Laura, I read with interest and concern your post from today's digest:

"  I personally do not think it is necessary or
even desirable to meet all of an infant's needs at the breast.  Definitely
hunger (in whatever pattern it presents itself) should be met with nursing.
 But why teach a child that food is the answer to boredom, distress,
discomfort, frustration, loneliness, tiredness, etc.?  Many eating disorders
get started this way (ie. compulsive eating, etc.) "

I hear that you have made up your mind on issues of comfort and
breastfeeding on cue (I prefer to call it cue, since demand sounds like an
infant is being unreasonable in requesting to breastfeed).  That is fine.
You are entitled to this opinion..we all have that right.

However, I would *strongly* object to the conclusion you have drawn between
breastfeeding on cue and increased incidence of eating disorders, and
anorexia. I plain old don't believe it. Never will. I have a close family
member who has anorexia, and know a fair bit about this terrible disorder.
Anorexia is caused by having needs that are *not* met,... To my knowledge,
there is absolutely no research that states that this type of attachment
parenting causes eating disorders, and I am kind of upset that this
inference was made.

Of course I do not recommend that people eat as an answer to boredom,
distress, etc. However, this is not the same thing, in my humble opinion..

Crashing off the soapbox....Kathleen

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Kathleen B. Bruce, BSN, IBCLC, LLL Leader (7 yrs),
Co-Owner Lactnet,  E-Mail = [log in to unmask]
LACTNET WWW site: http://www.mcs.com/~auerbach/lactation.html
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