Greetings from Amazon.com Delivers Parenting Katie Allison Granju is the country's leading proponent of "attachment parenting," a labor-intensive but arguably more rewarding, effective, and "natural" way to raise children that's intended to promote well-being in both the parents and the baby. It's a term originally coined by the esteemed Dr. William Sears that's now gaining popularity, thanks in a large part to Granju's activism. Attachment parenting advocates a close bond with the child; that you pick the child up when he or she is crying; that you allow the baby to sleep in the bed with you; and, often, that you breastfeed past the first year. These are ideas that are increasingly backed up by scientific research, but they aren't ideas that Dr. Benjamin Spock would have recommended, and that's exactly the point: this is not your mother's childrearing book. You can find "Attachment Parenting" at http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/067102762X/entertainmentsit ****** Breaking "the Rules" of Parenting by Katie Allison Granju The day we brought our first child home from the hospital nearly eight years ago, I felt quite confident that I could handle whatever challenges new motherhood might throw my way. After all, I had just spent nine long months of pregnancy devouring dozens of bestselling parenting books and magazines, and the most popular pediatrician in town was only a pager away from any late-night, new-parent questions that might present themselves. Three weeks later, I was no longer so sure of myself. The feeding schedules and relief bottles suggested by the "experts" left me with a fussy baby who would no longer take the breast, as well as a raging case of mastitis. I felt terribly guilty because the beautiful crib that we had chosen sat empty since my baby would only sleep when he was in actual physical contact with my body. And because I was advised by every childcare manual, opinionated relative, and my own pediatrician that I should never, ever let baby Henry sleep in our bed, I was exhausted to the point of delirium. I wondered if I was simply an incompetent mother for failing so miserably at "Mainstream Parenting 101." "There has to be a better way," I thought wearily. As it turned out, there was a better way. It's called "attachment parenting," and two babies later, I've written the first comprehensive guidebook to this increasingly popular parenting style. "Attachment parenting" is a term originally coined by bestselling pediatrician and father of eight Dr. William Sears. It describes a collection of "attachment tools" for parents, including early parent-child bonding, breastfeeding on cue, parent-baby co-sleeping, "babywearing" (carrying your baby in a cloth carrier), and often, breastfeeding past the first year. However, attachment parenting certainly isn't yet another "must-do" checklist for parents. Some parents who breastfeed do not practice attachment parenting while other parents who have never even seen a baby sling do. Instead, "AP" is a very flexible, family-centered style of childrearing that produces securely attached children and confidently responsive parents who truly enjoy their roles as mother or father. In "Attachment Parenting," readers will find information and support for many parenting choices that are presented as negatives or even missing altogether from other books on childcare. Parents will learn how to prepare a safe and comfortable family bed for sleeping with their baby, why breastfeeding past the first year benefits both mothers and children, how to choose and use a baby sling or backpack, and how to find an AP-friendly caregiver. Additionally, the book takes a strong stand against various "cry-it-out" sleep-training techniques, as well as "by the clock" feeding schedules for infants. As I conducted research for "Attachment Parenting"--much of which I wrote with my infant son, Elliot, nestled in a baby sling on my chest--I interviewed more than 100 AP families of all types to discover how this parenting style works in their day-to-day lives. Additionally, I talked with a number of leading pediatricians, lactation consultants, anthropologists, and other experts regarding the growing body of scientific and medical evidence favoring AP practices. Commentary from both real parents and experts is scattered throughout the entire book. My medical collaborator for "Attachment Parenting" (who also happens to be my best pal since the first day of seventh grade), Betsy Kennedy, RN, MSN, is a nurse and nursing instructor at Vanderbilt University. Betsy is also an attachment parent herself and gave birth to her second baby, Clare Frances, on the very day our book was released! Lastly, because the growing popular interest in AP has led to a boom in AP resources, I've waded through it all to compile and include in the book an exhaustive listing of the very best Web sites, e-mail lists, retail catalogs, books, magazines, and support groups for AP families. In short, I have written the book that I wish I had had when I was a tired new mama wondering why so many of the commonly accepted parenting "rules" felt so wrong for me and for my baby. It is my hope that "Attachment Parenting" will become a book that reassures expectant, new, and experienced parents alike that they themselves--together with their children--are the real "parenting experts" when it comes to their own families. Featured in this e-mail: "Attachment Parenting: Instinctive Care for Your Baby and Young Child" by Katie Allison Granju with Betsy Kennedy, RN, MSN, and an introduction by Dr. William Sears http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/067102762X/entertainmentsit ****** You'll find more great books, articles, excerpts, and interviews in Amazon.com's Parenting & Families section at Parenting & Families
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