When my daughter Chelsey was born 16
years ago, I was  24 years old and getting ready to leave my husband.
Within three months of her birth I was raising her alone. As a woman
with no computer or internet access (was there even an internet back
then in the dark ages?), I visited the library frequently, but mostly
I  learned about parenting  by instinct. And instinct is what AP is all
about.

        As I was a single parent raising a baby, unfortunately Chelsey went
to day care at an early age. I wanted to stay at home with her, but it
wasn't in the cards.  I still did some things that other moms thought I
was crazy for doing. I breastfed my baby on demand the first 3 months,
when I returned to work she drank expressed breast milk only, and I
stopped into the day care to nurse whenever I could. I did not
introduce solids at 8 weeks when all my friends were putting rice
cereal in their babies' bottles, but waited until she was much older. I
carried my baby constantly in a front carrier (didn't know about slings
back then) and was always told I was "spoiling her". I responded
immediately to her when she cried day or night. And yes, when I'd nurse
at night, my daughter and I would fall asleep and I'd not remove her
from the bed and take her back to her crib (gasp!).

        I never knew there was a name
for what I was doing until the year 2000. Then I got online and I
read... and read... and read and was thrilled to have some back-up so
that I knew what I was doing wasn't insane! This article is simply MY
opinions, perspective and the way I feel about Attachment Parenting and
what it means to me.

        Attachment Parenting is, per Dr.William Sears:

"An uninterupted, nurturing
relationship specifically attuned to a child's needs as he passes from
one developmental stage to another". His article is a great place to
start understanding what AP is all about.

                             Dr. Sears Attachment Parenting Article

The basic concepts of Attachment Parenting, the way I perceive it, include but aren't limited to :

• Breastfeeding on demand (and child-led weaning)

• Co-Sleeping  (or the Family Bed or Night-time Parenting)

• Baby Wearing (slings)

• Gentle Discipline

• Responding to babys cries promptly

• Listening to baby's cues to lead to the next phase of development

        Not all AP moms can
breastfeed (medical necessity is different than simply choosing formula
because it's convenient), and many formula feeding moms do practice
AP.  I breastfed my first daughter for a year, my second daughter till
she was 2, and my son till he was just shy of 2 as well. My sister
tandem nurses her 4 and 3 year old right now. She is my hero.



        Not all AP moms use cloth
diapers. We cloth diapered Zoey and when my son was born in 2003 he
started in cloth but ended up in disposables.



        Not all AP moms delay
solids till well after the 6th month of life. I planned to, but
listening to my baby's cues we discovered Zoey was ready earlier. She
began rice cereal at 5 months and at 7 months ate lots of solids, but
still loved to nurse. My son didn't begin solids till almost 7 months
old.



        Not all AP moms
homeschool. I homeschooled Zoey for preK but she is in public
kindergarten now and I plan to do the same with Roman.

I guess I've learned that like
anything else in life, you take from a concept what you need and can
use... and you do your best for your family.

        For me, being an Attached
Parent means that I don't believe that holding my children will lead
them to be "spoiled". I don't believe babies should ever cry unconsoled
because they need to "learn to sleep" on their own. I don't believe in
spanking but in establishing a relationship of trust with my child. I
wore all my babies and chose not to use a chair, swing or playpen for
extended periods of time. I keep my children (yes, even my teenager)
close to home through activities and family time. I cosleep with the
younger children because I don't believe parenting only happens from
8am-8pm, but that I should be available to my child day or night.

        I realize that Attachment
Parenting is different for all those who practice it. This article is
only my perspective on it, my story and my choices. I hope you find the
information useful to you and your family in your parenting adventures!