Attachment Parenting

Attachment Parenting is parenting a lot of touch, affection and high responsiveness to the needs of the child. According to attachment parenting international organizations, the real essence of Attachment Parenting is to build and maintain strong relationships between children and parents. Where in this connection there is no violence, because their parents respect and uphold the dignity and the dignity of the child.

Attachment Parenting, not a method or approach that is created or discovered. Long before Dr. William Sears argued about Attachment Parenting, actually from one generation to the many parents in the world has 'run' this approach. Long-term vision of Attachment Parenting is to raise children who will become adults who are growing and have adequate capacity to empathize and engage with others.

Quoting from Attachment Parenting International (API), there are 8 basic principles of Attachment Parenting, namely:

1.      Preparation for Pregnancy, Birth and Parenting

Attachment Parenting Parents involved emotionally and physically in the process of pregnancy and birth. Care and do our best in this process, such as health care, many service providers to learn about options for the delivery of health and the environment and looking for information on how to care for a newborn. By continuously enrich themselves with knowledge about the stages of child development, setting realistic expectations and remain flexible.

2.      Feed with Love and Respect

Breastfeeding is the optimal way to satisfy the nutritional and emotional needs of babies. Feeding with bottle feeding can adapt the attitude of the breast, can help create a secure attachment. Watch for signs of hunger in infants and children, encourage them to eat when hungry and stop when full. Provide healthy food choices and healthy eating attitudes demonstrated.

3.      Respond with Sensitivity

Building a foundation for trust and empathy starts from infancy. Pay attention to what the child in us, and the response is consistently and properly. Babies can not be expected to compose themselves, they need parents calm, empathetic and compassionate to help them cope with their emotions. The response was a sensitive child who was injured or show strong emotions and take part in their happiness.

4.      Use Nurturing Touch.

The touch of the baby's needs will be physical contact, affection, security, stimulation and movement. The most effective way is skin to skin contact, such as feeding, bathing or massage. Babywearing also meets this need while traveling. Hugs, rubbing at the back, massage and physical play to meet these needs in the older child.

5.      Ensure Safe Sleep, Physically and Emotionally.

Babies and children have needs at night as well as during the day; hunger, loneliness, fear to feel cold or hot. They need parents to soothe and make them comfortable while helping them face their emotions are intense. Sleep training techniques can have no effect both physiologically and psychologically. Sleep with / near the safe deliver benefits for both baby and parents.

6.      Provide Consistent Loving Care.

Infants and young children have a tremendous need for a physical presence nanny figure consistent, compassionate and responsive: ideally, they need parents. If possible, choose an alternative caregivers who had already built a bond with the child and the care for the child, which will strengthen this attachment relationship. Make flexible schedules, minimize stress and fear when separated children while their parents.

7.      Practice Positive Discipline.

Positive discipline helps children develop the internal discipline by his conscience and compassion for others. Disciplines that are empathetic, compassionate and respectful to strengthen the relationship between parents and children. Rather than reacting to behavior, discover the needs leading to the behavior. Communicate and wake solutions together while maintaining their dignity.

8.      Strive for Balance in Personal and Family Life.

When balance maintained, it becomes easier for us to be emotionally responsive. Create a support network, set realistic goals, heed the people rather than objects, and not afraid to say 'no'. Recognize individual needs within the family and where possible meet those needs without compromising our physical and emotional health. Be creative, have fun with child care and make time for yourself.

Dr. Sears also said about 7 tools to help parents to run the Attachment Parenting, namely:
1. Bond (bonding) since birth
2. nurse
3. Holding the baby attached to the body (Babywearing)
4. Bed along or adjacent to the baby
5. Believing the meaning of the language of a crying baby
6. Be wary of 'training' for babies
7. The balance between personal needs and children

Attachment parenting holds that it is vital to the child's survival that they are capable of communicating their needs to adults, and to have those needs promptly met. This does not mean meeting a need that a child can fulfill itself, nor (argues Dr Sears) is it necessarily open to exploitation by children; while still an infant, says Dr Sears, a child is mentally incapable of outright manipulation.

Rather, the focus is on identifying unmet needs and responding appropriately. APs are encouraged to understand what these needs are, when they arise, how they change over time and circumstances, and how to flexibly devise appropriate responses. AP proponents establish these responses by looking at child development and infant and child biology, to determine psychologically and biologically appropriate responses at different stages of development.