> It is quite clear that the biological norms for modern humans include
> baby-wearing, co-sleeping, breastfeeding very frequently, and
> breastfeeding
> for many years.

I personally am finding more and more often that women become comfortable
with this when assured by their peers that these practices are indeed
normal. I'm getting loads of personal calls from friends and friends of
friends who feel just terrible to put their little ones to bed alone at
night, or to cry it out, or to be frowned upon when they show up sporting
baby in sling.  Among certain circles this is dubbed as attachment parenting
and is often not well responded to.  So many women and men have heard that
"attachment parenting" is lazy, subordinate parenting that when someone
asks, I've told them that it is "normal" for a mother to want and carry her
baby next to her; it's "normal" for a parent's stomach to turn inside out
when their baby cries at length; it's "normal" to want to snuggle with your
baby all night especially if you've been separated during the day; it can be
normal for a baby to nurse more often than what you expected; it's normal
for a parent to do what makes them feel "comfortable". Once some people
realize that their feelings are normal, they often tend to go with them
rather than fight them and the issue of "labeled" parenting.

I belong to several groups and find that when the subject gravitates to
infant issues, most people keep silent about co-sleeping, frequent nursings,
etc., because these pratices culturally draw so much "fire", while those who
don't subscribe to such practices are fairly vociferous with there opinions
because they're the "accepted" cultural norm.  Once, however the floor is
opened by some brave and tactful soul (I'm chicken and *not* very tactful),
one finds the actual percentage of the group who employs at least one of the
gentler practices increases dramatically ...in mere minutes!

I find it interesting that in my husband's office, waaaayyy more folks admit
to attachment parenting styles than to other styles.  In my art classes, the
ratio of "comfort" parenting is more than two to one, at one of my church
groups more than a third subscribe to extended breastfeeding and
co-sleeping.

Truthfully, I think that we as a group generally see those people who have
difficulties with the norm and are not often exposed to less outspoken or
silent('cause they don't wanna fight about it)adherants to the norm.

Lorri Centineo

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