Hello All,

I just wanted to clarify my post to Dr. Karp.  I, in no way, intended to
make a blanket statement that all bottles are bad all the time.  What I
had intended to do was challenge Dr. Karp's seemingly blanket statements
that 2 weeks is an appropriate time to introduce the bottle and that
bottles are a necessity at all (and that co-sleeping would lead to sleep
deprivation in another post).

I started to reply to individuals' responses to my post, but realized
that it would just go on and on to no meaningful conclusion.  However,
Susan Jacoby so eloquently stated another real problem with the early
introduction of bottles--effectively "wasting" your maternity leave
becoming preoccupied with the how and why and when of leaving.  Instead,
mothers would do well to savor that short time to immerse themselves in
their baby.  That would be a big boon to getting breastfeeding off to a
good start.

So many people shared personal experiences in response to my post, and
reading those it seems like my point was lost.  I in no way mean to
belittle or attack anyone who makes any choice other than standard
attachment parenting practice.  Again, I was trying to challenge what I
perceived as blase statements by Dr. Karp.  Perhaps I was reading too
much into his statements, but I read what I felt were some loaded
statements, and thought that it would be useful to bring it back to the
"norm" (whatever that is).

I'm not a zealot.  I have made different choices for my two children
based on their personalities and temperments.  But sometimes there is
inherent value in certain practices (such as co-sleeping and nursing ad
lib at night), that even if one is choosing another path, it is still
appropriate and useful to know the downsides of whatever choice one is
making.  And there are always downsides.  If early introduction of
bottles predisposes mothers to wean early (and there is plenty of
evidence to support that it does), mothers should know that.  They should
also know the signs of possible weaning as well, so that if they choose
to go forth they go forth armed with information.

I absolutely believe that we need to meet mothers where they're at.
Absolutely.  Every day that a baby receives breastmilk beneficial to that
baby, no matter how long it continues.  But there is an educational
component that needs to be there as well.  Without it, it really isn't an
informed choice.

Anyway, I apologize if I put words into Dr. Karp's mouth (or messages).
That is a pitfal of electronic communication.  It is hard to see the
spirit in which the message was written.

Respectfully,

Gina Gerboth

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