GENTLE PARENTING

When people think of Attachment Parenting (AP), a lot of images come to their mind.  Hippies, children who don't grow up independant, and, most recently, the infamous Time Magazine cover of a mother breastfeeding her Pre-School aged child.  There has been a lot of negative press associated with AP lately, and author Mayim Bialik is here to show the truths of the controversial parenting style.  In Beyond the Sling: A Real-Life Guide to Raising Confident, Loving Children the Attachment Parenting Way, Bialik discusses different facets of AP that work for her family.  She frequently reminds the reader that each family does everything a little differently, and there is no one way to practice AP.  Bialik goes over topics such as:  Breastfeeding, Co-Sleeping, Baby Wearing, Gentle Discipline, and Elimination Control.  I'll let you figure out what the last one means, but it was definitely an eye opening chapter as to different styles and techniques of having your children use the toilet from an early age.

Bialik declares that her book is not a how-to book, but rather a book to provide insight into the AP way.  While preachy at times, for the most part, Bialik does a good job of presenting facts and has an excellent guide to resources at the back of the book for those interested in further discussion.  Beyond the Sling: A Real-Life Guide to Raising Confident, Loving Children the Attachment Parenting Way by Mayim Bialik is recommended for parents and non-parents interested in a glimpse of the Attachment Parenting lifestyle.