AP and EC

AP = Attachment Parenting
EC = Elimination Communication

:)

Written early 2010

Immunization

I believe that the choice of how to immunize one's child or not is completely up to the parent, because it basically comes down to the parent's values of what they feel is safest; immunization happens in more ways than just vaccinating, too, which can be important to know. I hope that this discussion can keep that fact in mind, so that we can remain respectful of each parent's choice for safety of their child. Some parents know where they stand and why, but some are unsure and want information. I think even more important information for those parents than whether *to* or *not to* vaccinate, is what things to take into consideration when making these decisions for their children. I chose to not vaccinate my children at all, because I have a strong faith in nature, so this information will lean toward that bias in some areas because I don't hold pro-vax values--I DO, however, value choices.

First of all, I want to mention that the choices are more than just *to* or *not to* vaccinate--some parents chose to selectively vaccinate (only use some vaccinations, rather than every one routinely recommended), space them out (not clump vaccinations together--this can prove especially important in the event of a problem, because you will know exactly which one caused the problem), or delay them (use a later schedule than routinely recommended).

And here are a few things to keep in mind, so you know why it is important to make these choices:

First of all, we do not know the long-term effects of current vaccinations, since they are relatively new to humanity, and we are constantly learning new things about what we messed up by doing in the past, like having mercury in past vaccinations--what may they find next?

Also, the business of researching, making, and distributing vaccinations is just that, a business, and a big business at that. Please be aware of what that means to so many people who trust that they are making and distributing these vaccinations purely for our safety. Not to say that there isn't an element of caring for us, but big businesses also have other objectives, and this undermines my trust, personally. Doctors' offices get visited by companies that make and sell vaccinations, in an attempt to push to get more vaccinations used, and doctors get perks for selling them. Not to say that all doctors are pro-vaccinations because of the money, but it does make the matter something I would want to make sure of, especially since doctors are trained in the medical model of health and so it seems to me that they have a bias toward accepting vaccinations.

I have read that some of the diseases that children are given vaccinations for are so rare in our country that it is almost impossible to assess the risk of a child getting them. So, research very carefully what diseases kids are being vaccinated for and the history of the vaccine--many vaccines are given for diseases that used to just be something kids got (reminds me of the flu vax and the chicken pox vax they do now)--and often maybe the risk of vaccinating is more scary than the disease itself (we hear such horrible statistics and symptoms of diseases that are routinely immunized against, but they also say those same things about the flu or cold, etc.--get accurate info and think how THIS disease could impact someone with a healthy immune system), or maybe getting the disease has benefits? Some believe that diseases that are overcome actually boost the immune system, but if we deny the body from experiencing them, we don't get that boost. Something else to think about, when understanding specific diseases.

Mothering Magazine's July-August 2009 issue has a GREAT article about vaccinations, if anyone is interested. A lot of the info that I am talking about, they talk about in there. This can be an exhaustive subject, but there are just a cpuple more things I want to mention...

Research HOW the immune system works concerning disease and what happens when a person gets an immunization for a disease. Chiropractors usually have good information on this, because they tend to value natural health.

Also, even though they can't prove that vaccinations cause autism, they also can't prove that it doesn't. I have heard many stories from parents who truly believe that it was vaccinations that caused their child to have autism. The thing about "proving" is that you can only PROVE something is caused by something through doing an experiment, but it is unethical to try to give children autism, so an experiment will never happen--same with smoking *causing* cancer; they will never be able to PROVE it because it is unethical to do, but after too much time, we believe this is the case. And it's not just mercury that some parents believe caused their child's autism--some found neurological seizures or alergic reactions... This is definately something to keep in mind.

These are all reasons I have found to be aware about why it is important to make informed choices regarding vaccinations. I hope that more people will add to this discussion, because there is so much more to say.



Family Bed/Co-sleeping

Here is some info I have collected on the benefits of cosleeping. Please forgive the "fact-ness" of it - it is copied and pasted from other sources.

