I am admitting here I have not always been sold on finger feeding, thinking it wasn't much different from a bottle nippe, but was open to it as a new LC and have seen it work great on many occasions. It seems there is good control of the tongue placement, sucking can be rewarded with a burst of milk from dropper or syringe, and the skin-to-skin component is also a step toward the breast. A couple of months ago I had a case with a couple who needed their 2 month old daughter to take a bottle while mom was at work, dad would be the primary caretaker. They had "tried everything" and baby refused a bottle. I told them over the phone I can't work miracles but to bring in all the feeding paraphernalia they had to a consult that afternoon. Tried cup feeding - No Way, tried bottle - No Way, then tried finger feeding....baby took it very well! Then I withdrew my finger and dad slipped his in, then he droppered in expressed milk, too. Then after the edge was taken off baby's hunger with an ounce of milk, she accepted the bottle! Then baby nursed from mom and completely relaxed, just loved being near mom's body and at the breast. I thought she may be a difficult baby to watch separated from mama, so discussed some back-to-work strategies such as could dad bring baby to the workplace during lunch breaks for breastfeeding....a viable possibility for this couple as the workplace was within 3 miles of home; also skin-to-skin time with dad for afternoon naps, and working 4 ten hour days instead of 5 eight hour days. This couple asked me if the purpose of finger feeding was usually to coax a baby onto the breast, and I answered, Yes, but this time we are using it in reverse! They laughed. They also said they were so glad they came in for the consult and gave a good report to the staff pediatrician shortly after. Susan Potts rn ibclc From rainy Minnesota ________________________________________________________________ YOU'RE PAYING TOO MUCH FOR THE INTERNET! Juno now offers FREE Internet Access! Try it today - there's no risk! For your FREE software, visit: http://dl.www.juno.com/get/tagj. *********************************************** The LACTNET mailing list is powered by L-Soft's renowned LISTSERV(R) list management software together with L-Soft's LSMTP(TM) mailer for lightning fast mail delivery. For more information, go to: http://www.lsoft.com/LISTSERV-powered.html