Welcome to the Sydney Attachment Parenting e-mail list. Here people who care about attachment parenting can share stories, learn, make friends and extend support. We welcome all attachment parents (or parents-to-be), their families and friends and those wishing to learn more about attachment parenting. We invite you to become a member and introduce yourself - feel free to ask questions and open a discussion topic.

Attachment Parenting (also known as "instinctive" or "natural" parenting) develops and meets a child's need for trust, empathy and love in order to create secure, peaceful and enduring relationships. This requires consistent, loving and responsive caregivers, especially during the critical first three to five years of life. By promoting and maintaining a close attachment with our children we are recognizing and meeting biological human bonding needs.

Attachment Parenting principles encompass emotional responsiveness, informed and empowered childbirth, extended breastfeeding with child-led weaning, co-sleeping (or "the family bed"), unreserved comforting, baby wearing (using a sling or suitable baby carrier) and positive discipline.

Other related issues include home education, unschooling, home birth, water birth, lotus birth, cloth nappies, elimination communication, natural health, conscious living and maintaining balanced family lives.

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