I received the following response to my letter to TIME:
_________________
Thank you for writing in response to the December 15 Health Report item about
the benefits of long-term breast-feeding.  We are sorry that you thought the
piece might discourage women from deciding to nurture their children in this
most natural way.  While it is true that a newborn feeds for about six hours a
day, as we stated, this is indeed the case whether done by bottle or breast,
and a child gradually requires fewer feedings, with a corresponding decrease
in time spent breast-feeding.  These important distinctions were underscored
by the president of the American Academy of Pediatrics, whose letter we were
pleased to schedule for publication in the January 12 column.  We hope you get
a chance to see it.

Best wishes.

                                        Sincerely,
                                        Robert Cushing
_________________________________

Linda Smith, BSE, FACCE, IBCLC
Dayton Ohio