| When I became pregnant with my daughter, | | | | enough to listen to their hearts AND their |
| Aubrey, I was 21 years old, freshly married | | | | children's cries! I also learned that my |
| and scared to death! I read all the books, | | | | co-sleeping is actually a great way to |
| including the "What to Expect" series (even | | | | "attachment" parent, and is especially good |
| the infant and toddler ones). All these books | | | | when you are breastfeeding.I was introduced |
| gave us "one size fits all" kind of parenting | | | | to cloth diapers, which at first I thought, |
| advice.When Aubrey was born, we practiced the | | | | "NO WAY; Are people NUTS?"; Well I know |
| "one size fit's all"; parenting advocated by | | | | different now. I then began cloth diapering |
| all the books I read. We encouraged her to | | | | my then 8 month old little boy. The patterns |
| fall asleep on her on, meaning we let her cry | | | | are so fun, the work is minimal and I know |
| herself to sleep. I also encouraged Aubrey to | | | | that I am doing just a little part to save |
| feel comfortable playing alone, and not need | | | | the earth. Not to mention save some money! |
| me. I did however KNOW that breast milk was | | | | Another added benefit to my choosing cloth, |
| best, and since I did not know that the | | | | is my son has extremely sensitive skin, and |
| resources were out there to seek help to | | | | with cloth diapers he has had not ONE break |
| learn HOW to breastfeed, I | | | | out -- not even a hint of any type of diaper |
| pumped.Fast-forward 5 years.I unexpectedly | | | | rash.To me Attachment Parenting is not at all |
| got pregnant with my son. This time I found | | | | about a set guidelines though this is the set |
| myself alone. So, instead of reading (yet | | | | provided by Attachment Parenting |
| again) all the more mainstream books, I | | | | International:1. Preparation for Childbirth2. |
| instead turned to my heart. I searched my | | | | Emotional Responsiveness3. Breastfeed your |
| heart for the kind of parent I wanted to be. | | | | Baby4. Baby Wearing5. Shared sleep and Safe |
| The kind of child I wanted my son or daughter | | | | Sleeping Guidelines6. Avoid frequent and |
| to be. I was not going to have help this | | | | prolonged separations from your baby7. |
| time, so it had to be something I would | | | | Positive Discipline8. Maintain balance in |
| understand, stick with and love, unlike the | | | | your family lifeWe (as a family) practice |
| parenting style I choose with my older | | | | several or most of these guidelines, now. |
| daughter.I had no idea about Attachment | | | | Though like I said, my daughter as a baby was |
| Parenting. I did not know there was a name | | | | not parented this way, so I have a good sense |
| for how I instinctively parented my son. I | | | | of the exact diffrences in the two |
| just followed heart. I was steadfast in my | | | | children.Why these guidelines are nice to |
| resolve to breastfeed my son. I sought so | | | | see, they are (to me) just that guidelines, |
| much help in this. I had issues, just like | | | | to me Attachment parenting is more about |
| many other first time nursing mommas. From | | | | Instinctive parenting listening to my heart |
| problems with to much milk, to problems with | | | | and doing what comes naturally to me, not |
| the pace that my milk did flow as well. We | | | | about some set of guidelines I "must" |
| struggled, but it was a struggle that really | | | | follow.Now my son is 22 months old, still and |
| made me feel good, like I was really doing | | | | still totally "Attachment Parented," which to |
| the best thing possible for myself and my | | | | me means he is continueing to co-sleep, |
| child. We eventually "got it" and it was/is | | | | nurse, is still being worn on a daily basis, |
| the best thing in the world for both of | | | | and still has cute cloth on his little butt |
| us!Then while at a LLL Meeting someone was | | | | every day AND night.He walks, has started |
| wearing a ring sling. I thought it was | | | | talking, and is becoming a real "little man" |
| amazing to be able to hold your baby AND get | | | | (I am sometimes sad to say.) I am confident |
| something done! So I bought one. This was my | | | | that he is so well adjusted because I was and |
| first and not my most comfortable, but I | | | | am so steadfast in "my kind of parenting"; |
| learned that I could have my newborn son with | | | | and my beliefs. Jennifer Sprague, co-owner of |
| me, and still tend to my 5-year-old daughter | | | | High Top Baby Designs. She has several years |
| and get work done around the house.I | | | | of teaching experience, working with infants |
| searched, high and low, to find the perfect | | | | through adults and has a passion for helping |
| sling for me. I learned how many different | | | | children live happy, healthy and secure |
| types there were, and decided on how I liked | | | | lives. Jennifer has been a nanny, daycare |
| mine best. When I did not find one on the | | | | provider, teacher, and is currently studying |
| market that catered to my needs and wants, I | | | | to become a Doula and a Lactation Consultant. |
| created my own.It was not till then, that I | | | | She enjoys spending time with her two |
| accidentally bumped into the name "Attachment | | | | wonderful children, Aubrey and Zachary. |
| Parenting"; I started reading, and was amazed | | | | Jennifer is also an advocate for peaceful |
| and shocked that there were other mommas just | | | | parenting everywhere she goes. |
| like me. Mommas who loved their children | | | | |