How does natural parenting look with an older child? In part 2 of a 2-part series, Laura looks at how parents can use and model NP principles once their little ones reach school age.  Read More…

Leave a comment | Posted in Attachment Parenting, Balance, Ecological Responsibility, Family Safety, Gentle Discipline, Natural Learning, Nurturing Touch, Parenting Philosophies, Responding With Sensitivity, Safe Sleep

A reader asks our NPN mentors about a five-year-old’s nighttime bedwetting.  Read More…

1 Comment | Posted in Ask an NP Mentor, Nighttime Parenting, Routines and Schedules

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 work full-time, and my daughter goes to a preschool in the mornings. I usually get home at 6:00pm, and after dinner, all my daughter wants to do is play/read/play. We start bedtime at 8:00-8:30pm, but it often takes an hour or more, so she is out by 9:30-10:00pm. Her pediatrician has …  Read More…

7 Comments | Posted in Ask an NP Mentor, Nighttime Parenting, Responding With Sensitivity, Safe Sleep

I practice attachment parenting and I co-slept with both my boys, now aged 2 and 8 months. I loved the closeness of it, the ease with breastfeeding it gave me, and the restfulness that came with it. So I was shocked when it wasn’t working anymore. I was waking in the morning grumpy, groggy, and frustrated, and it lasted all …  Read More…

37 Comments | Posted in Balance, Consensual Living, Family Structure, Gentle Discipline, Nighttime Parenting, Parenting Philosophies, Responding With Sensitivity, Safe Sleep, Work and Family

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