My take on AP

I was recently made aware of a letter in the Huffington Post slating attachment parenting, dubbed 'detachment parenting' (well, LOL). While it frustrated me that such an article had been written, it also worried me too, that it had been presented all the wrong way and the damage that could be done by it. Luckily, the author of the Nurshable blog had written a reply that clarified things and straightened out the wackiness portrayed. It inspired me to write out my understanding of what it is that I'm doing and what it is that I see Attachment Parenting to be. See what you think. It's nothing to do with superglueing yourself, or your partner, to your child either - it is about being there for them, in mind and in body.

Read these blogs first perhaps:

Nicola Kraus - My Message to Dr Sears
Nurshable - My Message to Nicola Kraus

He's eating already

I waited until Abbie was 6 months old, in line with the NHS/WHO guidelines and there were no complaints from either of us. However, despite planning on doing the same, Thomas has other ideas about wanting to get started on solid food. A few days ago I relented, letting him try on a piece of cucumber, which went down well. Once that was done, some orange segments. The next day the interest was the same at our mealtimes (you eat, then I want to too, e.g., lunging forwards with his body/ swiping grabs with his hands/ general complaining noises). I'm sticking with fruit and vegetables until we hit 6 months. Thomas is somewhere over 17lbs and 5 months old. He's been eating/gnawing/sucking on the following so far: cucumber, orange, tomato, celery, green pepper, banana, pear, nectarine (nothing especially planned, just the food we were having with our main meals/pudding). All either whole or (his) fist sizes.

Whine/Wean

I can only feel ashamed of the information disaster area that is our media when it comes to the google search I just did on weaning guidelines (in this case, introducing solids). It falls in with previous frustrations at the looseness of "facts" out there (Science and Myths blog from last year). I know what I plan to do, and it's not listening to bloody (sorry for swearing) Annabel-loadsa-money-Karmel!

Mini me

I think this photo says it all really, but this is an update to a blog I wrote a while ago, describing that "they do what you do" and to take this and apply it wherever.

They do what you do

Spending time together as a family has been great this Christmas - I'm noticing how much it means to my husband especially. The general theme tends to be just how fantastic Abigail is - what a great lil girl she is growing into. Alot of the time, his amazement at her is also attributed to what I've been doing, but really I can't say I'm doing anything as she's is mostly just imitating us, what she wants to be is like us. As long as we are who we want her to learn to be, the rest just happens. And it is great to see.

Cooking with love

I don't want to risk overstepping blog territories (see The cat that got the cream), but food has definitely been an important factor lately and I have a feeling being pregnant is doing it.

My friend told me when she was pregnant how she loved cooking good meals for her hubby and now I'm doing the same. That feeling of wanting the nurture and care for your loved ones.

Snack bags to encourage the fruit and veg

Quick tip from Granny T: While Abigail was on her hols she came back with snack bags like these baco ones filled with grapes and carrot sticks. Although fruits are fine, salad veg have been a bit harder to convince Abigail to eat. However, she ate a bag of carrot sticks out of the bag on her first day back! I use these alot now when out and about and they seem to help encourage more eating of raw vegetables. They're also very practical, and reusable, so economical. I bought mine from Morrisons but I'm sure you can get them in most supermarkets.