Yesterday I attended an in-service provided by the Ohio Department of Health
on BBTD at our hospital.  I was pleased that one of the first things out of
the mouth of the presenter was that it is the policy of ODH to promote
breastfeeding.  As I sat there..... I had the thought and of course it just
bubbled out of my mouth (me, not being a shy retiring type)....

--why is juice promoted at all for children??????  It is junk food. There is
nothing in juice that the whole food could not provide (modified in texture
appropriate for age)  Why don't we enlist the aid of the dental people (who
apparently are a very strong group) to help us???

--Why don't we promote cup feeding as being "advanced"?  Using the good
old-fashioned topless  cup prevents propping and means an attentive adult
must be present.  (I am talking about appropriate transitioning from the
breast to other means of beverage intake OR instead of using the bottle as
the container for abm)

-----  Just think, all the moms who think it is advanced to give their 1-week
olds solids could then be cupping the babies too!!!  I think the dentists
could do more to promote cup feeding than any of us could ever hope to.  They
hate bottles.

In Ohio, the dental groups raised such a ruckus over the bottles shaped like
soft drink containers that they were removed from the shelves (this could
have been nationwide - I was unclear about how wide an area was affected).

Finally, I pointed out to her that the educational materials they have state
something to the effect of "Since nearly all babies are fed from a
bottle....."  I suggested (strongly) that they update their materials and
choose to stop supporting the cultural belief that bottles are a normal part
of development -- especially since she stated that "from breast to cup" was
the best transition.  She was receptive. ( I also had to put in my $.02 about
how I think bottles are a phallic symbol and that is always what goes through
my head when I see those flower arrangements with the bottle helium balloons
floating around -- sheesh).

Just a few thoughts......  I've been wondering how to build a bridge between
the dental groups and us.  This may be an avenue.

Martha Brower RD LD IBCLC, Dayton, OH