The Philosophy of Attachment Parenting

The entire philosophy behind attachment parenting is to give your child what he needs, when he needs it. This method of caring for your child is still the norm in many societies, but in Westernized countries, it is something of a novelty.

The original philosophy was named by Dr. William Sears who actually had nothing to do with the invention of attachment parenting. The concept goes back to the beginning of mankind and Dr. Sears simply saw that it worked. He learned about this style of parenting by watching mothers from non-Western cultures raise their children. The technique used by these women has not changed in centuries and the result is a child that is confident and attached to the mother.

Attachment parenting begins before the baby even arrives. By creating a peaceful pregnancy experience, the baby is more likely to sleep well and the mother is more likely to bond correctly with her child. According to Dr. Sears, it is also vital that the parents get along during this time period, as well as after the baby is born.

Following Dr. Sears´ philosophy, a baby should be breastfed to enhance the relationship with the mother. Also, demand feeding is encouraged. A baby knows when it needs to eat and doesn't necessarily follow a set schedule that is outlined in a book. By offering the baby food when he chooses to nurse, you are allowing him to make the decision for himself, something which creates a more confident, independent child.

This demand feeding continues until the child decides he is ready to be weaned. It is an important part of the attachment parenting philosophy that children should be allowed to wean themselves when they are ready, whether from the breast or the crib or any other security object or action. This is a way to avoid causing trauma to a child who is not yet mature enough to move onto the next stage in his life.

The philosophy of attachment parenting is about keeping the child close to his mother, so many women "wear" their babies. This might mean carrying him in a baby sling, against the body, or in a baby carrier on the back or chest. The child feels secure, being so near his mother and cries less. It is also easier for the mother to sense the child's discomfort before he needs to cry and she can change or feed him as he needs.

The philosophy of attachment parenting continues throughout the growing years of the child and continues to foster closeness between parents and child. This usually results in a child that is better able to confront problems in life and who is able to be away from his parents without anxiety. It is a relatively new idea for many Westerners, but well-worth the effort in order to form such a wonderful attachment with your child.

There is plenty more to learn about the attachment parenting philosophy and much of it is online. You can also buy Dr. Sears´ book to learn more.