I think that sucking is reflexive (or instinctive) behavior, but eating is not. In watching babies over the years, and in discussing this with our OT, I think that sucking is reflexive - that is stimulating reflexes causes the baby to suck. Eating, on the other hand, is learned when the baby discovers that sucking and swallowing satisfy a great need. I also commented once before that it seems to be quite important for premature babies to practice sucking. There is a great deal of negative oral stimulation for a premature baby, what with endotracheal tubes, gavage tubes, suctioning, etc. If they do not acquire sucking as a skill and a pleasure while the reflex is still there, some of them never do suck (or suckle) well. The prematures seen in our follow up clinics five years ago had far more problem with long-term gavage feedings because nobody could get them to suck, than we have since we have instituted early "thumby" pacifiers for premies, and VERY early skin-to-skin and breast feeding. IMO prematures may be the only babies who benefit from a decently shaped pacifier before they are able to begin breast feeding. Deanne *********************************************** 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