Attachment parenting is parenting from the heart. It is listening to your own instincts and understanding that no one knows your children quite like you do. While there is no set criteria for being an AP parent, there are some commonalities among APers.
I remember the first time I held my oldest daughter in my arms. She was tiny and fragile, so utterly helpless. When she looked up at me with those big blue eyes, squinting and struggling to focus on my face, it was truly love at first sight. She wrapped her tiny hand around my finger, holding tight with determination, staking her claim. At that moment, I was her whole world. I vowed to protect her, to guide her, to nurture her, to love her. I’m sure most every parent has felt the same way. If we take those initial strong feelings and make them the basis of our parenting philosophy, that’s attachment parenting.
AP is Instinctive Parenting
Dr. William Sears coined the phrase “attachment parenting” (AP), but he didn’t invent the concept. AP is as old as time. Long before there were books and experts telling parents what to think, what to do, and how to parent, there was AP. AP is instinctive parenting. Just as an animal knows exactly what her offspring needs, so do human parents. The trick is learning to listen to ourselves again.
Definition of AP
Though there are many definitions of attachment parenting, and many things that some say an AP parent "should" do, AP can best be defined as parenting from the heart. When a parent pushes aside all the "experts" and the well-meaning advice of family and friends, and just listens to the needs of her own child-- that's attachment parenting.
The central idea of AP is bonding with your child, both emotionally and physically. When you know your child intimately, you understand his personality, his fears, his moods, his dreams. This knowledge helps you relate to your child and respond to his needs. There are many ways to nurture this bond, beginning in pregnancy and childbirth. However, it is never too late to become an AP parent, no matter the age of your children.
AP "Checklist"
Though there is no set checklist of things you must do to “qualify” as an AP parent, there are some things that definitely help form the parent-child bond. This is a brief overview of some components of attachment parenting.