Linda,
I agree with you that tubes at the breast do not improve infants' suck, except
under one condition:  I have had a lot of success with tube and syringe
complementation at the breast with infants with unsustained suckling.
Whenever they paused for "too long" beyond what was needed for breathing and a
rest, mom gave a .5cc bolus with the syringe, and baby was off sucking again.
 This did the trick for even my "worst" FTT baby (who lost 2 lbs in her first
month).  When suck mechanics are the issue, the baby needs to have that
addressed. Sometimes it is as simple as improving oral motor stability by
improving the support mom gives in her positioning at the breast...but just
supplying more milk at one time does not do it.
Catherine Watson Genna, IBCLC  NYC  [log in to unmask]