At first it was the money saving that drew me to attachment parenting. No crib...he could share my bed! Didn't need to spend money on a nursery, disposable diapers and all the gizmos and gadgets that all the parenting magazines say you need. But AP brought me so much more than saving money! I have so much love and joy in my parenting.
I have done it both ways. With my first born I did all the things I was told to do. Crib, bottles, you name it. My first son has turned out great but the emotions I felt when I let him cry in his crib and when I slept without him were overwhelming. 13 years later I had a bit more of an idea of what I wanted for my family. I do what I FEEL is right, not what the media says is right. Cloth diapering and Elimination Communication helped my son to be completely potty trained by 18 months. I wore him in my "pouch" at our family business until he was 17 months. I am not "extreme", just a really lovey dovey parent!
Rather than trusting our instincts and caring for our children the way that humans did for tens of thousands of years (and the way many other countries still do!), big businesses have led the push for buying "things" babies don't really need. Pampers spokesman T. Barry Brazelton began advocating "wait until a child is ready" to potty train. There's a lot of money to be made in disposable diapers, cribs, strollers, baby bouncers, walkers, playpens, electronic gadgets and movies to contain and entertain our children. Attachment Parenting doesn't require many consumer goods so it isn't great for business models based on disposable products. Therefore, we should not be surprised that us AP parents as were reffered to as"extreme." The motivation to perpetuate a detachment/ consumerist model of parenting is entrenched in the corporate need to sell ever more "stuff."
I am wondering if, despite probable success at selling a lot of copies of this issue, Time may have pushed too far and inadvertently opened a door for Attachment Parenting to "mainstream" America. I've seen mothers posting all over the internet about joining together and rejecting the media-created "mommy wars." I've seen more beautiful blog posts and articles promoting breastfeeding and attachment parenting this week than ever before. It is amazing for me to see just how much this one magazine article has brought these topics into the public spotlight!
I am optimistic that we are at a turning point. I believe people increasingly realize the dangers of too much consumption and overuse of technology. With respect to child rearing, this realization can inspire the return to traditional practices such as baby wearing, breastfeeding, natural living, family bed, elimination communication and much more. I also believe that each family is entiled to do what ever works best for their own families. For some families that means a crib and I will still sell eco-friendly cribs and organic crib mattresses.
I'm glad to see a growing concern that the purchases we make are thoughtful, without exploitation, minimally impact our earth, and promote our and our families' health and well-being. It is with these same priorities that I operate Lovin' Life Organics.
I have done it both ways. With my first born I did all the things I was told to do. Crib, bottles, you name it. My first son has turned out great but the emotions I felt when I let him cry in his crib and when I slept without him were overwhelming. 13 years later I had a bit more of an idea of what I wanted for my family. I do what I FEEL is right, not what the media says is right. Cloth diapering and Elimination Communication helped my son to be completely potty trained by 18 months. I wore him in my "pouch" at our family business until he was 17 months. I am not "extreme", just a really lovey dovey parent!
Rather than trusting our instincts and caring for our children the way that humans did for tens of thousands of years (and the way many other countries still do!), big businesses have led the push for buying "things" babies don't really need. Pampers spokesman T. Barry Brazelton began advocating "wait until a child is ready" to potty train. There's a lot of money to be made in disposable diapers, cribs, strollers, baby bouncers, walkers, playpens, electronic gadgets and movies to contain and entertain our children. Attachment Parenting doesn't require many consumer goods so it isn't great for business models based on disposable products. Therefore, we should not be surprised that us AP parents as were reffered to as"extreme." The motivation to perpetuate a detachment/ consumerist model of parenting is entrenched in the corporate need to sell ever more "stuff."
I am wondering if, despite probable success at selling a lot of copies of this issue, Time may have pushed too far and inadvertently opened a door for Attachment Parenting to "mainstream" America. I've seen mothers posting all over the internet about joining together and rejecting the media-created "mommy wars." I've seen more beautiful blog posts and articles promoting breastfeeding and attachment parenting this week than ever before. It is amazing for me to see just how much this one magazine article has brought these topics into the public spotlight!
I am optimistic that we are at a turning point. I believe people increasingly realize the dangers of too much consumption and overuse of technology. With respect to child rearing, this realization can inspire the return to traditional practices such as baby wearing, breastfeeding, natural living, family bed, elimination communication and much more. I also believe that each family is entiled to do what ever works best for their own families. For some families that means a crib and I will still sell eco-friendly cribs and organic crib mattresses.
I'm glad to see a growing concern that the purchases we make are thoughtful, without exploitation, minimally impact our earth, and promote our and our families' health and well-being. It is with these same priorities that I operate Lovin' Life Organics.
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