PURPOSE: to evaluate the relationships among schooling level, age group and mother profession with offer of pacifier and baby's bottles to your children. METHOD: 190 mothers with ages varying from 20 to 45 having children from 0 to 10 took part in this study. Mothers answered a questionnaire with questions regarding profession, schooling level and use of nipples and baby's bottles by their children. RESULTS: no significant differences were found between mothers having primary or secondary education and mothers with higher education regarding the use of nipples (p= 0.915). On the other hand, baby's bottle use was significantly higher among children of mothers with higher education (p= 0.0124). No significant difference regarding age group of mothers and the presence of these habits in children or between mothers who work in the house and those who work outside as regards the use of nipples (p=0.427; p=0.061) and baby's bottles (p=0.427; p=0.798). We also observed no difference among mothers who work in the health area and those working in other fields (nipples: p=0.339; baby's bottles: p=0.455). CONCLUSION: mothers with higher education offer significantly more baby's bottles to their children, but not nipples. No significant difference was observed as for the use of nipples and baby's bottles as related to age group and mothers' profession.
Habits; Education Status; Maternal Age; Mothers
