today's G2

[alexist]

http://www.guardian.co.uk/g2/story/0,3604,1644103,00.html

Now, while I know mothers who have had a lot of success with 'attachment parenting' techniques, I think this guy is a bit much--carrying your baby around for 8 months?! Things like this will just make women feel even guiltier and more inadequate. It's wonderful to give all these idealistic recommendations, but IMO, the best advice is the advice that can actually be followed. If people feel that goals are unattainable and unrealistic, they're less likely to even try, whereas if guidelines are geared to the 'real world', you'll have a better compliance rate and possibly better outcomes as a result.

Of course we all want 'the best' for children, but there's a real need for balance.

Comments

[rowan-leigh.livejournal.com]

The author of the article doesn't query the idea that it has to be mother-baby contact--whether another adult could do the job just as well. Disappointing.

[mommyathome.livejournal.com]

I didn't read the whole article (it was too long and I just couldn't be bothered) but I can tell you that I did attachment parenting with The Boy. He was born small (2 kg) and I read in The Baby Book (Dr. Sears) that wearing him nonstop will make him grow. I did it for his first 2 weeks at home nonstop. He couldn't even latch (I had IUGR for his last month in the womb). I had to pump. He gained 450 grams his first week at home and 550 grams the second. It works. Normal high end growth is 250 grams a week for the first few months. I didn't wear him 24 hours a day obviously (I had to sleep) but every waking moment he was on me. All I did was lie in bed and hold him (and watch TV). The women in Tipat Chalav (the Israeli health group that watches the development of babies) were shocked at how well he grew. They'd never seen anything like it before.

As he grew we kept up the holding, but you make it less over time. I don't know, I think it makes a more secure child. I do know he's considered one of the sweetest kids in the day care with no discipline problems, but neither my husband or I were difficult kids (according to our mothers).