Your head might be spinning from all of the different parenting philosophies out there. Many people think that they have the right or the only way. We are not here to pressure you into a particular method. For more information, please review the Feminist Housewives mission.

Many parents have heard the term 'attachment parenting' or 'a.p.,' but may not understand exactly what it means. Attachment parenting is when the parents consciously use techniques to form a close, strong bond with their children. This relationship is meant to lead to a close family in the short-term and an independent person who can develop strong, healthy, secure relationship in the future.

While there are many ways to develop these strong bonds with your children, Attachment Parenting International, a non-profit dedicated to this method, has outlined eight ways to be an attachment parent. Please keep in mind that these are guidelines, not stipulations. Here they are:

• Preparation for Childbirth: This involves educating yourself so you can be an active participant in your pregnancy and delivery. All people who will be involved in the raising of the new baby should take classes and strive to make important decisions early. The parents should try to keep stress on the expectant mother and the baby as low as possible during pregnancy and delivery.
  
  
• Emotional Responsiveness: This is probably the most important philosophy in attachment parenting. It involves being aware of and fulfilling your child's emotional needs. It stresses comforting your baby when they cry instead of letting them ìcry it outî on their own. A parent should develop the ability to interpret and fulfill your child's needs by spending quality time with them.
  
  
• Breastfeeding: Breastfeeding is not only the most nutritious diet possibly for babies; it also promotes bonding between the mother and child through closeness and also hormonal reactions. Attachment parenting encourages breastfeeding until the mother and the baby are both ready to stop. It also advocates breastfeeding behaviors even if you're bottle feeding your baby.
  • For more information about breastfeeding, check out this list of resources.
  • For more information about attachment parenting and bottlefeeding, check out these articles.
    
    
• Baby Wearing: Wearing your baby in a sling can have many positive benefits. It allows your child to feel safe and secure, stimulates their neurological development, and helps stabilize their biorhythms. It also brings a sense of closeness between the wearer and the baby.
  • For more information about babywearing, check out these resources.
    
    
• Shared Sleep: Sleeping in a bed with the parents can make a child feel safe and secure at night because their needs are being met. If a baby has to cry for a while before a parent arrives, it can shatter their feeling of nighttime security. With co-sleep, mom is always there to respond to needs immediately. It also make breastfeeding easier and further strengthens that bond.
  • For more information about co-sleeping, check out these resources (Coming Soon!).
    
    
• Stay Close to the Baby: Try not to be away from your baby for too long. This can emotionally damage a child and the bond you have with them. If long absences are unavoidable, try to find one consistent caregiver who will treat your child as you normally would, ensuring continuity of care.
  
  
• Positive Discipline: Attachment parenting stressed forming a strong bond with your child which helps them to trust you. If they have this trust, you can guide them to make good choices by making them yourselves. You should keep this trust by trying to understand and empathize with your child's point of view.
  
  
• Balanced Family Life:This involves not only being there for your family, but also being there for yourself. Someone who has a solid support structure and cares for themselves will be better equipped to care for their family as well.
  • For more information about staying you, check out these resources.

The above list might seem a bit overwhelming, however, most people find that they are instinctively called to do practice these methods. Even if you don't feel that call, if you strive to reach at least some of them, you will likely have a happy, independent, and well adjusted child who has a very close, trusting relationship with you.