Here's my hunch:
Picture a family that is coping with a fussy baby. They don't know why
the baby is fusy, but it's wearing on everyone. They try feeding
Substance X, and the baby settles down.  What's their inevitable
conclusion? Substance X is better for their baby than whatever they were
feeding before.

So in the many families through the ages that have been feeding their
babies cows' milk in some form, a baby who was fussy because of
sensitivity to the cows' milk proteins (not the lactose) might settle
when those offending proteins were replaced by goat proteins. Voila! The
family tells its neighbors that goats' milk is better for babies than
cows' milk.

I see a similar scenario frequently playing out with our WIC families in
South Jersey. The breastfed baby is acting like a normal breastfed baby,
wanting cluster feeds. This is interpreted by the family as being
"fussy," or "too demanding." The family tries giving formula, and the
baby sleeps for four hours. Voila! The family thinks that this
artificial bovine or soy-based product is better for their baby than
human milk.

It would be so nice if people going through their normal day could see
typical breastfeeding babies everywhere: babies who want to be held,
babies who let you know when they want to nurse, babies whose naps last
20 minutes if you're lucky, as well as the babies who sleep like logs
through anything. Unrealistic expectations of babies' behavior is one of
the biggest barriers to breastfeeding in our neck of the woods.

Chris Mulford, RN, IBCLC
LLL Leader Reserve
working for WIC in South Jersey (Eastern USA)
Co-coordinator, Women & Work Task Force, WABA

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