Oh my, just came from our local, very popular, very large pediatric group for
an asthma attack in one of my older sons.  I have been going to this group
for years, strictly for medical needs but have long since felt uncomfortable
about their lack of bfeeding support and knowledge.  They even have an LC on
staff, but she often pushes formula, supplementation and seeds of doubt in new
moms.  Never do I see the LLL brochures I Ieave with her or my LC brochures
either. While waiting in the exam room to be seen, I opened the drawer that said,
"Sleep help".  In this folder were several copies of a sheet titled "Helping
your baby sleep through the night".  It is a reprint from a 1985(!!) article in
Contemporary Peds.   THIS, my dear colleagues, is the real world.  THIS is
what new mothers are receiving as word.  THIS is where it all begins... Now,
where do I begin with this group?  Ann Conlon-Smith IBCLC, LLLL

 Some quotes -- "Babies who have not learned to put themselves back to sleep
cry for a parent.  If you provide too much attention (constant rocking for
example), the infant becomes dependent on you for returning to sleep.  These
infants are known as "night criers."  The infants who demand to be fed are called
"Trained night feeders".....These children become "fearful night criers."
Changing diapers during the night, allowing excessive daytime naps, and sleeping
in the same room with the baby can contribute to all three types of sleep
problems.
       Trained Night Feeders....by four months of age, about 90% of infants
can sleep more than eight consecutive hours without feeding.  The remainder can
learn to sleep through the night if you take the following steps:
       1. Increase the daytime feeding intervals to four hours or more.
Nightime feeding intervals cannot be extended if the daytime intervals remain
short.  The baby's stomach is condtioned to expect frequent feedings and complains
if they are delayed.... Your goal is four meals per day by four months of age
and three meals per day by 6 months of age.  During the day, the infants
demands for unnecessary feedings can be met with extra holding, attention, or a
pacifier.
       2. Discontinue any bottle in bed immediately.   Feed your child at
bedtime but don't let him hold or keep the bottle....
       3. Phase out night feedings.  Keep in mind that normal babies over 4
months and premature babies who have reached 11 pounds do not need any calories
during the night for health reasons.
Trained Night Criers
       .....Absolutely avoid playing with the baby, bringing him into your
bed or stahying in the room for more than one minute.  Most young infants will
cry for 30-60 minutes and then fall asleep...
Fearfull NIght Criers
       If your child sounds fearful,panics when you leave, cries until he
vomits, or by past experience, will cry for hours, go in and reassure him but do
not lift him out of the crib....Leave for a few minutes every now and then to
re-teach him that separation is tolerable....
When to call for help
       Call this office during regular office hours if you feel the crying
has physical cause.  If your child acts sick, of if someone in your family
cannot tolerate the crying. ...
                                Adapted from B.D. Schmitt:The Pediatric Guide
for Parents 1985"
Ann Conlon-Smith, IBCLC
http://www.trianglelactation.com
Breastpumps, Slings, Pillows and more
"What value has compassion that does not take its object in its arms?"
-----Antoine de St. Exupery-----

             ***********************************************

To temporarily stop your subscription: set lactnet nomail
To start it again: set lactnet mail (or digest)
To unsubscribe: unsubscribe lactnet
All commands go to [log in to unmask]

The LACTNET mailing list is powered by L-Soft's renowned
LISTSERV(R) list management software together with L-Soft's LSMTP(R)
mailer for lightning fast mail delivery. For more information, go to:
http://www.lsoft.com/LISTSERV-powered.html