kind lifers debate the continuum concept

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Over the last month you Kind Lifers engaged in a thoughtful discussion about our Kind Book Club selection for April The Continuum Concept by the late Jean Liedloff.
 
While you all agreed that the idea of attachment parenting is healthy some of you thought it is hard to implement in modern society. Take a look at the comments below and let me know what you think!
 
From Kind Lifer Michelle
 
I have been reading this book and it's amazing! Although I know I'm not ready to have a child it feels so good to become conscious about the way I know I want to raise/care for  him/her. This book has given me such vivid dreams and although I can wait a bit I'm excited to become a mother one day and experience the connection between my child and me in the transition from the womb to in arms!
 
From Kind Lifer Ann
 
Just want to let all the non-parents know it is worth reading! I read it years ago - and again since - and have no children have no interest in having children.....hell I don't even really like children.....ha! My point being that this book is definitely not just for people thinking about having kids; it's a really interesting anthropological study and I have often thought about a lot of her findings/observations in the years since reading it.
 
From Kind Lifer Brit B
 
I am a vegan mother of 3 and my youngest is 5 months now. I just thought I'd throw in my 2 cents. The philosophy espoused by this book sounds great in theory but unfortunately our culture does not support this type of parenting which can lead to exhaustion and mental health problems in new moms. Carrying your baby 24 hours a day sleeping with your baby at night and nursing on demand sound fantastic until you are so sleep deprived that you start to hallucinate. Unless you have a live-in nanny a caring relative that lives close by or a partner that is home often and can support you and you can hand the baby off to a helper regularly similar to those in village type cultures that can really thrive with this type of parenting the realities of our culture make this style of parenting very difficult to achieve. I've nursed my 3 til they self-weaned had blissfully unmedicated births did kangaroo care for the first month after birth and live a pretty kind life but my family and I were much healthier and happier when baby slept in her own bed was put down to play by herself at times stuck to a sleep/eat routine and let mama get at least 6 hours of uninterrupted sleep at night.
 
From Kind Lifer Angelique
 
Before I had my son I never knew anything about the term "attachment parenting". It also wasn't until just before his birth that I had a change of heart and decided to have him naturally. Something in me just clicked.. and after some reading documentary-watching Ricki Lake! and soul searching I began to change. I had a natural birth and that just started my path into natural parenting. We co-slept since day one I had some really progressive nurses in a hospital that showed me how and encouraged it. I wore him non-stop in this beautiful organic sling... I nursed him until he self-weened at age 2. He has since moved into his own room but he is in a full size bed so I can help him drift off to sleep and sneak into bed with him if he wakes up scared to be alone. Yes of course this arrangement is not easy on the parent.. nor the marriage. It has taken its toll.. but thankfully.. my husband has been understanding throughout this process and we are pretty much on the same page. I read this book a few months ago and cried because it was validation that my gut feeling as a mother was right. I went against my friends and pediatrician and mother's! advice and never let my son cry it out.. and I am so happy to know that I am not alone in that.. i am giving my son the best start to his life.. and although it's not easy in this modern society.. it is right... and it follows my basic instincts.
 
From Kind Lifer Tara
 
I'm a neonatal ICU nurse and I see the broken bonding with parents parents afraid to touch hold care for their child because they are in an isolette or are attached to respiratory equipment. In our hospital we do have a developmental care committee to promote bonding kangaroo care breastfeeding and try to promote a more natural environment for the family but I wish we could do more!
 
From Kind Lifer Mistie
 
Wow! I'm so glad you are reading and recommending this book!  It has helped guide me through parenting from day one with my little ones and thankfully has helped us create a secure attachment based on love and intuition.. not on doctors or salesperson instructions lol!  Not even mother-in-laws ; When my boys are proud of something they did I just give them a sincere "Awesome." and a hug.  No need to dramatize or overreact just acknowledge that they are cool beings who have a lot of great talents. :  Being genuine doesn't mean never praising or giving compliments... it means just being sincere. Kids can tell if you mean what you say or are just propping them up. They appreciate honesty in all forms even gentle criticism when needed.
 
Thank you all so much for sharing your parenting experiences and your candid reactions to The Continuum Concept. I'll be announcing our next Kind Book Club selection soon so stay tuned!