Attachment Parenting During Pregnancy?

Hi M.,

I was looking for an earlier thread (probably last year) that I thought would be good for you to read, but didn't find it. Basically, the woman had another child and was pregnant. She was having a hard time because their attachment parenting was so serious that the child was never allowed to cry - they picked him up all the time, and had to stand up with him to get him to sleep.

One of the things that I really remember from that thread was some moms talking about strict AP possibly causing children to not be able to handle life's ups and downs because they are always shielded from it. You might look through old threads if you want to find it. It was a good thread.

Meanwhile, I found this very recent one - food for thought.

http://www.mamapedia.com/questions/13835066935630430209

All my best,
D.

1 mom found this helpful

I think the most important thing is to do what works for your family. There is no benefit to be gained from being too worried about sticking to a theory religiously. I did most of the attachment parenting things, but found that some worked better for our lives than others and when I could forgive myself for not following completely, I think I became a better mom. Isn't that the goal anyway?

1 mom found this helpful

Mine were only 11 mos apart. I had to quit breastfeeding the first one about 5 or 6 months into the second pregnancy. I spent a lot of time teaching my firstborn to walk and be independent due to the fact that I had the baby coming. Luckily for me he started walking just days before I delivered his brother. Other than that it went really smooth. When they are so young they really dont do the sibling rivalry thing as much as further spaced children do. I would have my toddler snuggle up next to me and his brother on the couch and we did a lot of reading and such. When the newborn was in the crib sleeping and spent time with the oldest. I really had no issues. You will need a twin stroller tho :)

Dear M.,
I would suggest you check out some of the forums on the Attachment Parenting International website about this topic, as you are not alone! I think one of the most helpful tips is to prepare for this baby as if you were having twins~when they are this close together, it's almost like that, as your 'older' baby is still too young to understand why your attention will now shift to a tiny intruder. So you will need to marshall your family and friends to really help out alot, as you will need so much support. If you nurse through your pregnancy, nursing siblings as many advantages, but again it's like nursing twins, so you'll need to take good care of yourself, eat right, and get a lot of rest. If you don't have support like your mom or someone who can come over on a daily basis, consider hiring a mother's helper, doula, or housekeeper for awhile. The great thing about AP is that it empowers you to do what's best for you and your family...not about listening to naysayers who give advice without considering the temperament, and uniqueness of you and your babies. Listen to your heart, your intuition, and use this time to prepare ahead and you might be surprised at how this transition will meet all of your needs for connection, love, and good physical and emotional health.