In a message dated 96-06-01 23:34:11 EDT, you write: >Date: Sat, 1 Jun 1996 11:02:34 -0400 >From: "Alison K. hazelbaker" <[log in to unmask]> >Subject: Re: sucking as a way to organize babies > >I absolutely agree with Barbara regarding babies needing sucking to help them >stay or get "organized".The problem is not with the concept of a bottle as a >therapeutic device but how, when and why it is used. Certainly certain teats >are going to promote better organization and it is our challenge to be sure >we know how to accomplish that goal and which teats work best to achieve that >goal. > >I am not a proponent of cup feeding and never have been. It concerns me >greatly that we have jumped onto a bandwagon without considering the possible >consequences of our actions. Cup feeding deprives an infant of sucking, it is >unphysiologic. In my experience, it causes poor coordination of suck, >swallow, and breathe (breathing being the key component in all of this, >because if you can't breathe, you certainly can't suck). Lapping milk out of >a cup is unphysiologic. babies are meant to have a breast in their mouths for >feeding, to learn more about their world, for central nervous system >regulation, and for comfort. If you look at the videos currently available >that show cup feeding, you may be surprised to see some disorganized infants. >Are they disorganized because of the method of feeding, or were thaey that >way before they were fed? That is the question. We must learn to look more >closely at these babies so as to "first do no harm" > >There is no doubt that LCs are in a therapeutic position to need tools to >help rectify babies' sucking difficulties. There are many tools available to >help us do this. We need to consider which tool/intervention is going to >achieve the goal of getting baby organized and effective enough to do a good >job at breast, in the shortest period of time possible, without stressing the >baby out , or the rest of the family, in the process. > >i believe we must make our choice on a case by case basis and not think that >one way or another is always the right way. Bottles may very well be the best >method in a particluar circumstance, cup feeding in another, and >finger-feeding in another. No matter what, the method chosen should have as >an end result a baby who goes back to breast and is able to stay organized >and transferring milk well. > >Alison K. Hazelbaker > >------------------------------