Attached at the Heart: Eight Proven Parenting Principles for Raising Connected and Compassionate Children

"Trust me. This is the only baby book you'll ever need! It's amazing, heartwarming, and completely user-friendly. Just add your heart!"
--Christiane Northrup, MD, author of Mother-Daughter Wisdom, The Wisdom of Menopause, and Women's Bodies, Women's Wisdom

Attached at the Heart offers readers practical parenting advice for the modern age. In its most basic form, "attachment parenting" is instinctive. A crying baby is comforted and kept close to parents for protection. If hungry, he or she is breastfed. And while it is understood that there is no such thing as perfect parenting, research suggests that there is a strong correlation between a heightened sense of respect, empathy, and affection in those children raised the "attachment parenting" way.

In this controversial book, readers will gain much needed insight into childrearing while learning to trust the intuitive knowledge of their child, ultimately building a strong foundation that will strengthen the parent-child bond. Using the Eight Principles of Parenting, readers will learn:

• How to prepare for baby before birth
• Why breastfeeding is a must for busy moms
• When to start feeding solid food
• How to respond to temper tantrums
• Sleeping safety guidelines and the benefits of cosleeping
• Tips for short separation
• How to practice positive discipline and its rewards
• Tips for finding and maintaining balance
• The benefits of using a baby sling and implementing infant massage
• Tips on dealing with criticism from those opposed or unfamiliar with AP style
• The dangers surrounding traditional discipline styles of parenting

Contrary to popular belief, "attachment parenting" has been practiced in one form or another since recorded history. Over the years, it had been slowly replaced by a more detached parenting style—a style that is now believed by experts to be a lead contributing factor to suicide, depression, and violence.

The concept of "attachment parenting"—a term originally coined by parenting experts William and Martha Sears—has increasingly been validated by research in many fields of study, such as child development, psychology, and neuroscience. Also known as "conscious parenting," "natural parenting," "compassionate parenting," or "empathic parenting," its goal is to stimulate optimal child development. While many attachment-parenting recommendations likely counter popular societal beliefs, authors Barbara Nicholson and Lysa Parker are quick to point out that the benefits outweigh the backlash of criticism that advocates of detached parenting may impose.

Barbara Nicholson, MEd, CEIM, received a master's degree in education from Stephen F. Austin State University and a bachelor's in education from North Texas State University, with Learning Disabilities certification from Texas Woman's University. Professionally she taught children with learning disabilities and has been a La Leche League International support group facilitator for over twenty-five years, educating and helping mothers with breastfeeding. In 1994, Barbara cofounded Attachment Parenting International (API), a nonprofit parent education organization, where she served as president of the board of directors for fifteen years. As API cofounder, she has given talks and conducted parenting workshops all over the country and internationally on attachment parenting issues. She is the mother of four grown sons and lives with her husband in Nashville, Tennessee. Lysa Parker, MS, CFLE, CEIM, received her bachelor's in education and her master's degree in human development and family studies from the University of Alabama. She earned her designation of Certified Family Life Educator (CFLE) from the National Council on Family Relations in 2004. As cofounder of Attachment Parenting International (API), she has served as the executive director for thirteen years, focusing on program development, public relations, and fundraising. Prior to her involvement with API, she worked as a special education teacher helping children with multiple handicaps and learning difficulties. Most recently, she was named president-elect of the Southeast Conference on Family Relations for 2013, an affiliate of the National Council on Family Relations. Lysa is the mother of two grown sons and a stepdaughter, and she is the grandmother of three. Currently Lysa is a writer, speaker, and parenting consultant in private practice at www.parentslifeline.com.