Comments on: Attachment Overload http://www.babble.com.au/2009/07/24/attachment-overload/ The magazine for a new generation of parents Sun, 14 Mar 2010 02:50:20 +1100 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.9.2 hourly 1 By: ceecee http://www.babble.com.au/2009/07/24/attachment-overload/comment-page-1/#comment-6593 ceecee Tue, 28 Jul 2009 12:28:36 +0000 http://www.babble.com.au/?p=21397#comment-6593 I had to learn the hard way that so-called "natural" parenting didn't work for me when I hadn't had more than 3 hours sleep in a row for 10 months and I nearly went insane and nearly lost my partner. Along the way I met a "hippy" midwife and mother of six who surprised me by her advice to teach children some independence. She didn't think children needed to be next to their parents all the time to be attached - it's just as important that they feel secure in their routine and that Mum and Dad are happy and strong. My second child I raised differently - I was still flexible, but she always went to sleep in her bassinet or cot, I took charge of spacing out night feeds, and I still enjoyed carried her on my back once she was big enough. She's now more independent and secure - and less clingy - than her older sister. So don't feel bad - you might find it's a lot better for everyone, including your child, if you change tack. I had to learn the hard way that so-called “natural” parenting didn’t work for me when I hadn’t had more than 3 hours sleep in a row for 10 months and I nearly went insane and nearly lost my partner.

Along the way I met a “hippy” midwife and mother of six who surprised me by her advice to teach children some independence. She didn’t think children needed to be next to their parents all the time to be attached – it’s just as important that they feel secure in their routine and that Mum and Dad are happy and strong.

My second child I raised differently – I was still flexible, but she always went to sleep in her bassinet or cot, I took charge of spacing out night feeds, and I still enjoyed carried her on my back once she was big enough. She’s now more independent and secure – and less clingy – than her older sister.

So don’t feel bad – you might find it’s a lot better for everyone, including your child, if you change tack.

]]> By: Alison http://www.babble.com.au/2009/07/24/attachment-overload/comment-page-1/#comment-6561 Alison Sun, 26 Jul 2009 23:19:35 +0000 http://www.babble.com.au/?p=21397#comment-6561 my son loves to sit in his stroller, he can play with his toys and he can look at everything he wants too and he can munch on his rusks... it's fun for him. just make sure you put a sheepskin rug in the pram (there are ones precut etc so the straps are still usable) as otherwise it's quite cold and uncomfortable for them. also, remember that people have been having babies for centuries, with & without the help of books and specialised parenting techniques. and they all turned out as messed up as each other. :) my son loves to sit in his stroller, he can play with his toys and he can look at everything he wants too and he can munch on his rusks… it’s fun for him.
just make sure you put a sheepskin rug in the pram (there are ones precut etc so the straps are still usable) as otherwise it’s quite cold and uncomfortable for them.
also, remember that people have been having babies for centuries, with & without the help of books and specialised parenting techniques. and they all turned out as messed up as each other. :)

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