Some of my blogging buddies practice Attachment Parenting, and I think that’s great. I don’t personally practice it, and I don’t even think I knew what it was when Joshua was born. It involves, among other things, co-sleeping, extended breastfeeding, and stay-at-home-parenting. If you want to learn about it from someone who actually knows what she’s talking about, check out Adventures in Babywearing or the Crunchy Domestic Goddess.
So, like I said, I don’t practice Attachment Parenting. But my children seem to be advocates for said lifestyle. I am a stay-at-home-mom, and I breastfed Joshua until he was 13 months old, but I’ve never co-slept (except a couple nights on vacation with Sophie this summer because she was up every hour!) mainly because a) I am a very light sleeper and have some as-yet-undiagnosed sleeping problems and b) my hubby is a very heavy sleeper and I’m afraid he’d definitely and unknowingly squish a baby by rolling on it. However, at the age of three, Joshua has decided he’d like to co-sleep with me (not Daddy). He’s had two different phases where we’ve had a hard time getting him to go to bed in his bed without a fight. He’s just coming out of one of those phases, but even though he’s going to bed fine, he still manages to wander into our bedroom somewhere between three and four a.m. several nights a week. Once he’s there, I pull him into bed with us because I am too tired to do otherwise. He whines and fusses about Daddy being in the bed until I wake my husband up out of exhaustion and frustration and he splits. Then I pray Joshua is tired enough to go back to sleep without wallowing all over me, so that I might also get some rest.
And that’s just Joshua.
Sophia, at ten-and-a-half months, is very attached to me. I didn’t have to make any special efforts there. She wants to be on me all the time. She is constantly climbing up my leg – my husband just shakes his head in wonder. “She sure loves her mama,†he says. Understatement of the year! I really should’ve just bought a nice sling months ago so I could just wear her 24/7. It would be much more convenient. Then I wouldn’t have to pry her off my leg all the time so I could walk. The other night I was trying to eat dinner and she was standing at my side, pulled up on me, rubbing her face all over my lap. Then Joshua, who was grumpy, climbed in my lap as well. Neither wanted their Daddy, even though they generally love him a lot. I guess this should make me feel like every woman or something but it generally just makes me claustrophobic (and hungry)!
Sophia is also going to be an AP advocate on the nursing front. She still looooves to nurse. I planned to nurse her about 13 or 14 months but I am pretty sure I won’t be able to wean her until she’s about six. She is very fond of rubbing her face into my chest or licking my shirt when she wants to nurse. She’s very subtle, that one. I do love nursing her, I just hope I won’t have to finally put my foot down and wean her so that she can go to kindergarten.
If I had it to do over again, maybe I’d go back in time and practice AP, because honestly, at this point, I’m not sure I have a choice anymore!
As you know, I only practice parts of AP. I’m a mom who works outside the home, so I can’t really dedicate myself to the practice of it. I just dow what works for us and is within our comfort zone. I’m all for the extended breastfeeding, but B seems to be uninterested. She’d rather have real food unless she is sleepy or upset. Anyother time we attempt nursing these days and she’ll suckle for a few moments and then BAM out of nowhere she is biting my nipple off. Maybe B can take a few lessons from Sophie on this one.
Have fun tonight! Sorry I’m missing it!
thanks for the linky love. your kids sound super sweet. LOL at sophia licking your shirt.
the biggest aspect of practicing AP is to be tuned into your children’s needs. sounds like you are doing a good job of that. 🙂
amy
I also don’t define myself as AP, but I do practice a lot of what AP prescribes. Like CDG says, we just need to be tuned into our children’s needs, easy enough, right?? heheh.
LOL Sounds like the kids are following their instincts. 🙂 I’m an AP mommy just because it’s what felt, and feels, right. It’s all about going by their cues, so as long as you’re doing that then you’re peachy. 🙂
And don’t worry, my youngest is such a boob man he not wean until college. 😉
And think of all that extra time you will have when she’s five! (not)
arg. I want to sleep in my own bed, all by myself. No more musical beds please!
Oh Man. my 2 yr old has started coming to my bed 2 or 3 times a week. too. I just drag her into the bed. and i end up sleeping acrossed the bottom. ( to ecape being kicked every 3.5 mins. ) Tell me how to make that stop!!!!
Just want to say I have no idea how i have this website in my favaroites but for about a month now i have been reading it and it cracks me up.
me and my friend still talk about the anti- what??? one.
I don’t think AP had “a name” when my kids were young. We just did it.
I am SO glad my hubby bought us a king size bed right before our youngest was born because NOW our 3 year comes in EVERY NIGHT!!!!! Goodbye good night sleep! It is sweet everyonce in a while but not every night.
My 5 1/2 month old does the same thing when she wants to nurse. She nuzzles me or her tongue darts in and out of her mouth tasting for my breast.
What can I say? I am the complete opposite of an AP mom (except that I stay home with my son). He never latched on when he was a baby, so I pumped. I hated it! It’s one thing if you get the bonding experience with your child, but quite another bonding with a breast pump 6 times a day for 6 months. And in the meantime, my son was getting quite accustomed to being in his bouncy seat, or his little swing, waiting for me to finish. It got to where he didn’t want me to hold him unless he was facing out toward the room, and even then he’d rather not be held. He has always been very independent. He never shared our bed. I worried that he might not develop a deep attachment to us, but that fear was totally unfounded. He is the sweetest, funniest, most social kid I’ve ever known, and he is incredibly empathetic toward others. He gives us hugs and kisses all the time, which I relish, as I realize the time is coming when he will die of embarrassment if I so much as look in his direction. If only they could stay this young forever!
My son also likes to climb into bed with us in the wee hours. I learned–or I should say my husband learned!–the hard way that when potty training it’s a good idea to have a waterproof mattress pad on ALL the beds!
I too have practiced AP by default. I have nursed (am nursing) all my kids and they always ended up cosleeping from the time they were newborns to when they were too wiggly to stay safe in our bed. It was just easier to roll over at night and throw out the boob and then go back to sleep. Maybe that makes me a lazy mom, but hey, you do what you gotta do.
I have been wondering if that “clingyness” you described as your daughter hanging on your leg is gender specific. I have 2 little boys that never did that and now my 7 1/2 month old little girl can’t bear to be away from mommy for a second. Which I secretly love even though it gets really old by the end of the day.
Sorry for the long comment 🙂 I just jumped over here from CDG. Great posts!