Time Magazine Article on Attachment Parenting

[Lala]

I'm glad you ladies have pointed out the potential for the little boy to get bullied later as a result of this cover. I can't believe I never even thought of that, but it's so true! In terms of the "controversy" of a woman BFing her 3 year old, I really don't see why it's controversial. It's such a personal decision, and why bother judging what other people do? I would never do it, myself because I kind of hate breastfeeding to be honest, but I really don't care if other people want to do it. It's none of my business. All the power to them if it works for them....Oh, and in terms of attachment parenting, I actually haven't read Sears's books, but it sounds like it is very proscriptive, which bothers me. The other thing that bothers me is the term "attachment parenting", because the original Attachment Theory really has nothing to do with breastfeeding, babywearing etc. It just has to do with being loving, consistent and available to your child so they feel safe and have a "secure base" from which to explore the world. That's really all there is to it, and there really is no right way of doing that. Baby-wear, don't baby-wear. Who cares?! To each his own. Just be good to your child, love him, and provide him with a healthy safe environment and you're pretty much good to go! You want to do AP- great! Or if you don't- great as well! I think that my daughter and I are forming a very healthy attachment to one another despite the fact that I don't really do AP. I mean, I wear her in the carrier simply because it's easier for walking the dog, but I don't wear her around the house- she is super active, and would hate being constrained like that! I was not able to breastfeed, so I pump exclusively. I am super super anxious about safe sleep, so I don't co-sleep. My daughter never went to bed before like 3am, so I did CIO, and she is way happier as a result (now that she is getting proper sleep). Anyway, all of this is just to say that some of the basic tenets of AP wouldn't have been suitable for my daughter, but they might work for others. Either way, I'm sure if you care enough to be even thinking about all this stuff, then you're probably a dedicated parent, which is what really matters. I'll get off my soapbox now.

[spotty_dog]

Either way, I'm sure if you care enough to be even thinking about all this stuff, then you're probably a dedicated parent, which is what really matters.

Couldn't agree more. Standing ovation!

[spotty_dog]

Unmedicated birth is not an AP tenet. Being informed is.

Yep, just so we're all on the same page, the generally accepted "definitions" of AP revolve around either Dr. Sears' 7 Baby Bs: http://www.askdrsears.com/topics/att...t-ap-7-baby-bs

And/or the Attachment Parenting International Eight Principles: http://www.attachmentparenting.org/p...principles.php

I've never adopted the label "AP" nor felt myself constrained to follow AP dogma, but the guidelines speak to me and to my parenting style.

[Michele]

Re: remembering breastfeeding.

One of the dad's in my LLL circle remembers breastfeeding after school. He was in kindergarten and honestly doesn't remember much except that he remembers nursing after school. He kinda shrugs when he talks about it like it was just something he did and it wasn't weird or abnormal or different. He doesn't remember being ashamed or embarrassed by it. Nor does he remember being dependent/needy for it.

If someone in his family had mentioned it over and over again in a negative way I'm sure his memory would be different. And that does make me sad for this child.

[PrincessFiona]

*gulp* I breastfed Alex until he was 3 1/2. It wasn't planned, it just happened that way. I nursed Aidan until he was a little over 2. I would have continued nursing him if I hadn't started chemo. Andrew and Amanda were nursed for just under a year. I wasn't able to nurse Zoe because my milk never came in.

My take on it? I totally thought nursing toddlers was weird ... and yet ... I did it.

Alex still remembers it fondly and he is 13 1/2.

When Aidan was a baby, and Alex was >5, Alex once sat next to me while I was nursing and started mashing my breasts. I asked him what he was doing and he told me that he was making the milk sweeter for Aidan ...

He is a total advocate for breastfeeding, which is sort of funny. It's so interesting to listen to him talk about this when it comes up. We've been out to eat and Andrew has commented on how "gross" it is if a mom near us is breastfeeding. Alex will point out that it is awesome and his wife is going to breastfeed. I don't know what to think about that. LOL

At least he doesn't feel icky about it!

Kris