No, You Don't Have To Be A Hippy

I think that a lot of times, Attachment Parenting gets a lot of negative attention, especially in the media. I know from talking with more mainstream moms, the first thing that pops into one's head when they hear "Attachment Parenting" is a hippy lifestyle in which the children are put first and foremost to the detriment of everything else and of course those children end up spoiled!

This isn't what AP parenting is at all. To me, AP parenting means to parent in a way that allows you to respond to your child's needs and follow your instinct. This doesn't mean to never set boundaries or guidelines and to bend to your child's every wish and demand. It simply means being there for your child, letting your child know that you are going to be there to meet their needs and help them through life.

I never heard of AP parenting until the Mermaid was around 6 or 7 months old. I was breastfeeding her because I knew, instinctively, that it was right. We coslept because I just felt it was right (we had tried having her sleep in the crib, and it just felt wrong to me). I could never let her cry it out, my instincts told me it was wrong. Then one day someone mentioned that I was "AP" so I looked it up and discovered, that yes, a lot of the principles of AP parenting are ones that I follow. But I already follow them by instinct, it isn't like I signed up for a "parenting program" and have to follow all their rules.

That being said....yes, most/a lot of AP parents breastfeed, co sleep, baby wear, etc. But that is only because that is how they feel they can meet their baby's needs, how they let their child know they are there for them. You don't have to breastfeed to be considered AP. You don't even have to co sleep. You just have to have a gently parenting style which will allow you to respond to your baby's cues.

I found this excellent blog by Paxye that explains what Attachment Parenting really is. Check it out. Even if you are "mainstream", you might be surprised on how much you agree with the AP philosophy.

No, You Don't Have To Be A Hippy