What is Natural Parenting?
You are bound to get varying answers based on personal beliefs, and preferences, but most natural parents would agree that natural parenting is an attempt to make everything surrounding child rearing and birth simpler. It is back to basics, common sense child rearing that is deeply rooted in the belief that we already instinctively posses the skills necessary to birth and raise children.
If you are a faith based natural parent then this means that you parent with an understanding that the creator gave us all of the tools necessary for parenting, therefore through faith you birth and child rear naturally. This can also be termed 'Biblical parenting' -wanting to parent as would be done thousands of years ago. These types of parents refrain from medical interventions or methods that are deemed unscriptural.
Overall natural parenting is about providing a loving environment for ones child in which they are nurtured and affection is not limited for fear of spoiling. A child is made to feel secure and trusts their parents which leads to loving, calm, obedient, reassured children. This style of parenting helps the parent become very in tune with the needs of their child. This creates very strong parent child bonding and attachment.
If you are a faith based natural parent then this means that you parent with an understanding that the creator gave us all of the tools necessary for parenting, therefore through faith you birth and child rear naturally. This can also be termed 'Biblical parenting' -wanting to parent as would be done thousands of years ago. These types of parents refrain from medical interventions or methods that are deemed unscriptural.
Overall natural parenting is about providing a loving environment for ones child in which they are nurtured and affection is not limited for fear of spoiling. A child is made to feel secure and trusts their parents which leads to loving, calm, obedient, reassured children. This style of parenting helps the parent become very in tune with the needs of their child. This creates very strong parent child bonding and attachment.
Areas of continuity amongst Natural Parents
Although natural parenting styles differ there are key areas of continuity amongst most parents.
Natural Childbirth:
Natural childbirth is where it all begins for most parents. This is when parents activity determine that they want to introduce their children into the world in a natural way. A way free from unnecessary medical interventions. They trust that they can deliver healthy babies away from sterile hospital environment and opt for the familiarity of their own homes. Home birth is the norm for most parents who choose the natural parenting style, commonly with a midwife, although some parents choose unassisted childbirth.
Breastfeeding:
Breastfeeding is absolutely essential to the natural parenting lifestyle. Not only because of the natural health benefits, but because of the bond it creates between mother and child. Exclusively breastfeeding for 6months to a year and then continued breastfeeding until child lead weaning is common. On demand feeding is also more common then scheduled feeding.
Co Sleeping:
Parents often co sleep with their children and refer to their bed as the "family bed". Co sleeping is a way of creating a safe place for baby to bond with its parents without the fear of being left alone. It is also easier for mothers who breastfeed.
Cloth diapering:
Many parents that choose the natural parenting style choose to cloth diaper or practice elimination communication which is using your babies cues to know when they need to eliminate waste and taking them to some appropriate location to relieve themselves.
Natural Learning:
Providing your child with the opportunity to learn in its natural environment without scripting. This often results in home schooling.
Baby wearing: For some parents this means that they wear or hold their child when out and about as opposed to using a stroller, but for others this just means that they don't limit the time that they hold their child. People may critisize a parent that often picks up their child and say that they are spoiling them. natural parenting is not concerned with those ideas.
Health: Most parents who choose this lifestyle are against vaccinations and unnecessary visits to traditional doctors, instead they use natural plant based remedies. A whole foods diet is most common, no or limited processed foods.
Natural childbirth is where it all begins for most parents. This is when parents activity determine that they want to introduce their children into the world in a natural way. A way free from unnecessary medical interventions. They trust that they can deliver healthy babies away from sterile hospital environment and opt for the familiarity of their own homes. Home birth is the norm for most parents who choose the natural parenting style, commonly with a midwife, although some parents choose unassisted childbirth.
Breastfeeding:
Breastfeeding is absolutely essential to the natural parenting lifestyle. Not only because of the natural health benefits, but because of the bond it creates between mother and child. Exclusively breastfeeding for 6months to a year and then continued breastfeeding until child lead weaning is common. On demand feeding is also more common then scheduled feeding.
Co Sleeping:
Parents often co sleep with their children and refer to their bed as the "family bed". Co sleeping is a way of creating a safe place for baby to bond with its parents without the fear of being left alone. It is also easier for mothers who breastfeed.
Cloth diapering:
Many parents that choose the natural parenting style choose to cloth diaper or practice elimination communication which is using your babies cues to know when they need to eliminate waste and taking them to some appropriate location to relieve themselves.
Natural Learning:
Providing your child with the opportunity to learn in its natural environment without scripting. This often results in home schooling.
Baby wearing: For some parents this means that they wear or hold their child when out and about as opposed to using a stroller, but for others this just means that they don't limit the time that they hold their child. People may critisize a parent that often picks up their child and say that they are spoiling them. natural parenting is not concerned with those ideas.
Health: Most parents who choose this lifestyle are against vaccinations and unnecessary visits to traditional doctors, instead they use natural plant based remedies. A whole foods diet is most common, no or limited processed foods.