The April issue of AAP News (a monthly newsletter for pediatricians) has an
article cautioning about "babywise"/Ezzo method of parent-directed feeding.
It is my understanding that the pediatrician who is cited in the books has
a letter claiming he has never seen a baby with FTT as a result of this
method, etc. etc. (I have not seen his letter yet, only the article
itself).

The article is good, but very diplomatically cautious.  Points specifically
pointed out as questionable/in contradiction to AAP recommendations
include:
Suggesting that lack of regularity in feeding intervals sends a negative
signal to the baby's body and thus creates metabolic confusion negatively
affecting hunger, digestive and sleep/wake cycles; (is this bunk or whaat?)
suggesting that demand fed babies do not sleep through the night (no one
told my son that!)
suggesting that a mother who breastfeeds 12 or more times a day will not
produce any more milk than a mom who does so only 6-7 times a day (I guess
Ezzo really does not understand supply-need responses)
suggesting that mothers following PDF (parent directed feeding--their name
for what they espouse) have little or no problem with the letdown reflex,
compared to those who demand-feed (ditto my previous remark.
suggesting that colic is VERY rare in PDF babies but intensified in
demand-fed babies. (REALLY? Why do I find this hard to believe?)
suggesting that more developmental damange is done to a child by holding
him or her constantly rather than putting him down; and that biomechanics
suggests that carrying a baby in a sling can increase neck and back
problems or even create them. (I guess Ezzo does not know about the
millions of babies through the millenia held in slings or original versions
of same. The bit about developmental damage strikes me as so ludicrous as
not to be worthy of acknowledgement. I cannot believe he actually believes
that not meeting infant needs makes for healthy individuals.  Do you
suppose he was never held and cuddled and thus is warped in his own
developmental thinking?)
suggesting that the data on SIDS related to infant sleep position is "not
conclusive, and the method of gathering supportive data is questionable."
(Personally, if a physician backs this up, I wonder how he/she could be
considered an advocate for optimal infant care.)

Anyway, if you have access to this issue (ask a local MD you know to borrow
the copy), please consider writing a letter in support of the article.
PARTICULARLY if you have seen one or more babies who suffered from FTT as a
result of the parents following this method, it is IMPERATIVE that you
write and mention this.  EVIDENCE that this can occur MUST be
shared--without identifying patients, of course....

Good luck, everyone.  Here is our chance to support a physician who will
likely be attacked for sharing his concerns in this public forum....

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Kathleen G. Auerbach,PhD, IBCLC (Ferndale, WA USA) [log in to unmask]
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