What is Attachment Parenting???

From AskDrSears.com:
WHAT ATTACHMENT PARENTING IS –THE 7 BABY B'S

Attachment parenting is a style of caring for your infant that brings out the best in the baby and the best in the parents.
7 ATTACHMENT TOOLS: THE BABY B'S

1. Birth bonding
The way baby and parents get started with one another helps the early attachment unfold. The days and weeks after birth are a sensitive period in which mothers and babies are uniquely primed to want to be close to one another. A close attachment after birth and beyond allows the natural, biological attachment-promoting behaviors of the infant and the intuitive, biological, caregiving qualities of the mother to come together. Both members of this biological pair get off to the right start at a time when the infant is most needy and the mother is most ready to nurture.

"What if something happens to prevent our immediate bonding?"

Sometimes medical complications keep you and your baby apart for a while, but then catch-up bonding is what happens, starting as soon as possible. When the concept of bonding was first delivered onto the parenting scene twenty years ago, some people got it out of balance. The concept of human bonding being an absolute "critical period" or a "now-or-never" relationship was never intended. Birth bonding is not like instant glue that cements the mother-child relationship together forever. Bonding is a series of steps in your lifelong growing together with your child. Immediate bonding simply gives the parent- infant relationship a headstart.

2. Breastfeeding
Breastfeeding is an exercise in babyreading. Breastfeeding helps you read your baby's cues, her body language, which is the first step in getting to know your baby. Breastfeeding gives baby and mother a smart start in life. Breastmilk contains unique brain-building nutrients that cannot be manufactured or bought. Breastfeeding promotes the right chemistry between mother and baby by stimulating your body to produce prolactin and oxytocin, hormones that give your mothering a boost.

3. Babywearing
A baby learns a lot in the arms of a busy caregiver. Carried babies fuss less and spend more time in the state of quiet alertness, the behavior state in which babies learn most about their environment. Babywearing improves the sensitivity of the parents. Because your baby is so close to you, you get to know baby better. Closeness promotes familiarity.

4. Bedding close to baby
Wherever all family members get the best night's sleep is the right arrangement for your individual family. Co-sleeping adds a nighttime touch that helps busy daytime parents reconnect with their infant at night. Since nighttime is scary time for little people, sleeping within close touching and nursing distance minimizes nighttime separation anxiety and helps baby learn that sleep is a pleasant state to enter and a fearless state to remain in.

5. Belief in the language value of your baby's cry
A baby's cry is a signal designed for the survival of the baby and the development of the parents. Responding sensitively to your baby's cries builds trust. Babies trust that their caregivers will be responsive to their needs. Parents gradually learn to trust in their ability to appropriately meet their baby's needs. This raises the parent-child communication level up a notch. Tiny babies cry to communicate, not to manipulate. (anyone ever told you: "Just let your baby Cry it Out", don't do it!)

6. Beware of baby trainers
Attachment parenting teaches you how to be discerning of advice, especially those rigid and extreme parenting styles that teach you to watch a clock or a schedule instead of your baby; you know, the cry-it-out crowd. This "convenience" parenting is a short-term gain, but a long-term loss, and is not a wise investment. These more restrained styles of parenting create a distance between you and your baby and keep you from becoming an expert in your child.

7. Balance
In your zeal to give so much to your baby, it's easy to neglect the needs of yourself and your marriage. As you will learn the key to putting balance in your parenting is being appropriately responsive to your baby – knowing when to say "yes" and when to say "no," and having the wisdom to say "yes" to yourself when you need help."

get even more info here!
& here's the 7 benefits of Attachment Parenting

Here's other helpful resources & links

Get Involved:





http://www.momsrising.org/ "MomsRising is working to bring together millions of people who share a common concern about the need to build a more family-friendly America. We are working to create both cultural and legislative change."
http://www.motherfriendly.org/ Coalition for Improving Maternity Services
www.amsa.org/uhc bringing universal healthcare to all!
ColorofChange.org Our goal is to empower our members—Black Americans and our allies—to make government more responsive to the concerns of Black Americans and to bring about positive political and social change for everyone.
EllaBakerCenter.org Working for JUSTICE in the system, OPPORTUNITY in our cities & PEACE in our streets


MISC:
FarmFreshToYou.com get organic produce delivered straight to you! 800-796-6009
thesecret.tv what is "the secret" u gotta check this out!
tut.com get some free inspirational "notes from the universe" emailed to u daily & more!
GrownandSexy.net Such a Lady dresses by Grown & Sexy Clothing: "Sexy comfort for all shapes, sizes & shades!"

