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Hacettepe Üniversitesi Tıp Fakültesi Soysal Pediatri Doktora Öğrencisi¹,Pediatri Profesörü², In this study, it was aimed to investigate the exclusive breast-feeding ratio of healthy infants in the first six months and the affecting factors. The mothers of healthy infants, 3-24-weeks of age, who applied to the Social Pediatrics Unit at Hacettepe University İhsan Doğramacı Children’s Hospital between October 2007 and February 2008 for child health follow-up visits were included in this study. Voluntary mothers were administered a questionnaire form containing questions on the feeding characteristics, pacifier use and reasons, and any unusual crying of their infants, and some sociodemographic characteristics of the parents. Of the infants, who were included in this study, 57.3% were male, mean age was 3.2 ± 1.6 months, gestational age was 38.2 ± 1.5 weeks and birth weight was 3222 ± 466 g. Of the infants, 99.7% were given breast-milk at least once. While exclusive breastfeeding ratio was 79.4% at 0-1 month, it decreased after 16 weeks. Birth order, employed mother, and smoking at home did not affect the ratio of exclusive breastfeeding. Thirty-eight percent of mothers gave complementary foods to their infants, and this ratio was higher in mothers who were supported for child care at home than others (46.4%, 34.0%; respectively; p=0.043). Pacifier use was higher in complementary fed infants (57.4%) than in those exclusively breastfed (35.3%) (p<0.001). Unusual crying and sleep order problems of exclusively breastfed infants were similar to those who were complementary fed. To promote optimum exclusive breastfeeding it is necessary to reduce pacifier use and to educate those who help mothers in nursing the babies. Anahtar Kelimeler : anne sütü, emzik kullanımı, nedensiz ağlamalar, uyku, sosyal destek