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: 10-31-2005
Fri, 08-18-2006 - 2:33pm

"If you were a smoker, would you still breastfeed?"

I think so, since breast milk would still be a superior food source. But honestly, if I were the type of person who didn't care what damage I were doing to my own body, I don't know how concerned I would be about my baby's health. After all, secondhand smoke is not healthy for a baby, so why would a smoker be concerned about offering her baby the best source of nutrition?

I would hope that if I were a smoker, I would be even more determined to breastfeed to help offset some of the risks to baby.

iVillage Member
Registered: 06-09-2006
Fri, 08-18-2006 - 2:33pm

I'm not trying to bust your ba*** but I was genuinely curious. Thanks for the info.

iVillage Member
Registered: 06-02-2006
Fri, 08-18-2006 - 2:34pm
No more conscientious then a FF mother. If you FF you still need to watch for signs of allergy to a certain F, watch for signals that quantities of F need adjusted to suit a growth spurt, etc. Nursing is prety darn easy when you get down to it. Nature is funny that way.
iVillage Member
Registered: 06-02-2006
Fri, 08-18-2006 - 2:36pm
No problem :)
iVillage Member
Registered: 06-09-2006
Fri, 08-18-2006 - 2:38pm

Welp, I meant conscientious about their diet. But, I forgot to add that.

Personally, breastfeeding was not for me and my kids have turned out fine.......so far.

Avatar for myshkamouse
iVillage Member
Registered: 03-26-2003
Fri, 08-18-2006 - 2:41pm

With that in mind, formula is sub-standard."

I totally agree, and so does science/medicine. Its not debatable.

iVillage Member
Registered: 06-02-2006
Fri, 08-18-2006 - 2:41pm
I'm sure they are. Just because BF is "better" does *not* mean kids can't be healthy w/o it. I am very passionate about BF for me, but I'd never judge another mom for choosing differently.
Avatar for myshkamouse
iVillage Member
Registered: 03-26-2003
Fri, 08-18-2006 - 2:45pm

Yep, I LOVED that look on my babies faces. And I love it now when we all eat a great meal or when they discover something new. I have no idea why anyone would want to deny their children of that.

And of course food can be a crutch, which is what I suspect Ms. Winfrey was talking about. But people don't develop eating disorders for the love of food. They generally develop them because of lack of *love* and other complex issues.

Avatar for mommy2amani
iVillage Member
Registered: 03-26-2003
Fri, 08-18-2006 - 2:47pm

Your family doesn't provide enough data to draw meaningful conclusions. I could tell you that my primarily FF DD has had more colds than my exclusively BF son, but that isn't enough to make my point either. That's why there are large scale studies done.

I fully expected to hear "My children were formula fed and never sick" from at least one formula feeder.

iVillage Member
Registered: 07-26-2006
Fri, 08-18-2006 - 2:49pm
Just how far out are you going to take this? We have gone from nursing a 4 yr old, to making Thanksgiving dinner for people in a university that you work at. Where do we draw a line? Of course if you invite someone over for a traditional Thanksgiving celebration then if you didn't serve a tradition Thanksgiving dinner that would be very rude. It would be lying. If you invite someone over for hot dogs and hamburgers on the grill and then make cereal that is rude too. However that isn't the discussion at hand. Going so far out into left field is really not what I am going to do here.

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