I certainly agree that babies can bond to others beside the mother.  My first
and second children were three years apart.  I never left them with any one
else until about two years old, they were not comfortable with it.  The next
baby was born when my oldest was eight years old.  That baby was loved and
nurtured by her big sister  Lindsay,all the time.  Sometimes holding her while
she slept for more that an hour.  They developed a very close relationship.  I
could leave  the baby at eight months old at my Mom's as long as her sister
was with her.  She was happy and content.  Our last baby came when the others
were 12, 9, and 5 years old.  She was totally happy with her siblings
especially the girls, what a tight bond.  ( This may have been helped by the
fact that we homeschool and they are always together)  A few years ago a
friends child asked her if they were going over to our house, he described it
as ' the family that has two Mom's'.   At eighteen years old Lindsay has
become a big promoter of breastfeeding to her peers at college and in her
cultural Anthropology class.  She is taking Nutrition this semester I'm
waiting to hear what happens.  She asks for books to give the pg girls and
encourages the single moms to spend more time with their babies.  This is why
I believe it is good to have extended families so that the future mom's have
the knowledge before having their children.  (I of course hope that Lindsay
waits a long time before she starts her family)

Kim Hartwick