Hi all, my letter to the pimp: Dear Ms. Hallihan, I was dismayed to see that Barney is being sponsored by Mead-Johnson toddler formula, complete with a commercial about how this product enhances toddler health. This is ironic on several fronts. First, the AAP and the World Health Organization have both pronounced that there is no benefit to "follow-on milks" or follow up/toddler formulas. Secondly, both former US Surgeon General Novello and the World Health Organization recommend toddlers continue to breastfeed. If you were aware of the benefits of mother's milk to older babies and toddlers, and the benefits of extended breastfeeding to mothers, you certainly would not allow a commercial interest to advertise a replacement for this process without at least a disclaimer. Advertising on PBS is particularly pernicious, as it is perceived as fact and accepted with far less scrutiny than commercials on other networks. This is a distressing trend for those of us working in the trenches to engender acceptance of improved health behaviors as a way to address this nations incredible health care costs. Increasing breastfeeding rates to the Healthy People 2000 goals would save at least $4 billion per year on health care costs. The advertising of breast milk substitutes makes bottle feeding with manufactured milks seem like the normal thing to do. Witness the prevalence of the bottle as an icon of babyhood in this nation. I am sure that you have corporations lining up for a chance to sponsor Barney. Please be judicious in regard to the messages your sponsors are allowed to implant into the receptive minds of your young audience. I am unwilling to entrust my own children's minds to a company that has proven careless in such an important area. Sincerely, Catherine Watson Genna, IBCLC Get em where they live! Catherine