Why You Should Practice Attachment Parenting

Attachment parenting is a series of parenting principles first authored by Dr. William Sears. While this philosophy of parenting is seen as new in Western civilizations, many less-developed societies have been practicing this for many years. The main elements of Attachment parenting are:

•Extended breast feeding-this includes the practice of child-led weaning.
•Co-sleeping-for an undetermined amount of time.
•Non-violence towards children with an emphasis on positive discipline.
•Carrying or otherwise being with babies (especially newborns) every hour of the day. This includes the practice of “baby-wearing” which involves the caregiver wearing a sling or pouch to “wear” the baby during his or her waking hours.

Attachment parenting has become a key phrase in many parenting books and magazines. New stories tout the benefits of Attachment parenting and parent groups describe the joys and struggles of Attachment parenting. But even with all of this information available, if you are a prospective parent you may be wondering how it will be best to parent your baby and why you should practice Attachment parenting. Here are just a few of the reasons-

•Proponents of the Attachment parenting method state that this method of parenting is about loving your child through all the developmental stages thus promoting a more secure and lasting relationship between parent and child.

•Advocates of Attachment parenting feel that rather than pushing newborns into a crib and separate room as fast as possible, they believe that newborns and babies need to be as close to their parents as possible even during the night. They feel that this helps newborns learn healthy sleeping and breathing patterns from sharing a bed with their parents.

•Parents who practice Attachment parenting feel that society pushes children to be independent from the earliest possible age and this tends to sever the deep attachment a child needs to feel with his or her parents. Advocates of Attachment parenting feel that by practicing the principles of this method they form a foundation of trust and attachment for the rest of their child’s life.

•Many parents who are practicing Attachment parenting hold an anti-media philosophy that they feel enables their children to develop better imagination and social skills that they would be lacking if they were continually connected to media.

•One of the main tenets of Attachment parenting is breastfeeding. Medical studies show that babies who are breastfed tend to be healthier, calmer and may even score higher on IQ tests. In addition, breast feeding tends to form a deep connection between baby and Mom that lends to a later secure and deep relationship as the child grows up. They also feel that the method of child-led weaning is less traumatic for the baby and will enable the baby to sever the breast feeding connection when the baby is ready with little or no stress.

•Attachment parenting is seen as a series of recommendations, and even the most devout followers of the principles recommend taking what works for you and modifying what does not in order to fit your lifestyle and your baby. This is not a method of strict rules and regulations. This method promotes the common sense and instincts of the parent while learning how to best parent their unique and individual baby.

•Attachment parenting is about positive discipline through non-violent means. This allows children to see themselves as being valued even when being disciplined. It also limits the exposure to the lack of impulse control that often accompanies physical discipline. In addition many children respond so well to positive discipline, negative behaviors resolve themselves quickly and easily.