Pediatric Dentistry Corresponding author:

duration on the age of pacifier use persistence Abstract: This study evaluated the effect of breast- and bottle-feeding duration on the age of pacifier use persistence. Questionnaires (n = 723) with information on nutritive and nonnutritive sucking habits of chil-dren aged 3-6 years were assessed. The sample was divided according to breastfeeding duration: G1 – non-breastfed, G2 – up to 3 months, G3 – discontinued between 4 and 6 months, G4 – discontinued between 7 and 12 months, and G5 – longer than 12 months. The children were also assigned to 4 groups by age of pacifier use persistence, as well as by age of bottle-feeding persistence: no habits, up to 2 years, 3-4 years and 5-6 years. Associations between nutritive sucking habits and pacifier use were analyzed using logistic regression. The larger breastfeeding groups were G2 (37.9%) and G4 (19.4%). Many children discontinued pacifier use and bottle-feeding at 3-4 years of age (24.9 % and 40.1%, respective