Anyone attachment parenting out there?

[littleraysofsunshine]

What is baby wearing? Just using a sling or using a sling constantly? Don't they need their own space to roll about? I did carry DD around almost constantly when she was tiny but no way she would tolerate it now.

I think probably the term is a kick back against being labelled soft, or "spoiling' your child, or "making a rod" for yourself.

I think it's also pretty disingenuous to suggest that any other way is not bringing your child up with love and affection. Of course everyone is! To suggest someone following GF does NOT love their child is ridiculous and offensive.

But see - I would say that AP is just a part of one sum on a spectrum of ways of raising your child. Natural parenting, playful parenting, positive discipline...all parts of that sum that we personally naturally gravitate towards. Not doing sleep training, not implementing the "naughty step", not shouting at a naughty child or to an extreme extent...not smacking. Always going to them when they cry, even if it's for the billionth time that night. All these things encompass AP. It's not about not being able to BF - or choosing not to - and therefore you're not allowed to say you're AP.

I disagree about labels. We need descriptions, things we can say to communicate when we talk about things. Some people who practice AP are insufferably smug but I'd suggest that's them as individuals, not because they subscribe to attachment theory. I also happen to think people who are at the other end of the spectrum, people who say if you don't do sleep training, you're just not "prepared to put the hard parenting work in" are also insufferably smug! It's not the approaches. I fully subscribe to attachment theory, don't call myself AP necessarily, love the principles of playful parenting and positive discipline but have tried CC one desperate night.

Posted too soon!

There's a whole world of approaching child rearing that encompasses AP. I read Magical Parent, Magical Child and completely fell in love with the ideas and theories. I loved Playful Parenting. I'm not saying there's anything wrong with how you raise your child, but I just have things that jive with me emotionally and idealistically. If I have to call those things AP, I will because I'm sick of the same old lines being trotted out in response to me talking about carrying my child, extending BFing, co sleeping, getting down on their level and trying to understand them, etc etc.

Attachment theory is a widely reported, psychological benefit for all creatures, all mammals alike. None of us deny we want to bond with our children. AP just encompasses certain things that are heavy on the emphasis of that bond.

Here here zebra

I like to think I my style as embracing it all (trying anyway especially on those hard days) labels are awful.

I co-sleep, breastfed for 13m, 15m and will be in 8 weeks as for baby wearing, another poor label, but I love to carry them in a sling/carrier. But I also strongly believe in letting your child be free with their own instincts. Learning by Exploring lots etc. Mine loved the slings as small babies but love freedom too

I just think loving your children with all of your heart, letting them feel valid and expressive with themselves are good things to do (in my experience i mean) but also I think us parents need to always remember that we're human and not super heroes when it comes to saying above board all the time. Know when to chill, take a breather and not expect too much.

Also I'm learning to not expect the same from my 18mo as I do with 3yo even though they are both very forward

I'm a hippy too! Typing this while my baby is asleep in the sling. I don't call it AP I just do what feels natural

Another one who has fallen into it by doing what baby seemed to like. Baby decided she wanted to co sleep/extended breastfeed and I lack the backbone to leave her cry. Still sharing a room at 12 months. I didn't know what AP was until recently but seem to tick the boxes.

I'm in awe of people who get their babies into a strict routine/do CC sleep training but I am just not very good at things like that.

I don't know a great deal about 'Attachment parenting' mainly because I despise the idea of parenting styles or labels. I feel that intuition is the most important parenting tool and is often marred by a desire to meet other people's ideals.

I particularly hate the connection between breast feeding and attachment parenting for many women breast feeding isn't an option. The way you feed your baby should not be connected to your perceived 'parenting style'

I breast fed, co slept, kept my babies close, always respond to their cries, never would do cc, try very hard not to be shouty. This is what feels right to me.