Objectives: to identify the prevalence of nonnutritive sucking habits in preschoolers and verify factors associated with persistent habit.Methods: a cross-sectional analytical study conducted in 17 public educational units of Recife/PE through questionnaire with 524 preschooler guardians. Dependent (digital and pacifier sucking) and independent variables, related to the children (sex, age, breastfeeding, bottle feeding, nocturnal enuresis, school period, caregiver, birth order, dentist visit)