Dear Letterwriting Lactnetters,

  Has anyone seen the latest copy of "Parents" magazine?  On page 33, there
is a small Q & A box under the heading"Can a baby develop tooth decay?".
The question is:  My 18 month old has cavaties.  How is this possible?  The
answer is: . . . "The biggest threats to a baby's teeth come from PROLONGED
NURSING (my emphasis), sucking on bottles of formula, juice, or milk, and
falling asleep while NURSING (my emphasis again) or drinking a bottle."
Wow, are these people anti-breastfeeding, or what?!  I have heard arguements
from dentists that night nursing can cause cavaties before and disagree with
it but have never heard that prolonged nursing can cause them as well.  And
to list it as the first cause makes it seem like the biggest culprit!!!!!  I
have always heard/read that prolonged nursing was good for jaw development
and teeth alignment.  Am I imagining things??!!!  Anyway, I hope all you
wonderful letter writers will get out your pens/computers and help educate
this magazine.  The only address I could find was the snail mail address.
It is:  Parents
                                                          685 Third Avenue
                                                          New York NY  10017
Or you can fax at 202-878-8729.  They don't list an e-mail address.  If
anyone can enlighten me with the information that says this is correct,
please do.  Otherwise, lets enlighten them!!!!   Thanks!!
Laura Rookstool, Coupeville, WA    [log in to unmask]