The influence of educational activities in the promotion of care for the newly born child is evaluated through an exploratory, descriptive and quantitative study in a maternity hostel in Mombaça CE Brazil, with 61 puerperas. Data collection comprised informal observation and a questionnaire in which personal information and data on care with the newly born child and pre- and post-educational breast-feeding were registered to evaluate the main difficulties of puerperas. Several mothers had mistaken knowledge on care with newly born children and on breast-feeding. Educational activity provided the proper guidelines and the elimination of doubts. The constant practice of health care to pregnant women and puerperas in pre-natal visits associated with the distribution of easy education material is highly relevant.