Infant feeding practices of Cuban mothers residing in Dade County, Florida

Research has shown that infant feeding practices differ between cultures. A convenience sample of 51 first generation Cuban mothers with infants birth to 12 months of age were surveyed to identify their infant feeding practices, and why they introduce foods to their infants in the manner in which they do. Data obtained from the mothers' responses to an English/Spanish Questionnaire were summarized by frequencies. Findings revealed that Cuban mothers consider a variety of foods from the major four food groups to be suitable for their infants. They introduced solids to their infants at the average age of four months and fed their infants in the manner in which they did because they thought it was healthy/nutritious. Cuban mothers may feed their infants as taught by health care professionals if their infant feeding practices are incorporated in the culture specific infant feeding programmes developed by the health team.