What is Attachment Parenting?
Have you, as a
new parent, recently come across the term ‘attachment parenting’ and
are not quite sure what it means? Rest assured, it’s not a far-out
method of parenting only practiced, these days, by a small number of
flower children wanna-be’s. In truth, attachment parenting methods
are commonplace in an amazing number of households, today… probably
more than we realize.
In a nutshell,
attachment parenting is the method and means in which you choose to
care for and raise your children in the manner most beneficial to
all… bringing out the best in everyone involved.
Studies have
shown that the overall quality of ongoing parent/child relationships
have a great deal to do with parent/child bonding, especially during
a child's first few months of life.
The actual
phrase, attachment parenting is the brainchild of Dr. William Sears,
a prominent pediatrician, who has developed the Eight Ideals of
Attachment Parenting, as well.
These ideals
include: being completely prepared for childbirth, the ability to be
emotionally responsive, breastfeeding your child, wearing your baby,
shared sleeping habits, positive discipline, avoiding long
periods
of separation between parent and child and maintaining balance in
regard to family life.
He believes that
children thrive when they are given the opportunity to securely bond
with their parents, in various ways. He, also, firmly believes that
attachment is part of healthy childhood development.
Dr. Sears’
ideals are not set in stone. He encourages parents to be as creative
as possible when attending to the needs of their children. This
certainly is attributed to the fact that, in today’s society, there
are numerous views when it comes to the proper practice of
attachment parenting.
Many families
who practice attachment parenting methods also decide it is, indeed,
in everyone’s best interest to live a more simple and natural way of
life. Choosing alternatives such as natural childbirth, home births,
homeschooling, stay at home parenting and organic gardening are not
uncommon.
Parents who
practice attachment parenting methods do not believe that their
children cry, simply, as a means of manipulation. They believe that
crying indicates the need for the alleviation of an emotional or
physical need.
In theory, as
parents respond to these needs, both quickly and consistently, the
children typically feel a great deal happier and grow more confident
with each passing day.
This does NOT
mean that parents who incorporate attachment parenting into their
daily routines, allow the children to be the absolute center of
things. Successful attachment parenting households are not child
centered they are truly family centered, instead.
Remember,
attachment parenting is, basically, a set of tools. By incorporating
Dr. Sears’ ideals (tools) into your lifestyle, be it all eight or
just a few, you are providing your child with many of the necessary
elements he or she needs to grow into a healthy, happy adult. An
adult who will probably adopt the same attachment parenting methods,
for their own children, as well.
More resources:
The Attachment Parenting Book : A Commonsense Guide to Understanding
and Nurturing Your Baby
The Discipline Book: How to Have a Better-Behaved Child From Birth
to Age Ten
Attached Parenting Blog
Parenting Peacefully
When Your Parenting Style Goes Against the Grain
Peaceful & Attached Parenting Books:
