Do you practice attachment parenting? This type of parenting has become somewhat controversial. Those that practice it seem happy with it. Those that don’t often choose to share their opinion that this parenting style will somehow harm children (years later). Ultimately, it is up to each parent to decide what parenting style works best for them and their kids.
Attachment Parenting is a parenting style that has eight principles to it. Each parent has a lot of leeway in how they interpret those principles and how they put them into action.
Prepare for pregnancy, birth, and parenting – Parents remove all negative thoughts about pregnancy and parenting.
Feed with love and respect – Breastfeeding is strongly encouraged, and is considered to be an ideal way for a parent to form a strong attachment with their baby.
Respond with sensitivity – Make an effort to understand the emotions behind a child’s actions. Take those emotions seriously. Avoid punishing the child for having them, or dismissing the importance of them.
Use nurturing touch – The goal is to get as much skin-to-skin time with baby as possible. This can be done with joint baths and “baby wearing”.
Engage in nighttime parenting – This involves co-sleeping, where an infant sleeps in the same room as his parents. It also can involve “bed sharing” – kids sleeping in the same bed as the parents.
Provide constant, loving care – It is important for a parent to be a constant presence for their child.
Practice positive discipline – Use distraction and redirection. Model the positive behavior you want your child to learn.
Strive for balance in personal and family life – Parents should create a network they can turn to in order to avoid burnout.
For whatever reason, it is the bed sharing part of attachment parenting that some people consider to be controversial. Those against the practice say that children who sleep in the same bed with their parents will never get out of the parent’s bed. Or, they insist that children need to be more independent as early as possible.
Parents who use bed sharing with their kids are doing it to provide their child with security and comfort. Eventually, the child will grow older and won’t want to sleep in the same bed with her parents anymore. Bed sharing is one way to create a secure attachment between parent and child that will last a lifetime.
Ultimately, each parent (or set of parents) gets to decide for themselves what parenting style they want to practice. Figure out what will work best for you and your family. Choose the style that matches your ideals and goals.
Related Articles at Families.com:
* The 7 Baby B’s of Attachment Parenting
* Sharing Sleep With Your Baby
* Co-Sleeping Versus Bed Sharing