Having baby sleep close by, whether in a side-car or in your bed, can be helpful in many ways. As mentioned before, babies thrive on skin-to-skin contact. It is also helpful to mom, especially during breastfeeding. Recent studies show that incidences of SIDS are lower in families who co-sleep. There are, of course, some well-publicized safety concerns about co-sleeping and we will discuss those in a later article.
Babywearing
Whether in a sling, a baby carrier, or in your arms, babies love being held. Studies show that babies who are held often have fewer incidences of colic and unexplainable crying. The near-constant contact also helps parents quickly learn to understand their baby’s needs.
Positive Discipline
Though this doesn’t come into play in infancy, it is such an important part of AP that it had to be mentioned. Practitioners of AP do not condone harsh punishments such as spanking. AP is not about punishment, but about guidance. When a child is attached to his parents, he generally wants to please them. In addition, AP parents strive to teach the child the difference between right and wrong instead of instilling a fear of punishment. Still, problems will occasionally arise and AP parents try to respond positively, using their knowledge of their child’s unique personality. We will discuss specific techniques in later weeks.
In Conclusion
This is not meant to be a list of requirements to join the AP “club.” There are no set minimum of things you “must” do to be considered attached. AP is not a checklist, but a way of life. The parent-child relationship is the very heart and soul of AP. No one knows our children as we do. No one knows their feelings or their needs. As we grow as parents we learn to trust our own instincts about what is right or wrong. The most important thing is to listen—to our instincts, to our hearts, and to our children. If we always do that, we will never go wrong. We will be extremely connected to our children—and completely attached.