Linda Smith put it very well: 'neither mother nor baby should feel "done-to" by the other.' I'd like to come out of the closet on this, and admit that I am not the world's most permissive mom. I loved my babies to distraction (still do! even tho they are 22, 19 and 16 - and I'm talkin' years, not months, like some of you out there!), but I would not put up with their hurting me. I didn't allow them to bite me (nursing or otherwise), hit me or kick me. Distraction via scarf or the like sounded like a good idea to me, and I would like to suggest reading aloud. All of my kids are voracious readers (in two languages) - maybe because of my doing this? Reading becomes a pleasurable association for them.... Now that I think about it, I remember that when my kids started kicking in utero like they were practicing for that final touchdown, I would pat him/her on (hopefully) the rump (but possibly the head). Just my old-fashioned opinion. Judy K