Gonneke  asks:
"Whenever I hear people talk about lazy babies,  difficult nursers,
babies
going on and off the breast without 'properly finishing the feed',
etc, I
wonder who has the real problem? Isn't it nature's way for a human
baby to
pop on and off the breast, with perhaps an occasional longer feed
and then
longer sleeping period?"

I think when many of us use these or similar terms with a newborn we
aren't always talking about a baby who is content acting this way.
Especially in the first 24 hours, and even beyond in some, I say
"anything goes" unless there is a valid medical concern (confirmed
low blood sugar for example).  However, when a baby is not
happy-e.g. "pops on and off the breast" and is crying or otherwise
appearing frustrated-then we need to try to find out why and see
what we can do to help baby be happier.  In some cases, it's helping
him get a more effective latch and hence more milk transfer.  In
other cases baby is saying, "Leave me alone.  I'm not ready to do
this yet."  And sometimes we can't figure out what the baby is
trying to tell us.  (It would be so much easier if they were
verbal!)
The first part of any intervention (or choice not to intervene) is
figuring out why baby is behaving the way it is.  It can be anything
from perfectly normal behavior to a signal that there is something
very wrong.

Winnie

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