How to Be an Attachment Parent

The principles of attachment parenting are almost as old as parenting itself, but the complete philosophy is relatively new. Attachment parenting can be quite complicated because it can be applied to every aspect of raising a child, and there are somewhat different ideas about what the most important guidelines are. In general, attachment parenting is a gentle, intuitive philosophy, but one which requires a high level of commitment from parents.

Instructions

Difficulty: Moderately Challenging

Things You’ll Need:

• Baby sling (optional)

1. Understand that attachment parenting is an ideal, not a series of rules. If any of the specific practices mentioned are impossible for your family, you can still be an attachment parent by modifying them as necessary.
2. Plan for a natural birth. If there are midwives or doulas in your community, try to meet with them to learn about your options and the benefits of natural birth. They can also help you with appropriate prenatal care and education.
3. Breastfeed your baby, if possible. Breastfeeding provides an array of benefits for your baby, from the best nutrition to increased physical and emotional contact. Plus, it's cheap and convenient! There are many resources available to help you with breastfeeding, including in difficult circumstances (ask your midwife if you need more resources).
4. Carry your baby in a sling as often as possible. This is probably the most literal type of attachment in attachment parenting. A baby sling is easy to make or buy, and can be used by any care giver. Being carried gives the baby an additional sense of security and comfort, while helping care givers to get more done and pay plenty of attention to the baby at the same time.
5. Sleep with your baby. Contrary to some popular "wisdom," it is actually quite safe to put your baby in your bed (with a railing), which can minimize night time interruptions while strengthening the bond between baby and parents. If this is impractical for your family, consider keeping the crib in your room for at least a few months.
6. Respond to your baby's needs. When your baby cries, try to figure out what its need is and meet it, rather than allowing the baby to "cry it out." Rather than spoiling the baby, this helps the baby learn to trust the care givers and relax more.
7. Practice only loving, respectful discipline at an appropriate developmental level. This topic is much bigger than the scope of this article, but there are many resources available on discipline for attachment parenting.