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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iVillage Member
Registered: 06-02-2006
Fri, 08-18-2006 - 2:09pm

"So, a mother who eats a diet of junk food, her milk is more healthy than formula?" Absolutely.

"So, would you smoke while breasfeeding your infant?"
Not personally, because I don't smoke. However, a smoking mother is still encouragaed to BF rather then FF.

"A bottle-fed baby whose mother or other household members smoke would therefore be at even higher risk of these problems. Dr. Jack Newman states "The risks of not breastfeeding are greater to the baby than the risks of breastfeeding and smoking. The decision is up to the mother and I would encourage her to breastfeed."

http://www.lalecheleague.org/FAQ/smoking.html

iVillage Member
Registered: 03-27-2003
Fri, 08-18-2006 - 2:11pm
Exactly. I was the one who said it would be a betrayal to invite people over for a holiday meal and then serve them something that wasn't special. And your post explains exactly why. It is breaking the rules of hospitality. I think some Americans are starting to lose touch with this, but it's still the majority rule both here and abroad.
iVillage Member
Registered: 03-27-2003
Fri, 08-18-2006 - 2:14pm
I'm serious. It breaks the rules of hospitality.
iVillage Member
Registered: 06-09-2006
Fri, 08-18-2006 - 2:16pm

"Human milk contains at least 100 ingredients not found in formula. No babies are allergic to their mother's milk, although they may have a reaction to something the mother eats. If she eliminates it from her diet, the problem resolves itself."

So, a mother who BF *does* need to watch what she eats.

iVillage Member
Registered: 06-09-2006
Fri, 08-18-2006 - 2:19pm
If you were a smoker, would you still breastfeed?
iVillage Member
Registered: 06-02-2006
Fri, 08-18-2006 - 2:19pm
Only if her baby has a problem with it. So far, I only had to watch with my second. He got gassy if I ate onions... so I quit. No biggie.
iVillage Member
Registered: 06-09-2006
Fri, 08-18-2006 - 2:20pm

"So, a mother who eats a diet of junk food, her milk is more healthy than formula?" "Absolutely"

Where do you get this information from?

iVillage Member
Registered: 06-09-2006
Fri, 08-18-2006 - 2:23pm
So, a woman who BF needs to be a conscientious human being, as I posted before.
iVillage Member
Registered: 06-02-2006
Fri, 08-18-2006 - 2:27pm

From here...

"Do I need to maintain a perfect diet while breastfeeding?
The short answer to this question is NO – you do not need to maintain a perfect diet in order to provide quality milk for your baby. In fact, research tells us that the quality of a mother’s diet has little influence on her milk. Nature is very forgiving – mother’s milk is designed to provide for and protect baby even in times of hardship and famine. A poor diet is more likely to affect the mother than her breastfed baby.

It's common to hear women say that they want to wean (or not breastfeed at all) because they miss drinking coffee, or want to have an occasional glass of wine, or don't like worrying constantly about everything they eat. Guess what? You can drink caffeinated beverages (in moderation), have an occasional drink, eat what you want and still provide your baby with the absolute best nutrition and immunological protection - mother's own milk.

According to Katherine A. Dettwyler, Ph.D., breastfeeding researcher and anthropologist, women throughout the world make ample amounts of quality milk while eating diets composed almost entirely of rice (or millet or sorghum) with a tiny amount of vegetables and occasional meat.

Are healthy eating habits recommended for mom? Absolutely! You will be healthier and feel better if you eat well. It is best for anyone to eat a variety of foods, in close to their naturally-occurring state, but this is not necessary for providing quality milk or for maintaining milk supply. Although it is certainly not recommended, a breastfeeding mother could live on a diet of junk food – mom would not thrive on that diet, but her milk would still meet her baby's needs.

Do I need to maintain a perfect diet while breastfeeding?
The short answer to this question is NO – you do not need to maintain a perfect diet in order to provide quality milk for your baby. In fact, research tells us that the quality of a mother’s diet has little influence on her milk. Nature is very forgiving – mother’s milk is designed to provide for and protect baby even in times of hardship and famine. A poor diet is more likely to affect the mother than her breastfed baby.

It's common to hear women say that they want to wean (or not breastfeed at all) because they miss drinking coffee, or want to have an occasional glass of wine, or don't like worrying constantly about everything they eat. Guess what? You can drink caffeinated beverages (in moderation), have an occasional drink, eat what you want and still provide your baby with the absolute best nutrition and immunological protection - mother's own milk.

According to Katherine A. Dettwyler, Ph.D., breastfeeding researcher and anthropologist, women throughout the world make ample amounts of quality milk while eating diets composed almost entirely of rice (or millet or sorghum) with a tiny amount of vegetables and occasional meat.

Are healthy eating habits recommended for mom? Absolutely! You will be healthier and feel better if you eat well. It is best for anyone to eat a variety of foods, in close to their naturally-occurring state, but this is not necessary for providing quality milk or for maintaining milk supply. Although it is certainly not recommended, a breastfeeding mother could live on a diet of junk food – mom would not thrive on that diet, but her milk would still meet her baby's needs.

http://www.kellymom.com/nutrition/mom/mom-diet.html

iVillage Member
Registered: 06-02-2006
Fri, 08-18-2006 - 2:31pm

I would. It is proven that the risks a child experiences from having a smoking mother are *reduced* by BF. It is simply safer to smoke and BF than smoke and FF. Of coure, the safest is to not smoke at all, but that wasnt the question.

"First of all, a mom who can't stop smoking should breastfeed. Breastfeeding provides many immunities that help your baby fight illness and can even help counteract some of the effects of cigarette smoke on your baby: for example, breastfeeding has been shown to decrease the negative effects of cigarette smoke on a baby's lungs. It's definitely better if breastfeeding moms not smoke, but if you can't stop or cut down, then it is better to smoke and breastfeed than to smoke and formula feed."

http://www.kellymom.com/health/lifestyle/smoking.html

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