Co-sleeping is one excellent way to have two attachment parents in the family (instead of just one). Unfortunately, the family bed doesn’t always work for every family member. Co-sleeping usually brings a more restful night for families but if you have a baby who wakes crying frequently to nurse (my daughter), it can be hard on a parent who was …  Read More…

6 Comments | Posted in Attachment Parenting, Breastfeeding, Breastfeeding Alternatives, Cosleeping, Feeding With Love, Nighttime Parenting, Parenting Philosophies, Safe Sleep

Nothing has generated more interest, questions, and comments than our cosleeping arrangement. In the course of my conversations I have been able to enumerate the countless benefits of bed sharing. Here are six of the reasons we chose to share our bed: Instinct The most simple explanation is the strongest. We chose this sleeping arrangement because it just feels right.  …  Read More…

2 Comments | Posted in Attachment Parenting, Breastfeeding, Cosleeping, Feeding With Love, Nighttime Parenting, Parenting Philosophies, Safe Sleep

This week we asked you to share sleep with us. Read more about sleep in our articles this week. Link up!  Read More…

10 Comments | Posted in Cosleeping, Nighttime Parenting, Safe Sleep, Wordless Wednesday

As those early weeks and months of parenthood unfolded, night was not the sanctuary of peace I had anticipated. Sleep was broken, and tears were shed nightly by one or more of us. It was hard. Harder than anything I had imagined.  Read More…

6 Comments | Posted in Attachment Parenting, Cosleeping, Nighttime Parenting, Parenting Philosophies, Responding With Sensitivity, Safe Sleep

Enter to win on of three copies of Nursies when the Sun Shines, written by Katherine Havener and illustrated by Sara Burrier. Contest closes 9.6 and is open to US and Canadian mailing addresses.  Read More…

124 Comments | Posted in Attachment Parenting, Breastfeeding, Breastfeeding Past Infancy, Cosleeping, Feeding With Love, Gentle Discipline, Natural Parenting Products, Nighttime Parenting, Nurturing Touch, Parenting Philosophies, Responding With Sensitivity, Reviews and Giveaways, Safe Sleep

Attachment is used to describe the long-term relationships between humans, particularly within families and between life-long friends. Bonding typically refers to the process of attachment that develops between parents and children. Bonding results through the child’s affection and trust of their parents. It is important that an infant develop a relationship with at least one primary caregiver for social and …  Read More…

1 Comment | Posted in Attachment Parenting, Babywearing, Breastfeeding Alternatives, Consistent Care, Cosleeping, Feeding With Love, Nighttime Parenting, Nurturing Touch, Parenting Philosophies, Preparing for Parenting, Responding With Sensitivity, Safe Sleep

IMITATION Cloth diapers, EC, bedsharing, breastfeeding, low-tech living, home schooling, natural and unassisted childbirth, hand-me-downs, sunshine, cuddles. You know where I’m going with this, right? Yes, aside from circumcision, Jesus and Mary were really a pretty crunchy pair. Alright, we don’t know for sure about the bedsharing,1 cloth diapers,2 or home schooling,3 but about the natural birth and breastfeeding we …  Read More…

9 Comments | Posted in Balance, Belief, Birth, Breastfeeding, Circumcision, Cloth Diapers, Cosleeping, Ecological Responsibility, Elimination Communication, Feeding With Love, Gentle Discipline, Holistic Health, Homeschooling, Natural Learning, Preparing for Parenting, Safe Sleep

When my belly first started rounding out, I had a hard time making the bed. I remember one morning trying to pull the heavy duvet cover up and over the mattress; I got so frustrated that I just gave up and climbed back into bed. As I lay there, I thought of the baby that would be co-sleeping with us …  Read More…

17 Comments | Posted in Attachment Parenting, Breastfeeding, Cosleeping, Feeding With Love, Nighttime Parenting, Parenting Philosophies, Responding With Sensitivity, Safe Sleep

An NPN reader asks our natural parenting mentors: I wonder if you can help me. My daughter is 19 months old and still breastfeeding, and neither of us have slept through the night since she was born. Until recently, it didn’t really bother me and I wanted to wait for it to happen naturally. But now I am getting to …  Read More…

9 Comments | Posted in Ask an NP Mentor, Attachment Parenting, Balance, Breastfeeding, Breastfeeding Past Infancy, Consistent Care, Cosleeping, Feeding With Love, Nighttime Parenting, Nurturing Touch, Parenting Philosophies, Responding With Sensitivity, Safe Sleep

Success has always been important to me. It had been easy to define—good grades in school, positive feedback in my workplace—until I became a parent. Now the idea of success is a little more ephemeral, harder to grasp. Who says whether or not I’m a successful parent? My twins are only 11 months old. Their communication isn’t yet developed enough …  Read More…

11 Comments | Posted in Attachment Parenting, Breastfeeding, Cosleeping, Family Safety, Feeding With Love, Gentle Discipline, Nighttime Parenting, Parenting Philosophies, Responding With Sensitivity, Safe Sleep