New here

[UmmIbrahim]

Hi everyone,

I've just registered and wanted to say introduce myself. I have a 7 months old son and we are somehow practising AP. Never intended to and didn't know it was called AP until months after he was born. It all comes naturally. But here is the catch ... I'm the only one that does co-sleeping, b/f on demand, using cloth diaper and even baby wearing. Most of my friends and family look at me like I'm nuts and keep telling me that I'm going to regret it all!
Co-sleeping - baby won't want to sleep in his own bed.
B/f - baby will be too attached, it's not right to b/f such a big baby...
Babywearing - it will spoil him, he won't want to be in the pushchair, ...
Cloth diapers - I'm stupid, why do I have to do things the hard way, I'm not going to save the earth by not using disposables, .....

I'm sure you all heared it before.

So now I'm here to see if I am really the weirdo or if there are more of us out there! I can't imagine not doing any of the above things, it's just so natural and i'm loving it. And I really don't think I'm spoiling the guy. But still, being without support sucks :-(

[Bear]

Hey, you're not a weirdo!

I don't practise AP myself, well apart from bf'ing and the occasional co-sleep, but I see no wrong in what you're doing at all.

I think the reaction of your friends and family is an entirely natural one, however that doesn't mean that they are right - they just need educating about AP. If their comments are really getting to you maybe pass them some literature about AP to read, otherwise just ignore them and be confident in what you're doing.

Sounds like you're doing a great job and really enjoying being a mother - carry on!

Oh, and just to add, you'll find support by the bucket load here!

[Chell]

:welcometomz:

[UmmIbrahim]

Ups, just noticed all those mistakes I made. Sorry, it was late and I was half asleep :-)

Thank you for your kind words!

[Bay-Bee]

You do what comes natural to you. I did things with my son that other people didn't think I should be but it worked for us and thats all that matters.

[Tess]

:wave2: hello and welcome
think of all the money you are saving by using using cloth nappies and breastfeeding, im still b/fing and co sleeping with my 17 month old, she is happy, i co slept with my ds and he is now 4 and in his own bed (just :laugh:).
i use a buggy now as i don't drive and theres no way im carrying the shopping home :cheesy: i quite often take an empty buggy to shops to carry it all home in.
don't worry what other people say :no: peer pressure!!

[funkyfish]

Sounds to me like you are doing what comes natural - if it feels right it probably is!

I did AP without realising it had a name - although not the cloth nappy thing, but when I had my first you did not have the great selection of alternatives that you have today.

If I could do my parenting again - I would do it just the same but with all the new things that are no around to save the environment too.

[Digzy]

welcome aboard:kisshands:

[lindseymac575]

You have to do whats right for you.
I loved co sleeping with my ds!I still do sometimes and he's 6!

[jmsze5]

hi,i follow ap too and my ex partners family supported that so i guess i am quite lucky ,though i did get a lot of hassle off my older 3s gran when they were little.though i do feel quite alienated sometimes,people look at me like im a crazy person as not only do i follow ap im also a single parent to 5.but in the end my children are happy and so am i.

[MissMountshaft]

Hi,
I co-sleep and breastfeed my 1 yr old, and have no plans to stop yet. You mentioned how natural everything you're doing feels - that makes it exactly the right thing for you. You need to remember that when friends and family dish out their well-meaning advice. Not one mum's experience of raising children is the same as another, so advice is only specific to their personal mother/baby relationship. Only you can know what's best for you. My parents thought I was making things hard for myself in the beginning, but my mum pointed out that I was her baby and she couldn't help worrying :o) I'm happy that I stayed true to myself and did what came naturally.