[CameronS]

How do you pick a parenting style? Every one seems to swear by a different style and I haven't seen any research to back up any style. I really like the ideas behind most of attachment parenting, but how do I judge the long term affects?

[twinzplus3]

By how it works for you and how your kids come out? There is lots of research to back up attachment parenting--especially certain aspects like baby wearing and breastfeeding. . .I am a big Dr. Sears fan personally, but if you are really looking for independent research you can look up baby wearing, co-sleeping and breastfeeding. . .to name a few and you'll come up with lots of information.

But honestly, I think most people fall into attachment parenting (or any parenting style) bc it makes sense for them and their families. They do what comes instinctively and what seems to be working and before they know it they find that most of their techniques fall into a certain 'style'. I know for us breastfeeding was a given. Well my oldest dd liked to eat all the time so we started co-sleeping so that I could get some sleep, and then someone gave me a sling bc she didn't like to be put in a stroller. . .and then I read a Dr. Sears book and a few more books and just kept doing what worked and what made sense to me.

[pattiewrites]

Another Dr. Sears fan here too. It just feels right to me. I think you need to follow your instincts and do what feels right for your family. That's how I came to believe in AP. When my first was born, people told me to let her cry it out and not to "spoil" her. This advice just felt wrong to me.

There is a body of research to suggest the effectiveness of certain AP practices: breastfeeding, baby wearing, co sleeping, responding to baby's cues, etc. Dr. Sears writes about this in his books. Also, I look at his family as an example. He is the father of 8 kids and several of the oldest ones are doctors. It seems to me that they turned out quite well with this style of parenting.

I look at my own children too. My oldest two are in school and are really nice kids. They are well behaved and empathetic to others. I really believe that they learned this because we were empathetic to them when they were small and met their needs.

[LeanyBean]

Do what feels right and what works well for you. I do not believe parenting should be defined into different styles. Just do what comes naturally to you. That's what I have always done and I think my kids are normal, at least relatively normal.