PURPOSE: to characterize the feeding in children aged from 6 to 24-month old; and specifically, to characterize the time of introduction, types of foods and textures offered according to child's age, to check oral habits and to verify who guided the parents about feeding. METHODS: the sample was composed by 100 children of 6 to 24 months, which attended two Basic Health Care Units, in Canoas, RS. Interviews were accomplished with the sponsors. RESULTS: it was verified that 98 (98%) of the children were exclusively breastfeed, however with medium duration of 2 months and 8 days. The offer of liquids presented a precocious introduction of tea at the beginning with median of 60 days; 92 (92%) of the children used bottle-feeding and in 47 (47%) of them increased the hole. The pacifier was used by 60 (60%) of the sample and had an association with the time of breast feeding. The beginning of offering fruits and soups presented a median of 150 days and meat in 210 days. There was a statistical association between the age and increase of consistence. It was still verified, that foods are being presented in appropriate consistence for the age. CONCLUSION: it was concluded that there was an exclusive practice of maternal breastfeeding with period shorter than it is recommended. Foods were introduced before the proper time; however, the consistence is being adapted in the current feeding. It can also be verified the great frequency for employing bottle-feeding and pacifier as a deleterious oral habits. Most of the time, orientation about feeding was made by lay people.
Public Health; Breast Feeding; Feeding; Child
