Thanks very much Robyn. I might see if I can track down the reference though
it might be difficult without more detail.
I agree that children can forget how to suckle but this is not all children
by any means. I would challenge the assertion that suction must be lost by 2
or 3 years. My basis, personal experience...my daughter was 3y4m at adoption
and 3.5y when she started breastfeeding. It had been at least 3 years since
she might have been breastfed. I think those early instinctive behaviours
can be brought back to the surface under particular circumstances.
Karleen Gribble
Australia

> I don't know if this is at all helpful or not...but in the Maternal &
Infant
> Assessment class I just took (Healthy Children) the physiology of suction
> was discussed and the reference given for "suction by mouth or tounge is
an
> infant mechanism-outgrown by 2 to 3 years, unless the child continues to
> nurse"  was given as Auerbach (1888).  The course instructor went on to
say
> that once the child does wean they do not remember how to suckle in that
way
> again, it is an instinctive behavior and only 'works ' for as long as it
is
> used on a regular basis, once it is not used anymore it is lost.
>
>

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