Re the meddling relative and whether it is "worth it" to try educating her. I always feel it's worth at least some effort (certainly it's easy enough for me to pop some articles in the mail to her -- including a letter from Frank Oski stating that breastfeeding is good for children beyond three years of age! -- he's one of the good guys), and she wants to make the effort. And yes, this is just "some old aunt" who apparently never had children. BUT, she is going around soliciting information from pediatricians in Indiana about her relative in Houston. She talking to everyone who will listen about how this woman is *harming* her child. So she's having a huge influence on lots of people. If she can be gently educated, and provided research and references to show her that she is wrong, perhaps she will see the light, and start telling people she meets about the current research. IMHO (in my humble opinion) it will take a major change in our culture for it to become breastfeeding- and baby-friendly, and that requires everyone being supportive, not just the breastfeeding moms. So I advocate educating everyone we can, because we all know how those rude stares, hurtful comments, none-of-my-business-but-I'll-butt-my-nose-in-anyhow questions can be detrimental to breastfeeding. I posted early last December about my colleague whose baby had IUGR (mother had pre-eclampsia, was induced at 37 weeks). Baby was 4 lbs. some oz. when born, but otherwise healthy. Totally on breast milk. Had his 2 month check up last week and weighs 9 lbs 6 oz! Even still, numerous relatives are questioning whether the mother has enough milk, has rich-enough milk, can possible be providing for her baby, etc. etc. etc. and encouraing/almost demanding that they supplement with formula so he'll "get enough." The parents asked the doctor to please write out a statement to the effect that Max had gained 50% more in the first 2 months of life than his doctor considered "normal and adequate" and that if he gained any faster it wouldn't be good for him, and that his mother must have lots of nice rich milk. They had him sign it with his name and "Max's pediatrician" and the they FAXED it to relatives in Indiana and California. I thought that was pretty amusing.... ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- ------- Katherine A. Dettwyler, Ph.D. email: [log in to unmask] Anthropology Department phone: (409) 845-5256 Texas A&M University fax: (409) 845-4070 College Station, TX 77843-4352