Ahn asked about "using the breast as a pacifier" and if this might deter a child from eating and growing appropriately. 

When one uses artificial feeding as the norm, one tends to misunderstand the emotional meaning of the nursing relationship. On the other hand, when we use nursing as the term of reference, we realize that nursing is not a 
method of feeding it is a relationship.Older nursing babies and children rarely associate the breast with food, they nurse in order to satisfy their emotional needs. So of course they use the breast for comfort, relaxation and basic all round containing  That is the way it is supposed to be!!!! 
 
Most of these children eat well rounded and full meals while they concurrently nurse very frequently during the day and night. However, since children are individuals, (just like other humans!!) the amount and manner in which they take in other nutrition varies. This usually has very little to do with their nursing patterns.  

Unfortunately, the normal developmental pattern associated with nursing is often misconstrued by clinicians and is pathologized. It seems that whenever, children seem to deviate from what is perceived as the norm in any other way, the nursing relationship is always blamed. This often goes hand in hand with measures that interfere with otherwise healthy developmental patterns.
 
It sounds to me, mom/physician, that you are sensitive to your child and are addressing her needs. This is indicated on one hand by the way that you are attempting to get at the bottom of the apparent deviance from normal growth and have noted several important points. You mentioned that the baby's length and head circumference are normal. I wondered what role this was playing in the diagnosis. Since you are talking about possible food aversion, I also wonder about other aspects of your child's development, especially behavior, that might provide insight. 

Your sensitivity to your child is also shown by the way that you continue to recognize her needs to nurse frequently and your ambivalence regarding the advice provided to you.  It seems that you recognize that reading, interpreting and meeting children's needs enhances the development of positive emotional scripts and lead to the evolvement of secure attachment. 

Bearing an understanding of healthy nursing behaviors in mind, one would expect a securely attached child of 18 months to demonstrate behaviors that suggest that they are madly in love with their primary caregiver, want to be with her most of the time and that they are not pleased with separating from her. It is normal for these children to re-connect with their love object at the beloved breast several times during the day. This is normal!!!   

Keren Epstein-Gilboa MEd BScN RN FACCE LCCE IBCLC
PhD (Candidate) Human Development/Family Relations
Psychotherapist 

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