What exactly IS attatchment parenting?

[curlywurly]

OK, I know I'm probably being a total thick - but if you don't ask, and all that....

Also apologies if there is already a post on this (if this is the case could somebody please point me in the right direction)

Thank you

:kisshands::kisshands::kisshands:

[Seren]

oooh

now do you want the "book" version or my take?

we probably all have our own views on it etc

[curlywurly]

Oh, your take, your take *jumps up and down*

[Seren]

according to Sears and Sears

"Attachment Parenting is an approach to raising children rther than a set of rules. Certain practices are common to AP parents they tend to breastfeed,hold their babies in their arms a lot and practice positive discipline, but these are just tools for attachment...............Above all. attachment parenting means opening your mind and heart to the individual needs of your baby and letting your knowledge of your child be your guide..........."

HTH

[Seren]

Oh, your take, your take *jumps up and down*

ooh mind, well mainly I feel that the tools of AP are almost like a back to basics and simplfied way of dealing with your baby. I think we (society) have lost a lot with modern inventions and that we distance oursleves from our children too much, so for me AP is way to be with our children which will/should benefit life and comms etc. Building an attachment and a bond right from birth.

I don't believe I have it right, I struggle with the positive discipline. The tools, babywearing and bf I found easier.

I am not a bona fide APer at all, but find the approach interesting and pick from it what I can stomach.

I can recomend the Sears book The Attachment Parenting Book as a start if you want to read more on the subject.

There is also a yahoo group which trogette knows of

[curlywurly]

Thanks MamaB! *mwah*

[wkdfraggle]

I think most people these days find it hard to be a total AP parent. I am the same as MamaB - BF sling and plenty of contact. I co slept with Arron when he wasnt such a tiny baby and i will Millie when she is a bit bigger (too scared of rolling on her in my sleep) but from what i have read on AP i would find it really hard and time consuming to be a real AP-er.

There are so many different things that APers can choose to do - some never have their babies in nappies and use a method where their baby will go to the toilet when they make a certain noise. Cant remember what it is called now. MamaB may know. Is it elimination comunication?? I cant remember now.

I think what ever works for each parent and child is the best approach. But that is just my opinion.

Simone
xxx

[Al1x]

some never have their babies in nappies and use a method where their baby will go to the toilet when they make a certain noise. Cant remember what it is called now. MamaB may know. Is it elimination comunication?? I cant remember now.

oh I've heard of that ... sounds very time consuming!

[Seren]

some people call it Elimination Communication others call it Natural Infant Hygiene.

Trogette as far as I remember has done this successfully with 2 of hers or at least 1.

[smirnoff]

Ive always been quite confused as to exactly WHAT AP actually involves... i would never class myself as an APer but i do what i can..

[Seren]

i respect Apers and take what I can given my way of life. Had I come to aping with ds#1 then I believe i would be very different. I don't class my self as an aper but have drawn heavily on ap resources from time to time. Aping is great as it didn't make me feel guilty about co-sleeping when the rest of society did. That said I do think people should be allowed to make their own decisons when it comes to child raising, but ap can't help and inform people that there are other ways.

its hard for me to fully explain how i feel,but that is sort of it.

[smirnoff]

i totally agree with you B, I take what i can from what bits i have read and stuff and kind of use it to help life go a little more smoothly!!!

[wkdfraggle]

i respect Apers and take what I can given my way of life. Had I come to aping with ds#1 then I believe i would be very different.

I feel the same about if i had AP'ed with Arron. Things would be so different now had we had taken bits of APing on.

I didnt know about homebirth, cloth nappies, co-sleeping or APing in general when i had him. Ten years on and i am doing what i can with Millie. She is a very chillied out baby anyway (as those at the MW meet saw :cheesy:) - how much of that is because of how i am with her i dont know but i sure hope it lasts!

Simone
xxx

[Netty]

I would view AP as a more 'natural' hands on (literally, I suppose) method of parenting.

I think taking 'bits' from whatever methods suit you and your family, is the best thing to do.

[Lemon]

There seems to be alot of things talked about with babies but what does it involve as your children get older? Would be interested to hear your views!

[wkdfraggle]

When you say older do you mean toddler age or school age?

Simone
xxx

[Tess]

There seems to be alot of things talked about with babies but what does it involve as your children get older? Would be interested to hear your views!

good question

[Seren]

There seems to be alot of things talked about with babies but what does it involve as your children get older? Would be interested to hear your views!

that would involve I think home education and positive disicpline, also a way of including your child in decisions that affect them, generally being aware of the childs changing needs, I think.

[curlywurly]

This is quite mind boggling to me (in that I can't believe I've never heard of it) - think I'm gonna have to do some research....