Table 1 Characteristics of the study group

Age (years)

4.48 ± 0.84

  3-4

354

48.2

  4-5

164

22.4

  5-6

216

29.4

Children sex

  Male

398

54.2

  Female

336

45.8

Level of education

  Bachelor degree or below

195

26.6

  Masters

199

27.1

  Doctorate

340

46.3

Non-nutritive sucking habits

  Pacifier sucking

30

4.1

  12-36 months

27

3.7

  >36 months

3

0.4

  Digit sucking

140

19.1

  12-36 months

53

7.2

  >36 months

87

11.9

Duration of breast-feeding

  Never breastfed

101

13.8

  1-6 months

199

27.1

  >6 months

434

59.1

Duration of bottle-feeding

  0-6 months

0

0

  6–18 months

305

41.6

  >18 months

429

58.4

Percentage of each feeding practice in first 6 months

  exclusive breastfeeding

168

22.9

  exclusive bottle-feeding

104

14.2

  mixed feeding

462

62.9