Natural Parenting – A Gift for a Lifetime

Natural parenting used to be the common practice in our grandparents’ times. But today owing to time crunches and convenience issues, natural parenting has almost become a thing of the past. What most parents do not realize is that this form of parenting is the most ideal for the proper development of a child.

There are many studies that have been carried out on this topic including a recent one by Smith and his colleagues from Boston; they found that children who were raised by natural parenting methods turned out to be healthier than other children. It was also noted that mothers who chose to breastfeed their children suffered from fewer diseases, especially cancer as they grew older.

So what exactly is natural parenting and what are its advantages? Let me share with you a glimpse of my life and why I chose natural parenting techniques to raise my son.

• Preserve a holistic approach throughout pregnancy - I turned towards medicinal herbs and homeopathy instead of gulping down allopathic medications that my obstetrician prescribed.

• Opt for a natural home birth – If everything is normal, a home birth will provide the most ideal environment to deliver your baby. Firstly, you are not exposing him to the germs that are a part of every hospital environment. Secondly, you can snuggle back into bed and get adequate rest knowing your baby is safe in the hands of your family.

• Breastfeed as long as you can – Though there have been many studies proving the advantages of breastfeeding, most mothers tend to formula feed their babies these days owing to convenience factors. I personally think this is rather selfish; my son is eight months old but I still breastfeed him because I am fully aware of its manifold benefits on his health. This is the most precious gift I can give my child. In addition to being the healthier option, it has also helped to develop the bond between me and my son.

• Co-sleeping – Ever since my son was born, he has been sleeping between me and my husband. I think this is very important because a parent’s touch is the most precious feeling for a baby. It helps to nurture love and warmth between the child and his parents.

• Cloth diapers – When I started using cloth diapers, many mothers sneered at me saying I would soon revert to plastic disposable ones when the extra load of work starts weighing me down. Though it is difficult, I used only cloth diapers for my son being full aware what is good for my child’s skin and also to cut down on the use of plastic.

• Natural baby food – As my son grew up, I made baby food at home using natural and organic products instead of buying these off the shelf. This is a healthier option and provides higher nutrition and is also safe for your child’s health in the long run.

As a parent, I intend to continue natural parenting in every aspect of my child’s upbringing. It is not at all an easy job and makes me tired many a times. But every time I see my son smile, I know I have chosen the right thing to do. I know natural parenting will give my child a healthy body and a sound mind; this is my gift for him for a lifetime.

Parenting help