Attachment Parenting - Katie Allison Granju

...book explores the theory of attachment parenting. This means listening to your baby to try and understand and meet their needs, rather than training them to exist in a routine laid out in some guru's book (mentioning no names, Gina!). It covers topics such as breastfeeding, weaning, breastfeeding, sleeping, breastfeeding, working, baby wearing and breastfeeding. Yes, there is a lot in this book about breastfeeding although this is actually all in ...
...I am not actually an attachment parent, although I do vaguely follow some of the principles. Having read the plethora of books that I have I can say with some confidence that I don't fit into any category of parent but takes bits from everything and for me that was one big advantage of this book. Unlike many of the others that I've read it did not contain lots of scare stories about what damage you will do to your baby and your life if you don't ... more

OK, I admit it, I think I have a problem! Since having my son 14 months ago I compulsively read any parenting book I can get my hands on from Unconditional Parenting to Gina Ford.

This book explores the theory of attachment parenting. This means listening to your baby to try and understand and meet their needs, rather than training them to exist in a routine laid out in some guru's book (mentioning no names, Gina!). It covers topics such as breastfeeding, weaning, breastfeeding, sleeping, breastfeeding, working, baby wearing and breastfeeding. Yes, there is a lot in this book about breastfeeding although this is actually all in the front of the book not spread throughout it as I suggested above (I allowed myself a little artistic licence there). Let me give you my breastfeeding background. I exclusively breastfed my son for 5 and a half months before starting to wean him onto solids. I continued to breastfeed him and at 14 months still do and not a drop of formula has passed his lips. I therefore found it very strange when reading this book's extensive section on breastfeeding that I actually felt guilty and as though I hadn't done enough (I stopped bf on demand at 3 months and fed according to a rough routine determined by my observations of his natural patterns, I also don't feed him for comfort unless he's very, very ill). I can only imagine how I'd feel if for some reason I hadn't breastfed as much as I did.

Once I got past this section the book improved. It is full of tips from experts and other mums and I firmly believe that you can find things in any book that will work for you. Reading this when my son was about 12 months old I was inspired to get a decent baby carrier and start a bit of baby wearing, I only wish I'd done it 12 months earlier (I tried with a Tomy but it was rubbish, second time round I splashed out on a Beco butterfly). I was also inspired by the section on working which explored the idea of not rushing to pick your baby up from childcare as soon as you finish work, but taking time to make sure you're in the right frame of mind to give them the attention they deserve. For me as I drive past my home on my way to nursery I stop for 15 minutes to get changed and do a few chores so that when I get my son home we can just play before tea.

I am not actually an attachment parent, although I do vaguely follow some of the principles. Having read the plethora of books that I have I can say with some confidence that I don't fit into any category of parent but takes bits from everything and for me that was one big advantage of this book. Unlike many of the others that I've read it did not contain lots of scare stories about what damage you will do to your baby and your life if you don't follow everything in the letter but actually states that many people will only identify with some parts of it.
 

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