MSE Parents Club Part 4

astonsmummy

feelinggood wrote: »

I've got a few of them, including some Toby Tiger ones my Mum bought me!

Random question, are you guys offended by the terms 'Natural Parenting' and 'Attachment Parenting'?

I am a detatched parent lol well i think, *like elle goes off to google*

feelinggood_2

Sami_Bee wrote: »

not at all offended by attachment, I've not heard natural before, why?

There is a debate on another forum about it - some people say that when people say they are natural parenting or attachment parenting, it implies that others are not natural or attached!

I suppose I'm an attachment parenter - baby wearing, co-sleeping, breastfeeding. Not so much natural, I use disposable nappies, but I want to try BLW.

astonsmummy

I personally dont care too much about what other parents think of my parenting skills/style, life would be boring if we were all the same.
I personally dont agree with certain things other parents do, and I wouldnt do things other parents do, doesnt make them wrong though does it?

EDIT TO ADD, obviously abuse wether it be mental physical or sexual is wrong!

SusanC_2

From Wikipedia:
"Per Dr. Sears' theory of attachment parenting (AP), proponents such as the API attempt to foster a secure bond with their children by promoting eight principles which are identified as goals for parents to strive for. These eight principles are:

1. Preparation for Pregnancy, Birth and Parenting
2. Feed with Love and Respect
3. Respond with Sensitivity
4. Use Nurturing Touch
5. Ensure Safe Sleep, Physically and Emotionally
6. Provide Consistent Loving Care
7. Practice Positive Discipline
8. Strive for Balance in Personal and Family Life

These values are interpreted in a variety of ways. Many attachment parents also choose to live a natural family living (NFL) lifestyle, such as natural childbirth, home birth, stay-at-home parenting, co-sleeping, breastfeeding, babywearing, homeschooling, unschooling, the anti-circumcision movement, natural health, cooperative movements, naturism and support of organic food.
However, Dr. Sears does not require a parent to strictly follow any set of rules, instead encouraging parents to be creative in responding to their child's needs. Attachment parenting, outside the guise of Dr. Sears, focuses on responses that support secure attachments."

elle_gee

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Attachment_parenting - that sounds like how I want to bring up Rhys.

As for the natural things it mentions, I suppose I do some - breastfeeding (in a fashion!), will do babywearing (when I find my sling) - but won't do co-sleeping (can't be trusted!) and naturism is just a bit much for me, methinks.

We contemplated home-schooling for a while and keeping "baby" off school for the extra year due to a July birthday, but now it's "Rhys" and with a May birthday we'll just have to wait and see what he needs in the future and do the best thing for him.

Sami_Bee

I thought that surely all parenting is natural
but I think attachment parenting is called that because baby tends to be attached to you most of the time as apposed to being in a pram, cot etc.
for me personally it's all semantics tho, I am 'just' a parent, I bring up my children who I feel I should - I suppose if you wanted to give me a label I'd be instict parenting :rotfl:

searching_me

personally i think labeling is a dangerous thing gives more peole a reason to judge as long as your doing your best then its ok x

feelinggood_2

Elle - your breastfeeding comment reminded me of how difficult I found it when anyone asked if I was breastfeeding. A woman stopped me outside Waitrose once and asked lots of questions, including how I fed him. First person to ask, and I said 'I don't know'. I must of seemed a bit dim!

AM - Toby is catching up to Ryan, he is 16lb 4oz. His weight gain has slowed back down to normal now, that last growth spurt was a big one.

Sami_Bee

elle_gee wrote: »

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Attachment_parenting - that sounds like how I want to bring up Rhys.

As for the natural things it mentions, I suppose I do some - breastfeeding (in a fashion!), will do babywearing (when I find my sling) - but won't do co-sleeping (can't be trusted!) and naturism is just a bit much for me, methinks.

We contemplated home-schooling for a while and keeping "baby" off school for the extra year due to a July birthday, but now it's "Rhys" and with a May birthday we'll just have to wait and see what he needs in the future and do the best thing for him.

I think that is actually quite a good idea (although depends on the individual child's ppersonality)
we think that a lot of my behaviour problems at school were cause by me just not being ready for school (I started school at 4yrs 2mths)
Mum had a boy start a year 'late' a few years ago, he hadn't been to pre-school or anything like that (his parent's were travellers, dad can't read or write but mum can) He was all caught up and even passed some children by the end of the first term

SusanC_2

feelinggood wrote: »

There is a debate on another forum about it - some people say that when people say they are natural parenting or attachment parenting, it implies that others are not natural or attached!

Personally I see it more in terms of the major focus and philosophy of parenting style e.g. natural parenting means making a particular effort to do things as naturally as possible rather than that any non-"natural" parent is doing everything unnaturally and even within natural parenting there would be a range of how far people take it.