I couldn't think of what subject line to use, as this is not exactly what I mean. As an LC who sees moms early in their parenting career, I often also need to address other issues - one of which is the baby being put on his/her back (SIDS prevention) and another of which is that babies need more than just clean diapers, feeding and safe sleep. They also need "play time". I try to make them aware of how their baby is communicating with them in the "quiet alert" state and that this is the time to play, talk, sing - and not just think: "he's awake so let me breastfeed him so he'll go to sleep". Now my concern: The SIDS coordinator here has told me of a death of a baby that was NEVER put on her tummy - and she rolled over, vomited, and aspirated - because (they think) her neck and body was not strong enough to pull up the head. She says they are having more reports from SIDS coordinators nationwide of this problem, even though they are trying to teach moms to put babies to sleep on their backs - but to have them play on their stomachs so they can exercise their necks, backs, shoulders, etc.. I can see this will be a problem - most parents put their babies down and don't really know when they fall asleep - they put them down and expect some fussing, crying, then finally baby falls asleep. This is different from having them fall asleep at the breast then putting them down (on their backs) and when they are awake, putting them on their stomachs _and staying there playing with the baby_ until baby either wants to be fed or gets sleepy and wants to go to sleep and is then turned over on his back. I know this is not exactly breastfeeding (exclusively) related, but we are the ones seeing moms (at least I do) in their homes, can see what the home situation is like and can give them suggestions on safe places and times to play... Perhaps this is mostly a problem with low-income moms like the ones I see, but I know that when my frist baby was born, I was so unsure of what to do with him, the first 5 days (yes, in those days you stayed in the hospital that long) I just did whatever the mother in the next bed (she had had a previous baby, so I perceived her as an expert) did with her baby - a sort of parallel play at age 24! Jeanette Panchula, BSW, RN, IBCLC Vacaville, CA mailto:[log in to unmask] *********************************************** The LACTNET mailing list is powered by L-Soft's renowned LISTSERV(R) list management software together with L-Soft's LSMTP(TM) mailer for lightning fast mail delivery. For more information, go to: http://www.lsoft.com/LISTSERV-powered.html