Be aware that the LATCH system does not hold up when subjected to
validation evaluation.  You may wish to contact Jan Riordan. She has been
doing studies of this tool and others. You can reach her at 3600 Elmwood
Drive
                                           Wichita, KS 67218

The one I like better is by Mulford (June 1992 JHL). It also is based on
APGAR sort of scoring, but it looks at both mother and baby and thus
identifies areas of concern from both sides of the mother-baby equation.

I have also used Matthews' tool (Midwifery, Dec. 1990).  It works well when
considering only the baby. I have used it with effectiveness to show
mothers how quickly their babies "learn"---never as a score of performance,
mother's or baby's.

         %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%
         %%  Kathleen G. Auerbach, PhD, IBCLC    %%
         %%        Lactation Services            %%
         %%        Homewood, Illinois            %%
         %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%