What is Attachment Parenting?
Many people have a preconceived notion of what Attachment Parenting is and what it isn't.
Attachment Parenting focuses on listening to your instincts as a parent to lovingly raise your child in a manner that is responsive, encouraging and balanced. Attachment Parenting encourages parents to do what feels natural, such as holding their babies, responding to their cries, and so on.
Attachment Parenting is supported by biology, psychology, and anthropology. Extensive scientific research has been done which supports that a healthy attachment between a parent and child has lifelong benefits for the child. When a child does not have a healthy attachment with their caregiver(s) it can lead to both physical and mental health problems which can affect them throughout their lifetime.
Attachment Parenting is an approach to parenting your child. It does not outline steps that you need to take, rather it empowers you as a parent to choose what feels natural and implement the concepts how you see fit. Attachment Parenting provides parents with tools for raising their child in a connected and nurturing way.
The information below outlines Attachment Parenting International's Eight Principle's of Attachment Parenting and will help give you a clearer picture of what it looks like to practice attachment parenting.