Lactnetters, please forgive that I am posting when it has been over a year 
since I contributed anything to the list.  I frequently glean wisdom from 
this group, but I have searched the archives without finding anything 
relevant in this particular case.  I would be grateful for any experience 
you can share. 
I had a mom call me a couple of weeks ago with an unusual problem. Her 4  
month old baby has nursed only when he is asleep since he was 4 weeks 
old.  At first I assumed that mom was saying that he had bottles when he 
was awake and that she nursed him at night only.  After talking further 
with mom I came to understand that the baby really only nurses when he is 
asleep, not sleepy, and that baby only recently attempted bottlefeeding 
which was not very successful.  After observing baby I got mom's 
permission to post to this list.  Here is the story in as small a nutshell 
as I can fit it.  Baby is a term male born 3/22/05.  Mom planned to BF at 
least two years. Mom remembers baby getting one bottle in the hospital 
which she found out about after the fact.  Baby nursed well until 4 weeks 
old, then would latch only if he was asleep.  Mom is convinced that she 
must have done something at this point which "scarred" the baby because 
she can't think of anything unusual happening around that time. Now baby 
takes sbout 5 naps a day because he will really only nurse when asleep.  
In my office I observed baby trying to latch as he got sleepy. He went to 
the breast with a wide open mouth looking eager to nurse but would turn 
away just before latching.  Baby never did fall asleep at the visit.  Baby 
is thin but not at all gaunt.  Ped is okay with weight gain which has 
averaged about 3 oz/wk from lowest weight after birth.  Baby is alert, 
engaged, and very active.  Seems ahead of his peers in motor development.  
Baby takes two "real" naps per day. The others are just catnaps which mom 
uses to get feedings in, and wakes him shortly after he nurses.  Mom 
really needs to go back to work and is worried about baby being in someone 
else's care because of the way he feeds.  Mom has only her husband and one 
other relative in this area.  These are the things that mom has tried--
bottles, when she's not around; nursing in the bathtub, walking, 
standing,etc; attempting to latch baby early a.m. for feeding before 
waking; attending LLL mtgs where baby sees other babies nursing.   I have 
suggested that mom begin trying a cup.  She feels very strongly that baby 
should get breastmilk until 2 y/o and is hesitant about starting solids 
before 6 months.  I have suggested that she try to have baby sit with her 
or her husband for meals to try to encourage an interest in solids by the 
time he is 6 mos old.  Mom's ped has told her that he has had one other 
baby who would only nurse when asleep, and has tried to reassure her that 
he is not worried.  I've never seen this extreme before.  The bottom line 
is that mom is really convinced that she caused this somehow.  She was 
very appropriate with the baby in the office and displayed a good 
knowledge of normal development.  She was referred to me after seeing the 
LC at the hospital where she gave birth and contacting the organization in 
this area that screens for developmental delays.  At this point the main 
issue is mom's feeling that she has caused this problem although I'm sure 
she would love to have the baby at breast and BF normally.  Mom had to 
jump through some serious hoops to come to see me in an adjoining city.  
Any thoughts anyone?  Baby will be 5 months old 8/22/05.  I am currently 
no mail so will be checking the archives or you may e-mail me directly at 
[log in to unmask]  Thanks and sorry it's so long!
Amy Stallings BSN, RNC, IBCLC
Georgia, USA (where the temp is 100 degrees with a real feel of 113 
degrees!)

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