The controversial and provocative cover of the latest Time Magazine issue shows a 3-year-old boy breastfeeding.
Click here to see the cover.
The mother pictured on the cover practices "attachment parenting," which is the subject of the feature story, reports Time.com. The story features four mothers who practice this type of parenting and Dr. Bill Sears who wrote "The Baby Book."
In an article published in the New York Times earlier this month, Mayim Bilik Ph. D., writes that this style of parenting, "embraces the normal biology of pregnancy, labor, breastfeeding and bonding, all in the name of raising children who demonstrate the psychological classification of being securely attached."
According to Time.com, attachment parenting has "three main tenets [which] are extended breast-feeding, co-sleeping and ‘baby wearing,’ in which infants are physically attached to their parents by slings," and the style of parenting is becoming increasingly popular.
The essence of attachment parenting, Attachment Parenting International says, is about building strong connections and relationships between parents and their children.
According to the Attachment Parenting International’s website, there are eight key principles: Preparing for pregnancy and birth, breastfeeding "with love" to meet emotional needs, responding with sensitivity to build trust, using nurturing touch, proving physically and emotionally safe sleeping conditions, providing loving care consistently, practicing positive discipline, and striving for a balanced life.
What do you think about attachment parenting? What do you think about the Time Magazine cover?
