Attachment parenting is a particular parenting philosophy that has been gaining adherents in recent years. Attachment parenting was described first by Dr. William Sears in the 1980s. Dr. Sears examined the methods that parents in cultures outside of the west use to care for their children in a natural and in a loving way. Attachment parenting, at its core, is based on the idea that putting into practice nurturing activities during parenting will help to create attachments – bonds between the infant and his or her parent.

Attachment parenting, while it applies to the child throughout the life cycle, is especially interested in how infants are cared for, and how infants and their parents interact. Attachment parenting encourages parents to respond both quickly and directly to the infant’s emotional needs. This response is though to help develop the bond of trust between the parent and the child, giving the child the reassurance that they need to have that their needs will be met.

There are several concepts that are integral to the idea of attachment parenting. First of all, for attachment parenting to work the way that it is supposed to, parents have to be committed. Parents need to want to create those bonds with their child, and to do so they must be informed, educated about the proper methods, and they must be determined. Second to parental commitment is the need for prenatal care. Making your baby’s experience in the womb a peaceful one is an important part of avoiding undue stress on your baby. Breastfeeding is another component of attachment parenting. Breastfeeding encourages your baby to look to you for food and for comfort. In attachment parenting, it is generally thought that the child, rather than the mother, should decide when it is time to wean. A quick response to meeting baby’s needs is another important component of attachment parenting. Attachment parenting also promotes co-sleeping with your baby, although some research has suggested that this may not be the best arrangement. In the case of sleeping with your baby, you should consult with your health care provider about the implications.

Attachment parenting, while it may not be for everyone, is one method that parents have used to create those important bonds with their infants.

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