Good morning everyone...
The thread about psychological viewpoints relating to
extended breastfeeding and co-sleeping has provoked
the following thoughts/rantings...

Here in the US, our child rearing practices differ
greatly from most other cultures.  Bottle feeding,
small infants sleeping alone in cribs down the hall
from parents' rooms, and allowing infants to "cry it
out" seem to be quite acceptable practices, and even
the norm for some. If an infant is fortunate enough to
be breastfed, it is sometimes with limitations, every
3-4 hours for 15 minutes per side (or less).  Hunger
cues are sometimes ignored while the infant
frantically tries to self-soothe with a pacifier or
other non-human "lovey".

Has anyone noticed the direction in which our society
is heading?  There has been an increase in violent
behavior in the young.  The practice of accepting
personal responsibility for one's actions and their
consequences seems to be going the way of the
dinosaurs.  I could quote various phrases from several
politicians and business executives that would vividly
illustrate this point; please credit me with my
restraint ;)

Folks, the way we are rearing our children today, in
the United States, is NOT WORKING.  There has been
progress in decreasing the institutionalization and
warehousing of our beloved elderly, yet now it seems
that institutionalizing our children is becoming the
norm.  In the past 2 years, several states have
attempted to pass legislation pushing the age of
COMPULSORY schooling down to as young as 3 years old.
The underlying message here is that your small child
is better off in some federally funded daycare program
than he/she is staying at home with YOU.

To relate this to breastfeeding (at long last!) if
bottle feeding, babies put to bed far from parents'
rooms (in cribs for "safety"), restricting nursing to
infants under a certain age, and kids being raised by
daycare providers and teachers (rather than by their
parents) is separating us from our children, what can
we do to move closer to our children and help our
society regain its health?  Start with breastfeeding.
It is powerful.  It can inspire parents to think about
what they are doing and why, rather than just
following the current trends.  Not to mention the
benefits it has for our precious little ones and their
overall health and well-being.

Rant over.  Pulling neck back in.  Stepping off
soapbox.  Donning flame-proof suit.

Keep fighting that good fight!
Carole Jernigan
IBCLC, hospital-based Lactation Consultant
cutting and pasting like a good girl



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