monkey_kins thinks i have issues, what about you this question?

Depends on the problem at hand. If someone wants to know the best way to get baby to sleep or information about breastfeeding, i think that's okay. But if your baby has a temp and is projectile vomiting, your butt should NOT be on Yahoo Answers, you should be at the hospital asking a doctor. Also, mom or aunt doesn't always give any better answers than the average Jane. My mother in laws mom told her to drink beer while she was pregnant to make sure her breastmilk was rich. My mother told me breastfeeding was too cumbersome and a pain in the a**, so I shouldn't do it. My mother is also a nurse.

I was wondering about this the other night. I wonder how many of the questions are from people with no health coverage. I call my pediatrician, but I have that as an easy option whenever I want... You don't want to think people are making health decisions based on money, but to some extent there is sense in asking if some things are common problems. My sister in law goes in to the doctor whenever her kid coughs twice, there should be a middle ground.

Also, I often look up problems in books before calling my doctors office. This would be equivelant. That way when I call about, say vomitting, I am ready for the questions they are likely to ask. I know if it is urgent and I want the doctor or less urgent and want the nurse. Or if it is a question that can wait till office hours or needs the emergency room.

Lets see my doctor said I had to night-wean my 7 WEEK old baby. Night weaning at too young of an age (which 7 weeks is by ANY definition) can lead to failure to thrive, malnutrition, and mother loosing her milk supply.

Doctors are not gods. Yes I wouldn't take the advice of anyone here as writ. But I certainly would take experiences and the links many people (particularly myself) provide to reputable sites as sources of information on which to base a decision.

The same as people ask their family and peers for advice.

More on doctors not being perfect: thalidomide, Scopolamine, leaving floppy babies to die before APGAR, mandatory episiotomies, misprescribing medications, operating on the wrong patients, starting solids before 6 months (which has been shown to cause harm), etc, etc.

It depends on the issue like someone else said. If they are just seeking advice on breastfeeding then I will be happy to provide info but they should also check with their lactation consultant. Now if their baby is very sick they have no business even being on the computer. I see no problem asking for advice but always follow up with a doctor.

I just hope people are seeking advice elsewhere and possibly considering the input from all sources (including Y.A.). I know new parents have lots of questions and may be more comfortable asking here than "bugging" their doctor all the time.