On the Coast – Families Issue 99 I April/May 2019 | Page 25

time in the presence of you, in fact 50 to 80% of parents Attachment their parent, their carer. bed share in countries like Attachment parenting Australia, US and the UK. parenting is have your party in our can be ever demanding ‘With increased maternal intuitive due to all of the ‘holding,’ contact and feeding, crying our entertainers can come to you! Therefore It is really is significantly reduced, important to understand that and contrary to conventional SHOP: Licensed Partyware, YOUR wellbeing as a parent is also thinking, maternal and infant sleep DIY Helium Kits, Costume & Party Hire SO essential to your baby’s emotional can be increased.’ James J Mckenna pHd Jumping castles and ball pits adjustment, their secure attachment. You Putting our new baby into their crib 310 Mann Street, Gosford need to make time for you too, a cuppa in another room, isolated and alone Ph: 4322 4418 www.JJcc.com.au with a good book out in the sunshine, a felt completely wrong to us, for us a walk on the beach with your little one bassinette in our room and bed sharing bundled up in a carrier. made for much easier breastfeeding Make sure to Earth yourself daily, take during the night and far more sleep! your shoes off and feel the grass between Being with our daughter all the time your toes, go outside and get grounded. and always closely connected allowed us Start a Journal, or a daily gratitude to really get to know her needs. With an list, and incorporate some gentle increased knowledge base, life with our Formulating The Future One Thought at a Time... yoga stretches into your mornings to new baby evolved into being an easier Learning Centre Mentoring Workshops journey and we felt far more confident in stretch out the knots and kinks in your Workshops Early 1 Bridge Avenue shoulders and chest. the decisions that we were making.  Early Learning Chain Valley Bay Centre NSW 2259 “Attachment to your infant is where Another significant note to remember Mentoring 4358 3155 your infant will use you as their primary is that real self-care takes time. You need 1 Bridge Avenue caregiver as a secure base from which to consciously create the space so that you they can then explore and when can also connect with you. The human Chain Valley Bay necessary use you as a haven of safety that was, before becoming the parent. 4358 3155 as well as a great source of comfort.” Attachment parenting to me is when Taken from The Paediatric Child Health we lead with love, but also when we Medical Journal www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/ have love for ourselves too, then we pmc/articles/PMC272416 always have room to lead with love and Attachment parenting is not a set attachment for our babies- we then also of ‘rules,’ it is about creating secure exceed ALL of our baby’s expectations attachments in simple ways such as from the very start. responding to your infants distress in As it was, it still took us a good few sensitive and/or ‘loving’ ways, such months with our first daughter to as picking them up when they are realise that all we really had to do was upset and reassuring them that you to follow her lead, and to trust our own are all there for them, your baby will instincts as parents, when we did do that feel nothing short of secure in the parenting for us became less stressful, knowledge that you are present and our expectations dropped completely, and connected. They will feel that they can we felt far more confident in our very freely express their negative emotions new role, a raw and heart expanding knowing that it will only elicit comfort journey called ‘parenting.’ and love from you. Infants whose Peace begins at birth, yes. But I do parents are consistently responding to strongly believe that it starts more so their baby’s distress in insensitive or within the initial post-partum period. even a ‘resentful’ way, such as ignoring, This is your babies expected place REGISTERED NUTRITIONIST ridiculing or even becoming annoyed, within your arms, if your baby is always Caring, practical treatment and angry at them, these babies will then brought to your chest in upset as well as plans for your family. begin to develop upset toward you as in happy times, they know attachment, Specialising in childhood behavioural their carer. They may cry more or even they know security and safety, they will issues, learning and anxiety. minimize any displays of emotion with always know love. PLAYGYM or Clare Marcangelo Nikki Smith is a Registered Nurse and a Qualified Child and Family Nurse. A mama of three beautiful daughters with a strong belief in raising our children consciously and intuitively. Nikki is the founder of Earthway Parenting andhas developed and is facilitating Post Partum Care and Tuning into your Toddler Workshops. Nikki also provides in home, one on one consultations according to the unique needs of your family focusing on gentle parenting for your infant and/or toddler. You can find more information here www.earthwayparenting.com.au Working with families for over 20 years COVERED BY MOST PRIVATE HEALTH FUNDS Phone 0404 795 677 to book or go to www.erinanutrition.com.au FOR MORE INFORMATION ATMS29747 ABN 89456352713 APRIL/MAY – ISSUE 99 25