Strollerderby

Too bad there's no way to REALLY know!  I wouldn't call myself an AP parent, necessarily, though I use Dr Sears and other AP references.  My kid is totally mellow and chill (which notable exceptions), but I can't decide if it's because she's just made that way or if it's because I'm consciously trying to relax and mellow out myself with her or what.  

I breast-fed on demand until she bit me and drew blood then it was bottles all the way.  I carried her around quite a bit when she was teeny, but now she rolls all over the place and I don't pick her up every time she crashes into something or cries.

So I don't know.  It's totally impossible to figure this one out because no two kids are alike and no two parenting styles are exactly alike.  

Interesting. My daughter was really high needs too. She cried 7 or more hours a day every day until she started talking. Now she spends 7 or more hours a day talking, haha.

My wife and I found some things about AP really difficult - especially night times. However now that our son is four he seems to be very well adjusted (we're somewhat biased of course) - he goes to sleep by himself, sleeps all night, is fine with a little separation (like if one of us is away for business) because he knows that we'll be there for him if he needs us and that we'll be responsive.

So it feels like it was quite an investment but it seems to be paying off so far.

I don't know....is it attachment parenting or just 21st Century Parenting.

We do seem to 'give in' more to our kids...are perhaps more focused on their needs and wants as compared to past generations.

I can't label myself as any type of parent...Adam was bottle fed and slept in a bassinet mostly..beside our bed.  We cant' get him out of our bed and his sense of entitlement is enourmous.

Caity lived in a sling on me for the first few months till I couldn't carry her anymore, yet is happy in her bed alone...but again thinks she runs the show.

So did we parent differently or just respond to their needs from day one and now look where we are?

When my son was born I had never heard of AP, but it turns out that I borrowed a lot from it. However, I was never dogmatic and it was a balance of what was best for the entire family, taking into consideration our different personalities and physical and emotional needs. I think its important to  teach this outlook to the kid, so that as baby grows she/he can respect themself and others. And also learn to critically evaluate different situations and make reasonable decisions, both short and long term.

Also, with regards to the featured photo: I can  not imagine myself choosing to carry a toddler and an baby in a sling at the same time. Mom's back has priorites over kid's unwillingness to walk or ride in a stroller. I'm so glad that my kids ages are going to be 5.5 years apart.

Balance & Moderation that is the key. Every parent will look back on the time when their kids were little and wish they had done something different. It never fails. No body is perfect and even when you have the fourth kid, like me, and think you've got it all figured out, life throws you a curve ball and you wonder....."what did I do wrong".  Attachment parenting was not really for me but if it works for some then great! To each his own.

I love Dr Sears and I love attachment parenting...for me.  Do people really think that there is one way, and one way only, to raise kids?  The way I look at it is to do what makes you happy.  If you don't want to cosleep, don't do it.  Nothing about AP says you give in to yor child's every whim too.  I breastfeed my 5 month old on demand, but my toddler doesn't get cheese curls every single time he asks for them.  I play with him a lot, but he has had to learn, snce the birth of the baby, that sometimes he needs to wait.  It works for us, and he's well adjusted, independant and happy.