Etsy Buy Handmade imsuchalady

G&S Inc: is an ever growing team of creative young ladies dedicated to helping our communities, pursuing our dreams & bringing positive change in our world.
YouthUprising.org
H&H Graphics: PRINT-PACKAGING-LOGOS-MULTIMEDIA EDITING & more!
Who killed the electric car? did u know there was an ALL electric car in the 90's that was in production & in use? nope, neither did i...until now, the conspiracy revealed!
Sicko: 'SiCKO' is a straight-from-the-heart portrait of the crazy and sometimes cruel U.S. health care system, told from the vantage of everyday people faced with extraordinary and bizarre challenges in their quest for basic health coverage.
King Corn so you think high fructose corn syrup is ok in moderation huh? well just watch this & you might just change ur mind...
ZeitGeistMovie.com
www.HappyForNoReason.com What would it take to make you happy? A fulfilling career, a big bank account, or the perfect mate? What if it didn't take anything to make you happy? What if you could experience happiness from the inside out -- no matter what's going on in your life?


In Happy for No Reason: 7 Steps to Being Happy from the Inside Out, transformational expert Marci Shimoff offers a breakthrough approach to being happy, one that doesn't depend on achievements, goals, money, relationships, or anything else "out there."

Roots Mama recommends....(books,dvds slings & more!)

This is just a brief overview, i intend to put more info on here soon!

THE BUSINESS OF BEING BORN
So women have been giving birth for millions of years right? Our bodies were made to give birth just like any other animal in this wild kingdom we call earth. So why in the last 100 years has giving birth changed so drastically & become a "medical emergency"? Find out here:

A MUST watch for all pregnant women & men and any one who's ever thought of having a child: The Business of Being Born
Birth is a miracle, a rite of passage, a natural part of life. But birth is also big business. The film interlaces intimate birth stories with surprising historical, political and scientific insights and shocking statistics about the current maternity care system.
Click here to see the trailer & get more info.
&

Looking for a Baby Friendly Hospital??
Go HERE (http://www.babyfriendlyusa.org/eng/03.html) to find one in your area. If you're in the Bay, Hayward Kaiser is the closest one I've found, Woo Hoo!
What is a "Baby Friendly Hospital" you ask & what does it mean?
The Baby-Friendly Designation is the globally recognized symbol of world-class maternity care. In order to be designated as a "Baby Friendly Hospital" they have to be certified by the BFHI & complete these 10 steps:



1 - Have a written breastfeeding policy that is routinely communicated to all health care staff.
2 - Train all health care staff in skills necessary to implement this policy.
3 - Inform all pregnant women about the benefits and management of breastfeeding.
4 - Help mothers initiate breastfeeding within one hour of birth.
5 - Show mothers how to breastfeed and how to maintain lactation, even if they are separated from their infants.
6 - Give newborn infants no food or drink other than breastmilk, unless medically indicated.
7 - Practice “rooming in”-- allow mothers and infants to remain together 24 hours a day.
8 - Encourage breastfeeding on demand.
9 - Give no pacifiers or artificial nipples to breastfeeding infants.
10 - Foster the establishment of breastfeeding support groups and refer mothers to them on discharge from the hospital or clinic




Gentle Birth Choices by Barbara Harper
Believe it or not, birth resulting from a normal pregnancy needn't take place in a hospital. Harper explains why birthing centers and home births, along with other "gentle birth choices," are beneficial to both mother and baby. It also features a history of how childbirth came to be so technological and blasts myths such as why fetal monitors save babies (they don't, very often). Harper also discusses giving birth in water and explores the connection of mind and body during labor and birth. She stresses the importance of midwives for a more natural and satisfying experience.Very good read & not too long (for mamas who aren't so keen on reading lengthy books).


This book is a MUST for the new mama (& pops) The Baby Book. Written by a Dr. & RN husband/wife team who also have 8 kids of their own! Not only is it a guide from newborn-toddler but it introduces you to attachment parenting & is a great resource!
http://www.askdrsears.com/






Also Mayo Clinic: Guide to a Healthy Pregnancy is a great easy to read/understand, straight forward prenatal book. It really breaks down a lot of questions you might have regarding tests (and more) & each stage of pregnancy from the trusted Mayo Clinic.






Also check out: The Pregnancy Book. I haven't read it yet but it's from the same Dr & RN husband/wife team that brought us the Baby Book, so I'm sure it's VERY good. They even have most pregnancy info for FREE right here!! Wow-za!





Baby yoga! This book is so adorable & easy to do. My munchkin loves it! Check it...

Benefits of yoga for baby:

• Deepen the parent/child bond
• Help baby sleep longer and better
• Improve baby’s digestion and ease tummy troubles
• Relieve fussiness and colic
• Discover ways to enhance your baby’s motor development
• Strengthen the immune system
• Encourage neuromuscular development
• Improve body-awareness
• Playfully relieve stress and frustration
• Increase your child’s attention span
• Provide an outlet for social interaction
• Nurture self-esteem and creativity
• Build a fit, healthy lifestyle

Benefits for Mama/Papa:

• Discover your child’s personality and learning style
• Learn ways to calm your child
• Build your confidence as a parent
• Reduce your stress and anxiety
• Create memorable moments with your child
• Engage in a structured physical activity
• Get more sleep!

Sign with your baby:
Another book/dvd set that I found out the library. Easy to do/use. It has helped my baby to, not only, learn sign but speak ahead of her developmental stage. She is 16 months, has a vocabulary of over 200 words & can speak some 3-4 word sentences!

