attachment parenting

iVillage Member
Registered: 02-19-2004
attachment parenting
1781
Mon, 08-14-2006 - 3:17pm

A woman I know (I used to work with her dh) practices "attachment parenting". Here is a definition (for those who don't know what it is):

"Attachment Parenting includes respecting your child's needs, feeding on demand, and answering your baby's cries. Other parts of Attachment Parenting include co-sleeping, nursing on demand, sling or other baby carrier wearing, and cloth diapering. Not all Attachment Parents practice all of the above, but never the less love the idea of Attachment Parenting and comforting their children.

Attachment parenting uses mild discipline methods and avoids all physical or emotional punishment, such as inflicting shame on a child for inappropriate behavior. Children are encouraged and allowed to sleep with their parents, and you treat your bed as the family bed. Meeting your child's needs according to the child's time frame during the early years of development is an essential part of attachment parenting. Children will be allowed to grow and learn at their own pace and not according to standard time frames."

What do you all think of attachment parenting?

I don't see attachment parenting as something a WOH parent could do, or could they? What do u think?

I am also curious to see if SAHPs vs/ WOHPs will have different opionions on this topic.

If anyone here practices attachment parenting - was your decision to do so closely linked with your decision to be a SAHP?

josee

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Avatar for kerry88
iVillage Member
Registered: 04-22-2003
Wed, 08-23-2006 - 8:22pm
At this age I don't have to worry about it apparently - and yes, I would probably try something else first at this stage, but I have nursed my son in public when he needed it. I try to be discreet and at times would remove him and myself from the situation before nursing, but if that's what worked best, why should I not do it?
Kerry with Campbell Elizabeth 11.03.06 and Benjamin Brady 12.10.03
Avatar for kerry88
iVillage Member
Registered: 04-22-2003
Wed, 08-23-2006 - 8:35pm

My breast is part of ME and it's not the only part of me he is attached to. My breast provides nutrients to him that he could not get from a teddy bear. It also has calming hormones that helped to immediately calm my son down - something he also couldn't get from a teddy bear. Also, teddy bears get lost, misplaced, etc. Unless something tragic happens, Mom will be around.

So you're claiming that you could, with words and cuddling and a teddy bear, calm down a hysterical 1 year old within 10 seconds or immediately?

Kerry with Campbell Elizabeth 11.03.06 and Benjamin Brady 12.10.03
iVillage Member
Registered: 11-18-2005
Wed, 08-23-2006 - 8:45pm
Which is still equal to about less than %3 of all mothers. So, again, how are most mothers in the US drug abusers?
iVillage Member
Registered: 07-26-2006
Wed, 08-23-2006 - 9:01pm
I agree. How ridiculous. Like my children didn't experience everything her children did while nursing. I just didn't see a need to throw my breast in their mouth when they were upset. I certainly would not stick a bottle in their mouth to get them to calm down if they weren't hungry. Just sort of ridiculous.
iVillage Member
Registered: 07-26-2006
Wed, 08-23-2006 - 9:03pm

<<>>

I could calm my children down (to be honest I didn't time it)when they weren't hungry without using my breast. Yes no problem at all.

iVillage Member
Registered: 06-09-2006
Wed, 08-23-2006 - 9:09pm
In the public place setting, I am betting it takes over 10 seconds to calm him. Since you have to move to a discreet place, get settled and then start to nurse. So, that scenario would probably be alot longer than 10 seconds.
iVillage Member
Registered: 06-09-2006
Wed, 08-23-2006 - 9:10pm

"So, again, how are most mothers in the US drug abusers?"

Where did I ever say that most mothers in the US are drug abusers??

Avatar for kerry88
iVillage Member
Registered: 04-22-2003
Wed, 08-23-2006 - 9:50pm

I believe I said I try to be discreet...let's see, I already told the story about when in a very public place (the hospital) I nursed him in front of doctors, nurses, orderlies, other patients and their parents. I have no issue nursing in public, but I try to be modest about it.

In the one specific hypothetical scenerio you mentioned I think it would take anyone (except for mbanc who can soothe her kids immediately with no "tools") more than 10 seconds to calm their kids down.

I just don't understand why people think it's a problem to breastfeed for comfort, given the studies that have been done which prove it works (not to mention the overpowering anecdotal evidence).

Kerry with Campbell Elizabeth 11.03.06 and Benjamin Brady 12.10.03
iVillage Member
Registered: 07-26-2006
Wed, 08-23-2006 - 9:54pm
Just for the record I don't have a problem with someone who nurses to calm their children down. I just said I didn't do it, nor did I need to do it. I believe it has been the other way around. One poster said she felt sorry for my children. So you might want to rethink the whole who has a problem with what scenerio.
Avatar for myshkamouse
iVillage Member
Registered: 03-26-2003
Wed, 08-23-2006 - 10:04pm

There were many infants seperated from their mothers' during Hurricane Katrina, what, do you suppose, were they fed during that seperation? *GASP*...FORMULA!!!! Had it not been for formula, these babies were have starved to death."

Youve missed the point entirely. Point is, if there is poluted water, and no access to formula, formula fed babies are in dire straits. If there is no water, and no access to formula, bf babies are fine. If they are separated from their moms and picked up by authorities they can *always* get formula. Its as easy to get as fast food and not much better.

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