OT Attachement Parenting

[MindyLuvsMickey]

It is so nice to have so many friends who understand what it's like.

My pediatrician is not a big fan of co-sleeping and gives us a hard time on a regular basis. DS is no longer in our bed . . . I'm in his bed. I figure it's a step in the right direction, right? He won't want me to sleep there when he's ten (at least I hope) DH likes to have the bed to himself, anyway.

I have a sling question. I have an OTSBH. I use it frequently, even though DS is getting ready to turn 3. Is there a better sling for bigger "babies"? I typically wear him on my hip, but I know that he would like to be worn on my back.

 

[solferino]

I have a sling question. I have an OTSBH. I use it frequently, even though DS is getting ready to turn 3. Is there a better sling for bigger "babies"? I typically wear him on my hip, but I know that he would like to be worn on my back.

I found a non-padded sling like a mayawrap works best for the back carry. I could never get the padded ones tight enough, even if she was on my hip.

 

[lexmas]

It is so nice to have so many friends who understand what it's like.

My pediatrician is not a big fan of co-sleeping and gives us a hard time on a regular basis. DS is no longer in our bed . . . I'm in his bed. I figure it's a step in the right direction, right? He won't want me to sleep there when he's ten (at least I hope) DH likes to have the bed to himself, anyway.

I have a sling question. I have an OTSBH. I use it frequently, even though DS is getting ready to turn 3. Is there a better sling for bigger "babies"? I typically wear him on my hip, but I know that he would like to be worn on my back.

Our pediatrician is blissfully ignorant of anything "un-mainstream" that we do. I answer the questions she asks, but I don't offer anything else...so when she asks if DS is sleeping well, I say yes, even though I know that SHE thinks sleeping well means through the night, alone, in his own bed. To me, it means, he sleeps, wakes up to pee and nurse, and goes back to sleep snuggled next to Mama. She never clarifies, and neither do I.

As for the sling, DS is little...tiny really, 7 1/2 months and 14 lbs. but we have a few mei-tais that will last us through toddlerhood for sure. And definitely comfortable with a back carry. That said, I've heard a lot of good things about the Ergo...it's supposed to distribute the weight of your child really well. Pricey though, but so are a lot of slings, I guess.

 

[solferino]

What does MDC stand for? I'm not sure where to find this thread?

I think they may be referring to mothering.com

 

[Jen66]

My "babies" are 10 and 12, but just wanted to support you APer's! I feel it was the best way to raise our kids, and they are doing fabulously now as independent children. I actually miss the closeness of AP!

 

[annie1995]

Hello!!!!! I am a breastfeeding, co-sleeping mama, and I'm a wanna be attachment mama too. I've never been able to figure out how to comfortably use my baby sling .

 

[perdidochas]

Count me in as another attachment parenting devotee... although I'm currently trying to get a little less attached.

My "baby" is two, and we finally did wean him... but we aren't sure how to get him out of our bed! Co-sleeping was absolutely right for us for the first two years, but now DS is tall and likes to sleep sideways between me and DH. Oh, and he thinks it is really funny to try to kick Daddy out of bed. We got an adorable toddler bed that DS loves to play on and line up his stuffed animals on, but he shows absolutely no interest in sleeping anywhere other than with us.

I brought it up with our pedi at DS's last checkup, and our pedi laughed and said that we did have a problem. (The same way that he says "well, he's sick" when we bring in DS when he's sick.) Ok, so our pedi has a warped sense of humor, but that's probably why we adore him.

We started weaning kids off of co-sleeping by a mattress in our room beside the bed, and got them used to that. When that's ok, move them to another room.

 

[emh1129]

Our ped. fully supports and encourages AP. He and his wife raised their children that way, too, and he agrees that it's the healthiest/best for parents and children.
1st trip- I know what you mean about using a label.. because people were doing all of these things long before Dr. Sears coined the phrase. I think for most people it's just easier to say AP than to list everything they might have in common with another mom who parents in the same style.

And for the mom who was asking about a back carrier- I just bought a Toddlerhawk Mei Tai (babyhawk.com) to carry my 2 yr old on my back. I haven't had it very long but I've heard wonderful things about it, so I'm sure that I will love it.

For a regular sling/pouch- my favorite carrier has always been the Kangaroo Korner adjustable fleece pouch (kangarookorner.com), for the sheer ease and comfort. Great for a newborn all the way up to 2 yrs or so, depending on the size of your baby. I still use it sometimes with my 2.5 yr old but she's a bit heavy for it now. It's great because there are no rings to tighten, you just slide it on and then slide baby in and you're good to go

 

[Oceana]

I have a sling question. I have an OTSBH. I use it frequently, even though DS is getting ready to turn 3. Is there a better sling for bigger "babies"? I typically wear him on my hip, but I know that he would like to be worn on my back.

an ERGO baby carrier... its amazing the way it distributes weight of a heafty kid

oh and hi me too I am AP and here

 

[DisneyPhD]

I am not one to label myself, or even follow something all or nothing. I believe in using what works for my family. I am a big time breast feeder supporter and I understand and believe in most AP practices, I just don't do them all word for word. When I started hearing about AP here I looked it up and though "huh, that does describe me pretty well."