The benefits of signing with your baby coming soon!

A Ride on Mother's Back: We love this baby wearing book!! There are also babies being worn by their fathers too!



Magazines: Motheringif ur feeling Roots Mama you'll love this mag!

REMEMBER: your local library is a great FREE resource, so go on & check some books & dvds out!!



PERFECT BABY SHOWER GIFT:
The Roots Mamas Kit!! The perfect kit to support the Roots Mama (or one to be) in your life.

Here's how to make your own:
A Sling (baby carrier)
Breastmilk Storage bags
A Nursing cover (etsy.com has good ones)
Nursing pads
Pure Shea butter (perfect 4 belly, baby & all her dry parts)
Candles
Babylegs 
Sleep mask (for those times when she'll be sleeping in the day!)
& add anything else you want (The Baby Book, relaxing bath salts, coupons for bringing the new parents food, relaxing CD, diapers etc)
Throw it all in a basket, slap on a bow & you've got the Roots Mamas Kit. And believe me that Mama will thank you!! 
Shoot me an email & I will send you Roots Mamas stickers to put in the kit: breadncake (at) gmail (dot) com


SLINGS

A sling is a must with new baby. I got mine from Slinglings.com & i luv it! They are simple, easy, inexpensive & are customized to fit you. Dr Sears says "A baby learns a lot in the arms of a busy caregiver. Carried babies fuss less and spend more time in the state of quiet alertness, the behavior state in which babies learn most about their environment. Babywearing improves the sensitivity of the parents." Go HERE to read more about the benefits of baby wearing.
DID YOU KNOW.... that sling babies are smarter? See why Drs find sling babies smarter HERE

Need a sling? Check out CarryMeAway.com. I met Laurel (Carry Me Away owner) at the Moms in Bloom Expo (also has GREAT resource directory on their website) because i was wearing my lil one in the front carry wrong. She saw me & kindly stopped to help me do it the right way! She is so nice & very helpful/knowledgeable about ALL kinds of slings. Def check her out.

(((Celeb Sling Alert))) MIA & her new baby Ikhyd! (thanks slinglady!) Check out my page w/ all CELEB's wearing their babies: HERE

DIAPERS

So ya'll know keeping our environment green is muy importante right? Well i jus found out about these "hybrid" diapers called gdiapers. They are flushable!! No laundering cloth diapers, no more disposables in the landfill, yay!! I haven't tried them yet but soon will...

(other options: cloth & disposable brands like seventh generation)

DID YOU KNOW....If you read the fine print on most diaper packages (go ahead & check yours!) it says something to this effect (who knew!): you’ll want to dump bowel movements in the toilet. Then just roll the diaper into its backsheet, using the tape or fasteners to keep it closed, and dispose of it in the trash. TRANSLATION: throw all stool from diaper into toilet please!

HERE'S WHY:

"You’re supposed to flush the fecal matter down the toilet so that it can go through the sewer system and be treated. Apparently babies and small children excrete many viruses in their feces including Hepatitis A, rotavirus, shigella, salmonellosis, amebiasis, live polio virus (from vaccines), and typhoid among others. In order to keep these viruses from contaminating underground water supplies, poop should not be dumped into a diaper pail and thrown out with the trash." -thx MamaTRUE

It's also a lot less smelly than keeping diapers in the trash & helps with potty training as your baby will get used to where the poop is supposed to go :)

The American Public Health Association made a policy statement about this in 1989.

TOYS

Melissa & Doug-non-toxic toys that won't break ur bank! lots of wooden toys (why are wooden toys so hard to find in stores?!) you can also get their stuff on amazon.com

metal rattle-wish i woulda got one. babies LUV LUV LUVmetal/shiny objects!

BODYthrifty:
Palmer's Bottom Butter (for baby) smells so good (yumma cocoa butter)! n works good too

Palmer's Nursing Butter (for mama's nipples that first month!)

Palmer's Cocoa Butter Stick (good for tummy etc) they also have some organic products...

PURE SHEA BUTTER! me lovey! make sure if you're gonna get some it doesn't have any additives (mineral oil, petroleum, alcohol etc). it's a lil pricey to get pure shea butter BUT it lasts for a LONG time. use it on feet, hands, elbows & of course tummy!

have a lil bigger budget? check out EarthMamaAngelBaby

they have every type of organic body/baby product & u can download a free birth plan there!

HAIR

Do you have a munchkin that is mixed or just has incredibly curly hair? Try Curly Q's Milkshake it works like a charm for my babes wild tresses, has natural and organic ingredients & it smells good enough to eat! Go to Curls.biz for all their products too! If you wanna order some make sure you use my referral code: REF-5O9KGQFJ (**please**) as I get points for referring people (and you can too!)

Also check this blog out for hair ideas for your curly headed cutie (especially mixed kids!):

UPDATE:Now thru 4/5/10 BeadsBraidsBeyond.blogspot.com is having a Curlformers GIVEAWAY!! Go HERE to enter

more to come...

PS feel free to also leave your recommendations!