Natural Parenting - Back to Basics in Infant Care

Natural Parenting - Back to Basics in Infant Care by R. Schon & M Silven

Source: Evolutionary Psychology, 2007, 5(1): 102-183

This article looks at how sensitivity to a child's innate emotional and physical needs (resulting in extended breastfeeding on demand, infant carrying and cosleeping) prevailed during human evolution.  Breastfeeding, carrying and cosleeping  "reflect the natural, innate rearing style of the human species to which the human infant has biologically adapted over the course of evolution".  The study concludes that attachment parenting "provides the human infant with an ideal environment for optimal physical and psychological growth.  It is yet to be determined how much departure from this prototype of optimal parenting is possible without compromising infant and parental wellbeing".  The study critiques current western childrearing practices.

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