What is attachment parenting?

ldominguez1022 · April 2012

I had an interview today with a pediatrician, and on the list of questions I asked, one of them was "What are your views on attachment parenting"? She looked at me like I had 4 heads. She said she had never heard of it and that it was probably made up by pregnancy websites.

The reason I asked the question was mainly to find out more information on attachment parenting. I understand the co-sleeping and the baby wearing but what else is there to attachment parenting?

Any books you recommend to find out more info?

AllAGs · April 2012

My understanding has always been that Attachment Parenting fosters a physical and emotional closeness between parents and children. Ex: breastfeeding, babywearing, cosleeping, etc. I EBF and nursed DD for 2 years, we don't co-sleep but I have no problem with her snuggling with us in the morning for a few hours and I wore her exclusively until I got too big with my pregnancy w/ DS. I don't consider myself a hardcore AP by any stretch, but I feel it's easy to incorporate a lot of AP practices.

PunkyBooster · April 2012

Don't get me wrong, I'm a pro AP woman, but I once read something that put it into perspective for me. It's a style that women have been doing for centuries, wearing babies, sleeping with babies, BF for as long as baby wants, etc etc. Dr. Sears just simply put a label on something women across the world have been doing for years and called it "AP"

nosoup4u · April 2012

Dr Sears' Baby Book is a good general info book. I don't really see any typical AP practices being any of my kids' doctor's convern, though, in all honesty.

pixieprincss · April 2012

nosoup4u:
Dr Sears' Baby Book is a good general info book. I don't really see any typical AP practices being any of my kids' doctor's convern, though, in all honesty.

This. Unless my child has a specific health concern regarding a issue, we do not invite our doctor to speak into sleeping arrangements or child's night-waking habits, duration of breast-feeding, discipline methds (AP is pro-positive, gentle discipine), how much time we spend together, etc.

I don' think it is in any way bad to ask your doctor this question, but I don't think their answer needs to make or break your choice and I wouldn't count on them as an education source for AP.

As to learning more, Dr. Sears' Attachment Parenting book is a fine place to start. For more application beyond the newborn days, I "like" Attachment Parenting International on Facebook and get a great info feed from them. There also are API groups around the country.

mamabirdof4 · April 2012

My #1 book that I reccomend is Attached at the Heart from API. It is the best book about what AP actualy is. I am not a huge fan of Dr Sears because I really think the whole my way or the highway is WRONG! The biggest thing to remember is AP is NOT a check list of things to do. It is the WAY you do things. Weither you Co-sleep or not, BF or FF you can still be AP....it is the WAY you do those things. If you are doing things with love and respect. Following your children's cues.

My favorite thing to say about AP is that it is a mind set not a checklist of things to do.

ldominguez1022 · April 2012

Thanks for the responses. Yeah, that is the general idea that I had on attachment parenting. I am not planning on co-sleeping but I will breastfeed past 1 year if possible. As for babywearing, I am going to do it for as long as possible. I love the closeness it provides.

Thanks again!

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What is attachment parenting?

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