Home Hot Topics Articles Directors' Choice Awards About Us / Contact Us Activities & Curriculum Activities for Outcome-Based Learning Arts & Crafts Music for Learning Recommended Reading Sharing Boards: What Do YOU Think? NEWSlink Current National News Conference Calendar Topics In Early Childhood Education Art and Creativity in Early Childhood Education Job Sharing Board State Licensing Requirements Stay Connected! Each month we'll send you an email filled with articles and ideas for your classroom. Subscribe Now Date: 2/26/2006 7:02:00 AM Author: williamsmummy (gagadacare@aol.com) Subject: lots of different countries and cultures... lots of different countries and cultures have differing opinons on bottles, the french mothers do let their children have bottles for longer, years in fact. In the uk its frowned on past a year or so. Both countries have an appallingly low rates of breastfeeding. french mums are more concerned about getting their bodies back in shape to keep the sex good for their husbands, breastfeeding is not a major concern. There are visits by physios to give lessons on firming up that pelvic floor!! The british mums may get a leaflet on how to cope with wetting yourself, and who to ask for help. They also have to experience intense pressure from midwives who wax lyrical about the benifits of breastfeeding until you give birth. Then all help with breastfeeding disapears. ( well, thats my bitter experience!) As a long term breastfeeder I cant see the problem in letting a child have a bottle for a long as they have an emotional need that cant be replaced by anything than a bottle. I must admit, that last feed for my children was replaced by a cuddle/story/ and big kiss goodnight. That said, I dont think thats the issue here. The issue is the parents , who want to keep a child a baby. They are stepping backwards , rather than embracing the joy of a childs forward development. i wonder ? are the childs allergies classic or food intolerance? There is a great deal of guilt, stress and concern from parents who have children with severe allergies. There is an instinctive urge to over protect children with these sort of conditions. Do you think these parents feel guilty for spending too much time working away from their child? How 'in tune' are these parents to their childs needs? are they aware of her development and growth? This could be an area to over play with the parents, stress the achievments she has made development wise, and get them to look forward towards the next step. I would also ask for a agreed times for all of you to stick to when regards giving the child a bottle. perhaps just for bedtime and the teeth brushing. and leave open the suggestion for a next meeting /agreement to talk over removeing the bottles. Let them think over it and put the ball in their court. It more than likely hasnt even struck then as odd if they dont see older children that often. good luck Name: Email: Subject

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