LuAnn asks how to get people to listen who have "bought into" the super
scheduling systems.  Much has been said about this including the recent
posts that help us understand why people will ignore their instincts to
follow what they believe is spiritually better for their infants.
There are certain key words that are red lights for these programs
including "demand feeding", "pacifying at breast" and "snacking at
breast".  I have tried to replace them in my teaching vocabulary .  I
talk about how the early feeding cues are baby's "polite requests"
whereas crying is comparable to jumping up and down and screaming for
attention.  By responding to the early cues we begin to teach baby that
polite requests will be heeded-you don't have to throw a tantrum to get
what you need.  When a mom refers to baby "using me as a pacifier", I
try to talk about "comfort sucking" vs actual feeding and point out that
in the first days, the stimulation may help bring the full milk volume
in sooner and smoother.  I like to point out that while sometimes baby
is looking for a full 10-course dinner, at other times he may only need
a few sips to quench his thirst.  In talking to a new mom, she has most
likely taken several sips of water while I'm there, so I point out that
baby gets its water by nursing.  Parents seem to accept the shorter
nursings more easily when they think of them in this way rather than as
"snacking".
Winnie

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