Dear Ann Landers (and the other 2000+ people on Lactnet),

I've been quiet the past few days due to the back to work from maternity
leave frenzy in my life.  A few weeks ago I shared my concerns about my
smart breastfed baby who doesn't want to take a bottle.  She was taking the
bottle okay but now is absolutely refusing it despite my child care
provider trying every trick up our sleeves.  So now I go feed her over
lunch and Christina, my childcare provider and I are all happy (we just
nurse, nurse, nurse, when we are together-no big deal).

I'm a little cooled down now, but earlier today, a co-worker commented that
she just didn't understand what the big deal was.  She'll eat when she's
hungry, right?  I just need to calm down.  I wanted to say of course and
she'll be as insecure and unhealthy as your formula fed kids who are now
teenage punks!

No, I kept my mouth shut so I wouldn't put my foot in it.  Just had another
co-worker make a similar comment.  I'm about to just start telling my
co-workers when they ask how me and the baby are that we are fine, she's
fine, I'm fine, everything's fine.

Any suggestions on how I can tactfully tell these people (who formula fed
their kids, BTW) that just because she won't take the bottle doesn't mean
she's not hungry?

Ready to go back home!

Maurenne Griese, RNC, BSN
Manhattan, KS