Attachment Parenting

What is Attachment Parenting?

Attachment Parenting is a style of caring for your infant that brings out the best in the baby and the best in the parents. Attachment Parenting implies first opening your mind and heart to the individual needs of your baby, and eventually you will develop the wisdom on how to make on-the-spot decisions on what works best for both you and your baby.

A close attachment after birth and beyond allows the natural, biological attachment-promoting behaviors of the infant and the intuitive, biological, caregiving qualities of the mother to come together. Both members of this biological pair get off to the right start at a time when the infant is most needy and the mother is most ready to nurture. Bonding is a series of steps in your lifelong growing together with your child.

What does Attachment Parenting look like?

Attachment Parenting is nothing new and certainly not a new trend. It is the way parenting has been done for most of human history and, in most cases, will come intuitively to new mothers and fathers. It is important to remember that Attachment Parenting is an approach rather than a set of rules, so while birth bonding, breastfeeding, baby wearing and safe co-sleeping are encouraged in this style of parenting, the benefits of Attachment Parenting are not exclusive to those who are able to do all of these things.

The principles of Attachment Parenting are being responsive and sensitive to your baby’s needs, nurturing your child through touch, and creating a bond that allows the child’s needs to be easily deciphered and cared for.

See our video to watch Martha speaking about the 7 Baby B’s of Attachment Parenting.

What are the benefits of Attachment Parenting?

There are numerous benefits of Attachment Parenting for the child, the parents, and the child-parent connection. A responsive and sensitive parenting style can promote brain development in infants, reduce the risk of SIDS, lead to a better understanding of your child’s mental and emotional states, reduce the likelihood of behavioral problems, promote socio-emotional development and much more. Read 7 Benefits of Attachment Parenting to learn more.

And find more helpful information in The Attachment Parenting Book from the Sears Parenting Library.