Since breastfeeding is the *normal* way to feed a baby, the accompanying
behavioral patterns must be in the realm of "normal*, too.  Does being
*settled* mean that it's good to stuff a baby's belly full of something he
can't digest so that the body just succumbs to the equivalent of passing out
in the recliner after a feast?

What isn't *normal* is the desire to define a *good* baby; one who sleeps a
lot, doesn't fuss, doesn't care if he gets picked up or not... That,
unfortunately, is not normal or natural, it was artificially introduced and
reinforced.

You ask about tactful responses.  The old line to hold off saying anything
unless its 1)true, 2)kind, and/or 3)necessary might still be in order...only
if you wish to be tactful, that is.
You might say something of this nature to your colleagues:
It's unfortunate that these labels are applied so readily to babies who are
performing a natural human function/eating normally.  It's also a shame that
mothers aren't taught in prenatal classes that this *unsettled* behavior is
realistic and normal. Wouldn't it be appropriate to make sure that
breastfeeding women get enthusiastic support when that behavior is
exhibited.  What can we do about that here?


2)No. Perception would be the key word.

When a mom wearily tells me that her infant, even at 6 months, still nurses
every so many hours round the clock, I tell her what a smart baby she's got
and isn't it providence that  little buggers are so cute. Then I tell her
that the first few months are the most difficult, and why that might be so
 we don't need to go into that in detail on this channel) and that she might
be missing a really enjoyable part of breastfeeding if she were to stop now.
( Like, ya just spent five months setting up for the good stuff.)  I also
tell her that I'll give her all the weaning information she wants but advise
her to pump every three hours around the clock for the first few weeks to
keep her supply up in case the baby reacts adversely to the formula(that
raises eyebrows and elicits a few questions) or doesn't become more
*settled.*


Lorri Centineo
Down East of MA