It seems that we are back to a problem that I find very common - we want to know what a whole "culture" or "country" does... Well, does all the US have the same traditions? I imagine it is the same for the Vietnamese. Even here in tiny (35 x 100 miles) Puerto Rico I find some moms aghast when I sit their babies up: "it'll ruin their back!" whereas others are fine with it. I do recall a lecture I think by Dr. Jelliffe - they were trying to do a study on the breastfeeding behavior of babies in Viet Nam who were breastfed early with those who had delayed breastfeeding - and they had to stop the study as there were not enough moms who breastfed early. But most of these moms breastfed well and continued well past the usual US weaning age... It seems if the culture is supportive of breastfeeding the risks even of early non-breastfeeding or "prelacteal feeds" the breastfeeding will survive.. Jeanette Panchula Puerto Rico [log in to unmask]