Attachment Parenting just feels natural. Baby Saoirse loves being close! Attachment Parenting Examples ♡ How to implement natural parenting in your daily life
Attachment Parenting examples. On how to implement natural parenting in your daily life. When first researching Attachment Parenting it might sounds challenging. Having your baby close, (almost) all the time. However, there are great tools for all natural parents. Which makes it easy, fun and super fulfilling to have your baby near.
Attachment Parenting Examples are:
- Birth bonding
- Breastfeeding
- Babywearing
- Bedding close to baby, co-sleeping
- Belief in the language-value of your baby’s cry
- Beware of baby trainers
- Balance
7 Baby B’s Attachment Parenting Examples for your daily life
These 7 Baby B’s are Attachment Parenting examples on how to implement AP in your day to day family life. Created by dr. Sears. An advocate of Attachment Parenting Theory.
Birth bonding
Birth bonding helps to have a “kickstart” in your relationship. By connecting with your baby from the heart. However, bonding is an ongoing journey.
Bonding with your baby is the most magical part of being a natural parent. Which gives your little one a feeling of trust, love and safety. While it keeps you recharged and full of Oxytocin. The so-called love hormone. That reduces levels of stress.
We had a natural, home-birth. Which I totally recommend! It was a great way to be fully present for our little baby. And being able to bond straight after birth. The most magical experience of my life!
Breastfeeding
Breastfeeding is a way of communication between mother and baby. It is a lesson for parents in reading the baby’s cues. Dr. Sears highly recommend breastfeeding. “It gives mama and baby a smart start in life”. As breastmilk contains anti-bodies and important brain-building nutrients. That can’t be manufactured or bought.
Besides being super healthy for your baby. And almost essential for optimal development. Breastfeeding does so much more for your bonding. It is such a magical experience to nurse your baby.
Baby-wearing
Babywearing is a great tool to implement natural parenting in your day to day life. Also,babywearing has many benefits. First of all, it is seen as a big learning school for baby. As baby learns a lot by watching the mother doing her daily things.
Besides lots of development benefits for your baby. Like getting to know the world and learning how to engage in conservations. Mama learns all about baby’s signals. An essential part of bonding with your baby. On a more practical side, babywearing is ideal to get things done with your baby close. Your little one loves to see what you are doing. While learning so much!
Baby carrier is a number one essential!
From everything, we got for our baby. The baby carrier is the number one essential. We wear our baby Saoirse everywhere. And are super happy with that. As she rarely cries and always sleep well in the carrier.
Bedding close to baby, co sleeping
Bedding close to your baby is also called “co-sleeping”. Co-sleeping has many benefits. But most importantly, when having a baby: it helps to improve the quality of sleep – for the whole family. With co-sleeping: having your baby’s bed in the same room at night. You minimize nighttime anxiety. Something a lot of babies suffer from. Co-sleeping also makes it easy to breastfeed during the night.
For our family co-sleeping works great!
Our baby sleeps almost all night. When she wakes up to feed she is nearby. She starts drinking and we sleep again. Magic!
We converted a toddler bed to a co-sleeping crib. However, honestly: Saoirse is always laying in mummy’s arms. Although this extra bed gives extra security. As she can’t roll out.
Belief in the language-value of your baby’s cry
Attachment parenting believes all cry’s are ways to communicate. Not to manipulate. And this makes so much sense!
As crying is a way of survival for your little one. Babies cry because they feel fear. Being alone is fearful for babies as they cant provide their own food and protection. So, for example, when they are alone, they could feel scared. And, after some soft fussing starts the survival mode: crying.
Therefore, all crying needs to be responded to with love and support. To help your baby to feel save and heard.
Beware of baby trainers
Dr. Sears warns of non-natural ways of “training” babies. Which he calls: “convenient parenting”.
Crying it out method
An example of convenient parenting is the “crying it out” method. It is maybe easier if your baby fits in your schedule in the short run. However, it is not a wise long term investment. Because it will create a distance between you and your little one. As a result, you miss the opportunity to become an expert of your child. Or how we like to call it: a loving parent.
Baby bouncer
Don’t get me wrong. You aren’t a terrible parent when you use a baby bouncer. And a bouncy chair can come in handy for sure. However, be mindful with (if, and) how often, you use it. As your little one learns to rely on material soothing. Instead of the closeness of you to settle down. Which is the long-run affects social skills. And most importantly: the bond between you and your baby.
Giving your mobile phone or Ipad
Although it might be tempting to give your mobile phone or Ipad as a distraction. Please think again if there aren’t any other solutions. As mobile devices are super harmful to your baby’s health and development. First of all due to the radiation. Secondly, because screen time is harmful to a baby’s development.
- Read on: Why screen time is harmful to baby’s development
- Read on: The truth about the radiation of mobile devices and How to reduce the risks
Balance
Keeping your family, relationship and baby’s needs in balance is of major importance. We all know it is hard to juggle all balls in once. However to be a loving mum – and partner. It is essential to be loving to yourself too!
You deserve time to recharge mama! Even when it seems there is no time left for you. Make some! Because you are leading by example. You want your child to know it is important to have self-care and self-love. And, it is super important for yourself too mama!
Besides being a great example for your child. By showing how you recharge your batteries. Your moment also helps you to stay calm and loving. Even when the whole house is chaos!
Examples to recharge your battery: yoga, meditation, pranayama, a walk-in nature, a good book, preparing food you love, making a nice smoothy, enjoying a cup of herbal tea: you name it!
Summary Attachment Parenting Examples
First of all, the Attachment Parenting examples listed above are ideas. And ways to inspire you with natural parenting. Since there are no strict rules in Attachment Parenting. So, just follow your heart!
We love to inspire you on how to engage in natural parenting in your daily life. The reason we love to share this is that it works! Our daughter is super happy, rarely cries and is such a blessing for our family! That it brings you as much peace and happiness as it does to us!
Most of all, may it be a friendly reminder to follow your heart. You know your baby best!
What is natural parenting to you?
What does your heart say?
How do you thrive as a parent?
What makes your baby happy?
Please enlighten us in the comment section below. Let’s inspire each other to follow your heart!
