Rock a Bye Baby
Abigail is now 13.5 months old and such a darling little girl. I've decided to begin writing because there are many nights that I am so wide awake because I drink too much coffee in the day. So I have decided I will write on the adventures and experiences of Attachment Parenting (AP). Before I had Abigail, I had never heard of AP and realized there was a name for the style in which we are rearing our sweet baby. I also think that it is just instinctual parenting which needed a label for all of the slack that it gets.
When I am not around the amazing midwives or mothers from the Greenhouse Birth Center, I pretty much feel as if most everyone judges the way we raise our baby. Here are some things we do which would be considered Attachment Parenting:
1.) Breastfeeding beyond 1 year
2.) Breastfeeding to comfort
3.) Baby wearing
4.) Bed-sharing
5.) Constant affection from the parents (traditionally this style focuses on mother-baby relationship.
6.) Not letting baby/toddler Cry-It-Out. (Crying is acceptable if in the loving arms of someone she trusts).
The one I feel society understands least is #5. Society tries to create an individual at a very young age (this toddler of mine still cannot communicate her feelings other than crying). I understand many parents need time away from the child, but for most of the time, I love being around Abigail. I know that giving her constant love and attention now will help her to trust me and her father and thus strengthen her self-esteem. In the long haul (so I've read), AP children grow to be very independent as a result of the latter traits. Dr. Sears gives a good example of starting a new business:
At first you may be the only employee, but you put in the longs hours and miss out on social outings, but finally, because of your hard work and dedication, the business becomes very successful.
For the last week, we have been in step 1 of Dr. Jay Gordon's night-weening plan. This includes nursing Abigail to sleep (as usual) no matter how often she wakes in the the night (which is about 4 times) and then comforting her to sleep through touch. This could be walking her around, rocking her or just patting her back. This step is meant to be 3 nights long, but it has turned into 6. Tonight, we began Step 2 which is 3 nights of not nursing at all, but comforting her back to sleep through touch. This step is only for 7 hours and we can do whatever we wish the rest of the time. The last step which is 4 nights (but could last a month or more) is just talking or touching her to sleep but not picking her up for the same 7 hours. So the status of not nursing her to sleep? She cried/screamed for 40 minutes while I left. I think the only way this will work is if I am not there to tempt her with my treasure : ) Wish us luck and lots of sleep!
When I am not around the amazing midwives or mothers from the Greenhouse Birth Center, I pretty much feel as if most everyone judges the way we raise our baby. Here are some things we do which would be considered Attachment Parenting:
1.) Breastfeeding beyond 1 year
2.) Breastfeeding to comfort
3.) Baby wearing
4.) Bed-sharing
5.) Constant affection from the parents (traditionally this style focuses on mother-baby relationship.
6.) Not letting baby/toddler Cry-It-Out. (Crying is acceptable if in the loving arms of someone she trusts).
The one I feel society understands least is #5. Society tries to create an individual at a very young age (this toddler of mine still cannot communicate her feelings other than crying). I understand many parents need time away from the child, but for most of the time, I love being around Abigail. I know that giving her constant love and attention now will help her to trust me and her father and thus strengthen her self-esteem. In the long haul (so I've read), AP children grow to be very independent as a result of the latter traits. Dr. Sears gives a good example of starting a new business:
At first you may be the only employee, but you put in the longs hours and miss out on social outings, but finally, because of your hard work and dedication, the business becomes very successful.
For the last week, we have been in step 1 of Dr. Jay Gordon's night-weening plan. This includes nursing Abigail to sleep (as usual) no matter how often she wakes in the the night (which is about 4 times) and then comforting her to sleep through touch. This could be walking her around, rocking her or just patting her back. This step is meant to be 3 nights long, but it has turned into 6. Tonight, we began Step 2 which is 3 nights of not nursing at all, but comforting her back to sleep through touch. This step is only for 7 hours and we can do whatever we wish the rest of the time. The last step which is 4 nights (but could last a month or more) is just talking or touching her to sleep but not picking her up for the same 7 hours. So the status of not nursing her to sleep? She cried/screamed for 40 minutes while I left. I think the only way this will work is if I am not there to tempt her with my treasure : ) Wish us luck and lots of sleep!
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