My oldest was not a cosleeping kid. To this day she is such a roller we have to put her back in bed a few times a week. Her baby sister had her own place, but spent a lot of time in our bed (and never had her own room, it was our room, and then in with her sister.) that was a mater of space though and that she wanted to be with us. DH is setting up her own big girl bed right now, how times flies.

I do love Dr. Sears though. As much as I love baby wearing never mastered the sling either when my kids were babies. If I ever had another baby I plan to get it right then. The more kids I have the more AP I become too.

Word of warning about the mothering.com thread. We keep getting in trouble for mentioning other Disney websites and forms so while we can talk about it all we want here, we have to pretty much pretend MDC is the only site we have in common there. We get our hands slapped a lot and had the thread closed more then once. It is pretty frustrating, but it is their rules and we have to respect it.

 

[Ariel8676]

I have a sling question. I have an OTSBH. I use it frequently, even though DS is getting ready to turn 3. Is there a better sling for bigger "babies"? I typically wear him on my hip, but I know that he would like to be worn on my back.

I would look into getting a Mei Tei..Babyhawks are my favorite.. http://babyhawk.com/
Ergo http://ergobabycarrier.com/
Beco http://ecobabies.com/
Just to name a few...If you go on http://thebabywearer.com/ you can get a ton of info, and there is a FSOT (for sale or trade) where you can even get a gently used carrier for a good price..that way you can see what works and what doesn't without spending a ton of money!!

 

[kittymarcy]

Hello friends!!! I'm excited to have so many other DIS members that understand. I agree with a PP - to us, it's not attachment parenting...it's just doing what comes naturally. I will admit that one side of me would like my bed back at this point, but I figure it will be soon enough that the boys won't want to sleep with us and then I will be sad.

Slings - I have a babyhawk mei tai and I love it! My 2-year old likes to be on my back. If he's sleeping I can put him on the front. It's amazingly comfortable. If I ever had another, I wouldn't even bother with the baby bjorn again (though I worshipped that with my first two). One reason that babyhawk is so cool is that you can totally customize it. I chose a cool asian print for "my" side and DH chose a cool "masculine" dragon print for his side - yes, it's reversible. Check it out.

 

[DVCMama]

Hey AP mamas! We're been co-sleeping, extended breastfeeding, cloth diapering, baby wearing for 6 years. Last time we were at WDW I was happy to see some many slings and nurslings around the parks.

 

[Zoesmama03]

I did quite a bit of attatchment parenting.

She still sleeps with me sometimes. Right now we are sharing room while hers was getting painted. She will only be little and wanting it ONCE. I think I'll enjoy it.

I did cloth diaper some(before ex-dh wouldn't let me buy anymore cloth diapers) and had a sling. I even put her in the sling at 2 when traveling through airport. I LOVED the sling as did dd. Seeing I had both a baby bjorn and another brand and she hated both I broke down begged her dad(now seperated) to let me buy a sling and it was the most wonderful thing. I will always remember doing Christmas shopping when she was 4 months old soundly sleeping on my shoulder while so many were pushing crying babies to the closest exit(nothing against stroller use just my memories ) I even got several comments on how peaceful she looked sleeping there.


I only breastfed 10 1/2 months but not by choice. She started refusing to nurse more than a few minutes. I started pumping to find I had no supply or somehow not enough to pump even an ounce with a double electric I borrowed from a friend to pump in between trying. It was a very sad time for me as I had hoped to go to 2.

 

[kelliebelly]

Count us in the AP bunch. I cannot imagine doing it any other way! And my firstborn wouldn't have let me. He wouldn't sleep anywhere but in someone's arms (or the carseat), he refused to ride in a stroller, but was in love with the sling/bjorn, and he would rather have starved than taken a bottle. Most everyone I know thinks I am crazy for "allowing" my 4 and 2 year old to sleep with me. I feel like I am blessed to have them beside me everynight and dread the day they no longer want to share the bed. I have to say I am so lucky that I don't have to defend myself to my family because my parents did the whole co-sleeping thing with us!

 

[MindyLuvsMickey]

Thanks everyone for your suggestions on a new sling. I will definitely be checking out some one your lists.

I just wanted to share this picture with you all. Please excuse the poor picture quality. The room was quite dark and I had to use the self timer. The point is . . . I just wanted to share how my not-so-little guy loves to nap. When we are out and about, it's so easy to just pop him in the sling and know that he'll drift off into a sound sleep.

 

[Ariel8676]

What an adorable picture!!!!

 

[emh1129]

Mindy, that is precious

 

[Mickeyorbust]

Guilty as charged. My youngest is 5 now and only sleeps with us occassionaly, but she slept with us most nights when she was younger. I miss turning over and seeing the sweet, peaceful face. I even miss the leg flopped over my stomach. My pediatrician gave me a hard time about it, but when I pushed the "why is it bad" question he couldn't come up with a medical reason.

 

[rparmfamily]

Count me in, though mine are older so they really only cosleep when they chose to. I also did it before I knew it had a label, I just called it "following my instincts", because it told me to comfort my baby and keep her/him close until they were ready. I've APed both mine and they are very independent and outgoing, DH and I smile about that.

I'm also on the MDC thread too, under a different name (I said the same thing on that thread, LOL). Do they only close or remove if we put links or mention this forum by name?