Hello,
I just wanted to introduce myself to LACTNET. My name is Adriana, and I am a
newcomer to your group. Thank you all for providing such a wonderful and
informative forum to share and learn about professional issues surrounding
lactation.
Sincerely,
Adriana Samargia Kaufman, PLA

I intend to send the following letter to Good Housekeeping re: the May 1998
article that promotes weaning before one year of age called "bring on the
bottle" pg. 70

I find Dr. Nancy Snyderman’s article in the May 1998 issue called “when to
bring on the bottle” extremely disturbing and irresponsible.  The number of
U.S. babies who receive breastmilk as part of their diet through one year of
age, as recommended by the American Academy of Pediatrics, or through two
years of age, as recommended by the World Health Organization, is tiny.
Obviously, a major public health education effort is necessary in order to
inform parents of the lifelong health consequences of their infant feeding
decisions.  By publishing Dr. Snyderman’s personal non-research based opinions
about breastfeeding and weaning Good Houskeeping fell short of this effort.
Doctors hesitate to advise women
not to artificially feed their children on the grounds that "it might make the
mothers who choose formula feel guilty."  Of course, the doctors have no such
qualms about advising pregnant patients to eat a healthy diet, or to quit
smoking and drinking, because that might make the mothers who ignore their
advice feel
guilty.  Formula appears to be the only health hazard that doctors fear to
warn of because of fear of inducing guilt.  Studies by anthropologists and
comparative biologists have revealed that the probable natural weaning age
(that is, the age at which no more nursing occurs) of the human species is
over 2 1/2 years.  The fact that it is not unusual in our culture for a child
of 3 to be drinking milk from a bottle or using a pacifier is a clue that the
need to suck is a fundamental human need that does not disappear at six months
or one year of age. On a personal level, I am sad for Dr. Snyderman and her
children for not experiencing the mutual JOYS and benefits of breastfeeding
through toddlerhood.  I have been either pregnant , nursing or doing both at
the same time for the last four years of my life, and never once have
considered any part of motherhood a “hassle”. I am blessed to be my children’s
mother and honored to nurse them as long as they wish.  (However sterilizing
bottles, and nipples does seem like a big pain!)  She states that it is a
“lofty goal” to breastfeed for a year; I think Dr. Snyderman needs to get her
priorities straight.
Adriana Samargia Kaufman, PLA
Professional Mother of Two, Wife, and Labor Assistant
if you would like to reach Good Housekeeping, you may submit comments by:
sending your letter by mail to:
Good Housekeeping
Hearst Communications, Inc
Letters to the Editor (Ellen Levine and Deborah Pike)
959 Eighth Ave.
New York, NY 10019
or
going to: http://goodhousekeeping.com
click on “write to us” and send your letter
thank you