Defying centuries of ancestral wisdom and common practice, today's medical experts raise doubts in young parents about the safety of sleeping with their babies. This advice flies in the face of the fact that most of the world's parents sleep with their babies and always have. It's the way of our species. The assumption that one needs a separate room and a separate bed to safely raise a baby is elitist. There's nothing inherently wrong with these things, but they don't have a monopoly on safe sleep.

Here are some of the benefits for babies:
• Increased breastfeeding--When mom's breast is right there, baby will receive nourishment more frequently. This will help her to grow up strong and healthy.
• Increased total sleep time--Babies who co-sleep usually fall asleep easier and stay asleep better. It is normal for babies to wake frequently throughout the night. When mom's right there, it is easier to fall right back asleep.
• More stimulation--Lots of extra touch and sound stimulation helps baby to develop intellectually and socially.
• More time for bonding--Especially when parents are away for work all day, co-sleeping gives the family a chance to reconnect at night.

Here are some of the benefits co-sleeping offers moms:
• Improves sleep time and quality--Rather than waking up at 3 a.m. and feeling your way down the hall to feed your baby, just rouse yourself enough to roll over, plug in, and drift off as your baby nurses.
• Ovulation depressed--With 'round the clock, on-demand nursing, most women won't experience a return of their menstrual cycle until baby is well into the solid food stage.
• Peace of mind--Because you're right there, you'll know and be able to respond immediately if something is wrong.
• More time for bonding--Especially for moms who are away for work all day, co-sleeping gives them a chance to reconnect at night.

Honestly, I don't have a lot of info, because I grew up in a family bed, and it just feels so natural and right to me, I never really researched it! However, there is a lot of research circulating about how cosleeping decreases the risk of SIDS, which you should be able to access through google.


Diaper Free

Elimination communication (EC) is sometimes referred to as infant potty training, which was a turn-off for me, until a dear friend brought up the topic in another venue and I started to question my "issues" with it and then research it. I thought that it was behaviorism in action (controlling behavior through conditioning, etc), and I had no clue that a baby could actually prefer to not wear diapers. I was still in the diaper paradigm. EC is a very different paradigm. Welcome.....


Newborn babies are aware of their body's functions and can signal you when they are about to pee or poop. When a baby is born, the parents have a choice of how they want to handle the baby's pottying: they can help them use a potty and keep their self-awareness intact, or they can put a diaper on them and help them to forget that body awareness until a later date. Elimination communication is all about communicating with your child, and it takes knowing them to an even deeper level, because when they fuss or cry, you have an understanding of another reason why they might be doing it.


Some of the reasons I knew it was right for us is because it means little to no diapers (which is where the term "diaper-free" comes in - free from the dependence on diapers, even if you chose to use them), so it is the "greenest" route (and easiest for me! Whoo hoo!), and because I felt like I didn't want her to have to sit in her own pee or poop. Not to mention all the other benefits, like it is cheaper to not use any/a lot of diapers (even cloth means purchasing and washing), and it means my baby doesn't have to be restricted by the uncomfortableness of wearing a diaper or worry about diaper rash, etc. - not to mention, EC has some ADORABLE clothing accessories I never could have guessed that my daughter would actually have a preference for EC! She did not like diapers, and she LOVED using a potty - she would laugh and giggle, and she would be pretty adament about signalling (or cueing) me that she had to potty. We started when she was about 6 weeks old (started researching at about 5 weeks old), just dived right on. She started to get more and more into it very fast - in a matter of weeks she was sleeping through naptime diaperfree without a mess and could travel to a park and go there and return home diaperfree. It was pretty amazing. Another indicator was that from the time she was born, Jaia did not poop very often - like every 4 or 5 days, and then exploding out all over the place. When I started doing EC with her, she instantly was pooping almost everytime she went potty. Friends and relatives were AMAZED, and she was quite the hit at a birthday party we went to LOL


If you want to know more about the details, just ask. I know there is at least one other person in this group who practices EC. I will come back and post links, too - but I have a new computer and my favorites list is gone, so I have to go *find* them.


Who knew pottying could be so exciting!?!