My Nonprofit Reviews

Attachment Parenting International is the voice of reason in an increasingly alienating trend in the way we are raising our children. The general idea in childrearing today is to rush separation from the parental figure as soon as possible, ideally within the first few months of life. New mothers are urged to place their babies to sleep alone in a room by 6months of age at the latest, in order to "encourage independence", but how can a baby who can't even sit up properly by herself yet enjoy independence and separation? She can't do anything for herself. She is completely dependent on parental figures to provide food, safety, comfort. What can independence mean to a baby who is left alone to cry, but abandonment and severe danger? Hundreds of pounds are spent every year on sleep consultants for infants who, unable to cope with rushed and inopportune independence foisted upon them cry all night long. The comfort of the breast is widely encouraged to be withdrawn by 1 year old at the latest, if ever started at all. At the same time, the Western world is undergoing a clinical depression and chronic anxiety epidemic of vast proportions. Suicide has become one of the main causes of death, personality disorders are rampant, enduring disabilities and resistant to treatment. These are problems which are virtually unheard of in societies which practice a more attachment based form of child rearing, such as India or China, where, for instance, sleeping with primary caregivers until a child is old enough to appreciate independence is the norm. Coincidence? Maybe. But I'm sure it couldn't hurt to try out what other cultures are already doing successfully. Research by Bowlby et al demonstrates that recurrent and prolonged separation from parental figures in the early years is the direct cause of many problems later in life, and yet attachment parenting is not really viewed as a possible solution, yet. Therefore, thank you Attachment Parenting International for spreading ideas and concepts more in tune with human nature, respectful of what babies and children seek from parenting figures (closeness, guidance and support) even if they don't necessarily go hand in hand with an economic model which expects parents to be back to full time absence from their newborn by the time they're 3 months of age in order to resume paid work.