I quote an article written by John Johnston of The Enquirer on the eight ideals of attachment parenting. Attachment parenting (AP) is based on the work of British psychoanalyst John Bowlby and others, this parenting style encourages responsiveness to the infant or baby’s emotional needs. AP creates a strong emotional bond between baby and parents helps the child develop secure, peaceful and enduring relationships.
AP promotes breastfeeding, co-sleeping, positive discipline, nighttime parenting.
Here the eight ideals of attachment parenting:
- Feed with love and respect.
- Respond with sensitivity. “Remember that crying is your infant’s way of telling you he or she is distressed.”
- Feed with love and respect.
- Practice nurturing touch. “Helps satisfy the baby’s need for closeness, touch and affection.”
- Nighttime parenting. “It is important to be responsive to a baby’s nighttime needs.”
- Provide consistent loving care. “Avoid ‘caregiver roulette.’”
- Practice positive discipline. “Non-violent methods of discipline and loving guidance promote the development of self-control and empathy toward others.”
- Strive for balance in personal and family life. “Can be achieved by taking care of yourself through exercise, quiet time and healthy eating.”
For more information on AP, visit Attachment Parenting International. You can decide if AP parenting style is for you.
Also one of the better known books on Attachment Parenting is by Dr. William Sears: The Attachment Parenting Book
