Blogging for Babies, Breastfeeding and Mothers

I received an email requesting references for the "breast crawl". Here's the link to a website with a video of the infant crawling to the breast or showing "breast seeking behavior". There is also a list of references on this website.

In my own practice as a lactation consultant, I have witnessed this, along with mothers and dads, hundreds of times. The ecstatic joy that fills the room is amazing. Time and time again parents (and I) are blown away by the baby's ability to find the breast. I work with babies that are from 3 days to 12 months of age.

Babies born in hospitals may not always do this right at birth due to difficult labors, epidurals, pain medications, separation of baby and mother along with other factors. Experts such as Dr. Tina Smillie have found that babies retain the ability to seek the breast until at least 12 months of age. Ongoing research will certainly tell us more in the future.

Thanks for the email and question.