Attachment parenting is a parenting approach that emphasizes the importance of forming a strong emotional bond between a parent and their child. It involves a range of practices that aim to promote secure attachment, such as babywearing, co-sleeping, and responsive feeding.
Definitions
Attachment parenting is a parenting philosophy that emphasizes the importance of building a strong emotional bond between parent and child. According to the Attachment Parenting International organization, the philosophy is based on the belief that infants and young children thrive when they receive consistent, responsive, and nurturing care from their parents.
Origin
Attachment parenting was first popularized in the 1990s by pediatrician William Sears, who wrote several books on the topic. Sears argued that attachment parenting was a natural and instinctive way of caring for children, and that it could help promote healthy emotional development and secure attachment.
Meaning in different dictionaries
The term “attachment parenting” is not typically found in mainstream dictionaries. However, some parenting and child development resources define it as a parenting approach that emphasizes the importance of forming a strong emotional bond between parent and child.
Associations
Attachment parenting is often associated with practices such as babywearing, co-sleeping, and responsive feeding. It is also associated with a focus on meeting a child’s emotional needs, such as responding quickly to cries and providing comfort and reassurance.
Synonyms
There are no widely recognized synonyms for attachment parenting, as the term is fairly specific and refers to a particular parenting philosophy.
Antonyms
The opposite of attachment parenting would be a parenting approach that does not prioritize building a strong emotional bond between parent and child. This could include approaches that prioritize independence or that do not prioritize responding to a child’s emotional needs.
The same root words
The term “attachment” in attachment parenting refers to the emotional bond that forms between a parent and child. The term is derived from attachment theory, which was developed by psychologist John Bowlby in the mid-20th century.
Example Sentences
- “I practice attachment parenting and believe that it has helped me form a strong emotional bond with my child.”
- “Attachment parenting can involve practices like co-sleeping and babywearing, but it’s really about prioritizing emotional connection.”
- “Some people criticize attachment parenting for being too focused on the needs of the child, but I believe that it’s important to prioritize emotional connection in early childhood.”