Attachment parenting: the best way to raise a child – or maternal masochism?
Attachment parenting is in some ways a 21st century rebellion against the hidebound rigidity of 1970s parenting gurus like Gina Ford, with their emphasis on strict, unchanging routines. Attachment parenting urges mothers to trust their own instincts and decrease their attentiveness to child development experts. Attachment Parenting has a hint of anti-modernity to it, similar to many other wellness trends. It emphasizes the bond between a mother (and it is specifically aimed at the mother) with her baby. The approach is quickly gaining popularity, but also has its detractors.
Key Takeaways:
- In Oxfordshire, in a picture-pretty environment, four women gather together to discuss the challenges of parenting like sleep training, and hypnobirthing. They have their toddlers with them.
- During the gathering, Rebecca comments that her 19-month old son is always hungry and wants to be breastfed often and that this makes him happy.
- These mothers are part of a new parenting group that are rebelling against Gina Ford’s scheduled method of parenting that was the rage a decade ago.
“Mothers are urged to trust their instincts over the advice of professionals, and to shun developments such as sleep training (in which babies are left to cry to encourage them to sleep for longer) and, occasionally, vaccinations.”