Attachment Parenting philosophy draws praise, criticism

A woman waits in line at a local health food store, happily scanning produce through the self checkout and glancing down to answer a text message. Every few seconds, however, she leans down to kiss the top of her two-year-old’s head, cradled safely against her chest in a baby carrier.

Baby-wearing is a sight that is increasingly common among young parents and is particularly popular with those who choose a parenting style known as attachment parenting. The sensitive, response-heavy style of parenting revolves around the idea that children require an intense bond with parents from birth and that neglecting to foster closeness and security with a child will create emotional and cognitive problems as the child ages.