In a message dated 10/6/00 9:57:57 PM Pacific Daylight Time, [log in to unmask]
writes:

<< i cannot imagine ever simply pushing on the
 baby's chin to "make" a baby open his mouth. however, this is done routinely
 here, and i often find that the babies i see who are refusing to open or
 refusing to open widely seem to be the ones where someone taught the mother
 to force the baby to open by pushing on the chin. would those of you who use
 this technique describe why and when and how and why do you feel this would
 not cause an aversion later on (which is what i think i am seeing)? >>


I've used it personally with my baby and have taught a few other moms to do
it, but the pressure is so gentle that it could hardly be described as a
'push'.  If a baby couldn't or didn't want to open with very gentle pressure,
I wouldn't 'push' down harder, but consider that there's something else going
on, something that perhaps cranial sacro therapy or chiropractic could help.

<>

hmmm, if they are refusing to open refusing to open widely, then it's
probable that they were doing that to begin with otherwise mom would never
have been given the suggestions to "force the baby to open" by pushing on his
chin.  Fwiw, I didn't advocate forcing baby's mouth open; the pressure is
very gentle and light.

katherine in atl

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