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Path: utzoo!linus!peg
From: peg@linus.UUCP (Margaret E. Craft)
Newsgroups: net.kids
Subject: Demand versus scheduled feeding of infants
Message-ID: <492@linus.UUCP>
Date: Wed, 30-Nov-83 13:24:18 EST
Article-I.D.: linus.492
Posted: Wed Nov 30 13:24:18 1983
Date-Received: Thu, 1-Dec-83 20:49:04 EST
Organization: MITRE Corp., Bedford MA
Lines: 18

A friend of mine with a new baby at home just calmly informed me that they
are scheduling their child's nursing.  "We had a choice
between an eight hour stretch at nite followed by a four hour stretch, or two
six hour stretches."  I was amazed to find that not everyone does pure demand
feedings these days.  His reason was pretty logical:  If you feed him when he
cries, then you are teaching him to cry!!

I have several references in my books about this, but wanted some reactions
from real, experienced people.  Am I training my child to cry for food??!!
Is he creating a child who will feel insecure because his requests
(i.e., his cries) are ignored, or at least are not met by the thing he's
asking for (food)??

How many of you used scheduled feedings?  How many used demand?  Is there such
a thing as a compromise between the two?

Please respond directly to me unless you think you have something of general
interest to say.  I'll summarized the results.