients found in small quantities in milk, was analysed in this group. It was verified that 98.9% of the infants were receiving fruits, 72.4% were receiving meat and 39.6% were receiving beans. The introduction of other kinds of milk and other foods in the infant's diet had occurred very early in the sample studied.
breast feeding; infant
