Kathy--
Excellent letter to the Swiss doctor on this topic. I have rarely seen a
baby whose needs were met fully sucking on fingers in a regular way.
Sometimes they chew during teething but it doesn't seem to be a long-term
thing. The other babies I see sucking on fingers are ones whose mothers have
too much milk and for whom the breast isn't always that great an experience
because of the quantity and force. These babies can't relax at the breast so
need to meet their sucking needs elsewhere.

I know your posting has caused some mothers distress, and we know that not
all babies read the books, but your comments are very thought-provoking,
nonetheless. It's so wonderful having an anthropologist studying these
behaviours and being able to make an authoritative analysis based on both
personal and professional experience. Keep up the great work! I can't wait
to get your book.

BTW, I enjoyed your "crude" analogy. Always helps to get peoples' attention
if you can relate it back to sex, doesn't it?

And BIG congrats on the Margaret Mead award. That's wonderful recognition.
Now I can brag that I "know" someone famous! (My kids have asked me whether
I know any famous people and I say I know a few in the field of
lactation--doesn't impress them a whole lot--I'd have to be able to say
"members of Rancid or Stone Temple Pilots to get any kind of recognition<g>).

Leslie Ayre-Jaschke, BEd, IBCLC
Peace River Breastfeeding Clinic
Peace River Alberta, Canada