Julie: how is the mother planning to achieve this tan? a tanning bed or chemicals? Alternate feeds: some infants are very sensitve to what is PUT in thier mouths...that is the dvantage of cup feeding which allows the infant to controll the feed. I try to find a cery diplomatic and emphatic way to explain to the parents the infants feeling about its mouth. Holding: tough...some infants need/want more holding than others...the infant's need/desire to be held constantly at this time is not related to the previous holding other than to see that this has been been a child needing holding from the start...there are some good books: sandy jones crying babies, sleepless nights, i think w. sears also has a book on "high need" children... this mother needs ALOT (yes i am shouting) of emotional support to a) meet this child's need and b) do so in the face of incredible opposition. Patricia