Attachment parenting

What It Means

Attachment parenting is an approach developed by Dr. William Sears and his wife, Martha Sears, that centers on physical closeness to a baby and responding quickly and sensitively to the baby's cues. They sum it up in seven "Baby B's," including breastfeedingBreastfeedingFeeding a baby milk directly from the breast. The AAP recommends breast milk alone for about the first 6 months, then alongside solid foods. See more, babywearing and "bedding close to baby." On sleep, the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) advises room-sharingRoom sharingHaving a baby sleep in the parents' room in their own crib, bassinet or play yard. The AAP advises it for at least the first 6 months, without bed-sharing. See more without bed-sharingCo-sleepingA parent and baby sleeping close together. Bed-sharing on the same surface is the form the AAP can't recommend; room-sharing on separate surfaces is the one it advises. See more, ideally for at least the first 6 months, with the baby on their back in their own sleep space. Attachment parenting as a method is a separate idea from secure attachment, the bond researchers study in child development.

How Parents Say It

• "We wore her in the sling for the whole first year."
• "We're doing attachment parenting, so we pick him up when he cries."
• "Bassinet's right next to our bed so I can reach him."

The Breakdown

The seven Baby B's, per Ask Dr. Sears

1. Birth bonding
2. Breastfeeding
3. Babywearing
4. Bedding close to baby
5. Belief in the baby's cries
6. Beware of baby trainers
7. Balance

The Searses call these starter tools for getting to know a baby.

Two of them, checked against other sources

When to talk to the doctor. Bring questions about sleep arrangements to your pediatrician, especially if you're very tired or tempted to sleep with your baby, and ask about safe babywearing too.

Where It Comes From

Dr. William Sears and Martha Sears developed and named the approach; together they have written more than 40 books on parenting and health, according to their site. Attachment Parenting International is a separate organization that promotes the approach.

Good to Know

Some attachment parenting materials, including Attachment Parenting International's, say some families choose to share a bed. The AAP advises against bed-sharing and recommends room-sharing without bed-sharing, ideally for at least the first 6 months. It says never to put a baby to sleep on a couch, sofa or armchair, alone or with someone, and ties sleeping with someone on those surfaces to up to 67 times the risk of a sleep-related death. Read the AAP's full advice on HealthyChildren.org.

Related Terms and Categories

• Safe sleep

  The AAP's rules for lowering the risk of SIDS and suffocation: baby on the back, alone, on a firm flat surface in their own sleep space, every sleep.

• Room sharing

  Having a baby sleep in the parents' room in their own crib, bassinet or play yard. The AAP advises it for at least the first 6 months, without bed-sharing.

• Co-sleeping

  A parent and baby sleeping close together. Bed-sharing on the same surface is the form the AAP can't recommend; room-sharing on separate surfaces is the one it advises.

• Co-regulation

  The way a calm, caring adult helps a child manage feelings and behavior, through a warm relationship, a steady setting and coaching, until the child can do more alone.

Parenting and child development