Have you heard of permanent parenting?
It’s more commonly known as attachment parenting but whatever you call it, that label isn’t applicable to me or my parenting.
My son Toby is now five and I remember those full-on days of early parenting with a slight shudder. Initially I was so relieved when I discovered the baby sling would stop Toby crying and I got to have both arms free and constant snuggles that I used it almost constantly.
But unlike Mum-of-one Felicity Neal, who I saw on The Project last week, I didn’t last long. Felicity has not let six-month-old baby Charlotte out of her sight since she was born, and she even returned to work as a part time graphic designer wearing Charlotte in a sling.
Watch the video here:
A few months into baby-toting, Toby and I were both over it. It was a hot Aussie summer and that sweaty closeness was no longer cuddly. It was sticky, wriggly, heavy and I wanted my personal space back.
I knew from that point on that attachment parenting wasn’t really for me. My husband and I couldn’t tolerate Toby sleeping in our room, let alone our bed with all the snoring, snuffling and grunting.
Top Comments
I am a firm believer in doing what feels right for each individual child. My son wanted no part in sleeping with me. He was happy in his crib. So i saw no point in forcing co sleeping. My daughter on the other hand, refused to sleep in her crib except for naps in the day time. So, like it or not, if i wanted sleep, i slept with her at night. When i bought her a "big girl" bed, she had no problem sleeping in it from the get go.
If parents just followed the needs of the child, and their own instincts instead of what some celebrity, website or book says the world would be a happier place.
Well said!!
This was very similar to our experience with our 2 y/o - although we had decided that she was going to sleep in her bed fairly early on. Had seen how little sleep people using attachment parenting & how hard it was too change the pattern. Also my daughter actually slept a lot better in her own bed!!! Even now she only wakes up during the night if she's sick...
And we are def big fans of a routine. We read the Kaz Cooke books "up the duff" and the maternal nurses helped guide us through when she was due for more time up, etc. Def worth giving it a try...