Any AAP or other "authorities" on no imposed schedules, yes cue-feeding?

[St. Margaret]

My ped is pretty good, and b/c she mentioned vaxes w/o assuming we'd be doing them, and is cool w/ us whatever we choose, we'll be keeping her. But she's said a few wonky things about bfing, and the practice (which has several peds and an LC) has these handouts of info for each stage of growth-- and the bfing info is pretty bad. It starts off well but then seems to think all babies should feed every 3-4 hrs (except for an "occasional 'growth day'"--ha, try several-day growth spurt for my dd!) and anything else is snacking and should be discouraged, including if a baby "seems" to want to nurse more often while colicky at night-- it says to "follow this schedule:" ten minutes one side, 5 minutes burping, 10 min other side, 5 burping-- and to not feed more often than every two hours!

So these are basically good people-- I think they really do encourage bfing as the norm and have good info on intact penile care, and even their lame sleep advice one ped posted on their website I think is meant as a way to discourage parents from doing extreem or early cio (but still, blech). They emphasize it being impossible to spoil a baby and to hold them a lot-- so I really want to get some changes in there about bfing, and not just ditch them.

SO-- help me help them by pointing me to any authorities they are likely to find compelling that argue against scheduling feedings like that. Wasn't there something about babies setting their own schedules? Just the idea that there's this one-size-fits-all and don't respond to cues idea gets me mad! I want to adress that. dd's healthy and gaining just right and I feed her all the time. I'm scared to think what might have happened to her if I'd followed this advice... what about reverse-cycling babes? might not they eat frequently in the evening when reunited w/ mom? help me brainstorm any more points... I welcome any help you can give me. I have looked at the aap statement on bfing and bm but it didn't seem to say much for beyond the first week or two, and this advice is for 2 wks-2months I think. I know they link to LLL on their site so they must respect it enough to refer people there, so that's really all I have so far.

TIA!!

[carriebft]

http://www.breastfeedingtaskforla.org/aap-statement.htm

2005 AAP Policy Statement of Breastfeeding
and the Use of Human Milk

This pediatric practice enthusiastically supports parents’ plans to breastfeed their baby. We believe that breastfeeding ensures the best possible health, development, and psycho-social outcomes for your baby. In support of this commitment, we:


6. Encourage breastfeeding on demand.

(I know you said you read the statement already, but you can show her this part which clearly has no designation on the age of the babe)

[jeanine123]

http://www.ezzo.info/Aney/letterofconcern.pdf

http://www.ezzo.info/Aney/coversheet...uctorynote.pdf

http://www.ezzo.info/Aney/hcpsigners.pdf

http://www.fix.net/~rprewett/evidence.html

Also the AAP publishes a book, can't think of the name but it's something along the lines of your child from birth to 5yo, that advocates cue feeding.

[carriebft]

ALso this is from a letter on the Ezzo scheduling method:

Unfortunately, the schedule in "Babywise" does not take into account differences among breastfeeding women and babies. According to one report, differences of up to 300 percent in the maximum milk storage capacity of women's breasts mean that, although women have the capability of producing the same amount of milk over a 24-hour period for their infants, some will have to breastfeed far more frequently than others to maintain that supply. Babies must feed when they need to, with intervals and duration determined according to a variety of factors in temperament, environment, and physiological make-up. Averages may fit into a bell-shaped curve, but some babies will require shorter intervals. (Daly S., Hartmann P. "Infant demand and milk supply, Part 2. The short-term control of milk synthesis in lactating women." Journal of Human Lactation; 11; (1):27-37).

http://www.ezzo.info/Aney/aneyaap.htm

[Momtwice]

"Getting Wise to Babywise" by Katie Allison Granju quotes an AAP spokesperson
saying babies should be fed on cue
http://www.salon.com/mwt/feature/199...6feature2.html

The great controversy stems in large part from the fact that the "Babywise" approach represents a harsh throwback to decades-old and widely discredited child-care manuals in which mothers were advised to watch the clock rather than their babies' signals in determining when breast or bottle should be offered. Today, in response to extensive research into infant nutrition and growth, experts strongly advise against "scheduling" and in favor of feeding, preferably breast-feeding, according to a baby's cues. In recent months, the American Academy of Pediatrics issued a "Media Alert" in which the organization emphatically "reaffirms its stance that the best feeding schedules for babies are the ones babies design themselves." The alert went on to say that "scheduled feedings designed by parents may put babies at risk for poor weight gain and dehydration."

"Parents shouldn't try to put their healthy infants on feeding schedules," says Susan Baker, M.D., chairwoman of the Committee on Nutrition for the AAP and an associate professor at the Medical University of South Carolina. "Babies' feeding needs are extremely variable. You should nurse your baby when she's hungry or shows signs of being hungry, no matter when she last ate."

[Momtwice]

This is a good one!
http://www.ezzo.info/AAP/aap_media_alert.htm

And some more
http://www.kellymom.com/babyconcerns....html#schedule

[St. Margaret]

oh, this is all awesome, thanks! I'm going to craft a killer letter to give the

THANK YOU!! :

[jeanine123]

I think the quote from Katherine Dettwyler, PhD in Momtwice's siggy is a good one too and quite fitting.

[Little Bear's Mama]

http://www.lalecheleague.org/ba/May99.html
http://www.lalecheleague.org/NB/NBJulAug03p126.html
http://www.fix.net/~rprewett/evidence.html

[St. Margaret]

thanks, I was thinking of exactly that quote I knew I'd seen, but couldn't remember whose siggy it was!

we got the follow up call from the ped and so I got to ask the question I forgot-- and it turns out they are using the OLD growth charts. egads, it'ds nice to be needed one more thing to get changed!

[Momtwice]

Dettwyler's articles are here. Not sure which one my sig line came from; there are a few that could be helpful here. Scroll down.

http://www.kathydettwyler.org/dettwyler.html

[St. Margaret]

most excellent! ty!

[GatorNNP]

You could ask her what you should do if you don't own a clock. Ha ha ha.