Just a quick post on the subject of baby bottle tooth decay and breastfeeding. The American Academy of Pediatrics has a patient handout on this topic which they are encouraging pediatricians to give to their patients. In the section which discusses how baby bottle tooth decay (BBTD)develops, it explains that this condition is caused by putting baby to bed with a bottle of anything other than water. The next sentence states: "Allowing your baby to suck on a bottle or breastfeed for longer than a mealtime, either when awake or asleep, can also cause BBTD." This is in direct contradiction to everything I have ever seen on this topic. Pediatricians are being encouraged by the AAP to purchase this handout by the hundreds and distribute them to parents. I think a letter or two may be in order to ask the AAP why they are making this recommendation. From the data we have seen on Lactnet, it is hard to imagine what research was used to make such a statement. Encouraging 48,000 pediatricians to limit breastfeeding in this manner is disappointing to say the least. As a matter of fact, when I read the order form to see what other patient handouts were available, I saw none on encouraging mothers to breastfeed. Perhaps Dr. Palmer, Nicole, and others could draft a letter and we can send it from LACTNET.