Attachment parenting is a style of parenting based on the belief that babies need a close physical and emotional attachment to their parents in order to develop securely. It involves responding sensitively and consistently to your baby’s needs while developing a strong bond.
However, there are some common misconceptions around this. While holding your baby for a long time, co-sleeping and bedsharing can be ways to create a strong connection with your baby, you can also adopt an attachment parenting style without these things.
Having your baby sleep in a different room and not wanting to bedshare, does not mean you are detached from your baby!
Bed sharing typically develops out of pure exhaustion in the early stages of a baby’s life as it can often be the only way parents can get some sleep themselves. This is a short-term solution that does not last long for many so actively choosing to move away from that does not mean you are becoming detached from your baby.
Developing positive sleep routines can lead to the improved overall well-being of babies and parents alike. To learn more about helping your baby to sleep, click here.
Attachment parenting is about connection.
Connecting with your baby while they are awake, cuddling them, playing with them on the playmat, and talking and singing to them are all ways to develop your unique bond with your baby.
Giving your baby the care that they need such as feeding, bathing, and skin-to-skin contact all lead to attachment parenting as you are developing a strong bond with your baby.
You can be connected with your baby, love and nurture your baby, and be emotionally in touch with your baby without needing to hold them and sleep with them all the time.
At the end of the day, you have got to do what works for you, 100%.
As always, I’d love to help in anyways I can, so please get in touch!